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IN PROGRESS ONLINE |
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Office of Economic Development, Placer County, California |
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Vol. 10, No. 2 |
February 2009 |
Ÿ Brothers’ New Coffee Business Blooming
Ÿ Claremont Trio Performs in Auburn Feb. 13
Ÿ North Lake Tahoe to Celebrate SnowFest
Ÿ Some Firms Cut Costs Without Resorting to Layoffs
Ÿ Biodiesel Station Opens in Rocklin
Ÿ Red Robin to Hire More Than 100 Workers
Ÿ Would-be Entrepreneur’s Handbook Offered Online
Ÿ California Advanced Services Fund Provides Grants
Ÿ North Lake Tahoe Releases New Vacation Planner
Ÿ Resources Address Needs of Small-business Owners
Ÿ New Auburn Gym Reflects Owner’s Fitness Vision
Ÿ What’s in Your E-Mail Newsletter?
Brothers’ New Coffee Business Blooming
At the moment, Luke and Jake Ella aren’t getting their education from college textbooks. The two brothers are gaining real life experience in their recently opened business, Bloom Coffee and Tea, in Roseville. Luke and Jake say it was the community aspect of coffee houses that attracted them to start one of their own. A passion for the science behind the coffee developed, and two coffee aficionados were born. They embarked on road trips to Portland, Boston, Santa Cruz and other cities to research specialty coffee houses in search for inspiration. The brothers found investors in close friends and family and raised the funds to start their business in less than a year. They are located at 1485 Eureka Rd., # 100. For details, visit Bloom Coffee and Tea at http://www.bloomcoffee.com/Bloom%20Coffee/Bloom%20Coffee%20%26%20Tea.html or the Roseville Press Tribune at http://rosevillept.com/detail/102688.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=&page=2
Claremont Trio to Perform in Auburn Feb. 13
In 1999, twin sisters Emily (violin) and Julia Bruskin (cello) formed the Claremont trio with Donna Kwong (piano) at the Julliard School. The group has since moved quickly into the international music scene, winning competitions and playing in prestigious venues in the U.S. and Europe. Presented by Community Concerts, the trio will perform in Auburn on Friday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. at Placer High School Auditorium. Committed to expanding piano trio repertoire, the Claremont Trio presents classical favorites and new, exciting compositions. Strings magazine calls their work “deft, exhilarating and imaginative.” Season tickets are available; individual tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for students. For details, visit Auburn Community Concert Association at http://www.auburncommunityconcerts.org/index.htm
North Lake Tahoe to Celebrate SnowFest
Every winter North Lake Tahoe celebrates the season with a 10-day, fun-filled carnival called SnowFest. This year’s fest runs February 27 to March 8. Fireworks, contests, ski races, parades, parties, concerts, live music, theater, and fine dining - all add to a long list of family festivities set in sites throughout North Lake Tahoe. Even family dogs can join in the fun, at the classic Dog Pull, the Dress Up Your Dog Contest, or the Doggie Agility Course of Snow. And SnowFest wraps up on March 8, with the 4th Annual Tahoe Donner Association I-Dida-Run, in which dogs pull covered wagon sleds over a snowy race course. For SnowFest details and a full list of events, visit http://www.tahoesnowfestival.com/
Some firms Cut Costs Without Resorting to Layoffs
As layoffs mount amid the slowing economy, some employers are cutting costs without axing jobs. In lieu of layoffs, some employers are freezing hiring, offering voluntary retirement packages, cutting hours, reducing salaries, or delaying raises. Other cost-saving tactics include raising employee health-care contributions and slashing bonuses, employer contributions to retirement plans and budgets for training, travel, and other perquisites. “Every $10,000 a month you can save is a person,” says Alex Chang, founder of real-estate search Engine Roost.com. A big drop in business this fall prompted Chang to cut “every expense we didn’t have to make” in order to keep all 17 of his staffers, each of whom he considers vital. He eliminated the marketing budget and asked vendors for discounts. Chang is also considering licensing Roost’s technology, moving to a smaller office space, and allowing some employees to work from home. For the full article, visit the Wall Street Journal at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122929306421405071.html
Biodiesel Station Opens in Rocklin
Bodh Kunwar, owner of the Union 76 gas station at Five Star Blvd. and Stanford Ranch Rd. in Rocklin, recently obtained a state grant and gave a land lease to Propel Fuels, a Sacramento-based fuel retailer, to offer biofuels to drivers. The new Propel Fuels station is one of five in the Sacramento area which provide drivers with E85 flex fuel (Ethanol) and B5 biodiesel. Ethanol decreases CO2 output by 19 to 52 percent compared to conventional unleaded gasoline and reduces harmful particulate matter. According to state officials, California has a fleet of nearly 4,000 flex fuel vehicles on the road today. For more, visit the Placer Herald at http://placerherald.com/detail/104791.html or Propel Inc. at http://www.propelfuels.com/content/
Red Robin to Hire More Than 100 Workers
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) is hiring more than 100 employees for its Lincoln restaurant, opening in late February. Part-time and full-time positions are open, from dishwashers, servers, and bartenders, to hospitality personnel and cooks. The 6,092-square-foot Lincoln Red Robin restaurant is located at 750 E. Joiner Parkway, on the corner of Sterling Parkway and Joiner next to Lowes. The casual-dining family restaurant chain serves burgers, appetizers, entrees, salads, and beverages. For job information, visit the restaurant or call the Red Robin recruitment line at (916) 749-5249. For details, visit Career Builder at http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?job_did=J8A0W26DYQ6Z5G3DNX6&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=3eb68b4540504beb9f74c446719dd5d2-287165234-wr-6
Would-be Entrepreneur’s Handbook Offered Online
A CNN website takes potential entrepreneurs through a detailed, ten-step process geared to lead them to a new career. “The last day of the recession is the best day to start a business, the saying goes,” advises the site. “So tackle the 10 steps in this guide now - and be ready to ride the rebound when it comes.” The steps start with (1) Interview Yourself for the Job and (2) Have a Cushion, and, among the other eight steps, includes Leverage Your Expertise, Write a Winning Business Plan, and Pick Your Advisors Carefully, each step amplified in detail. The last step, Go 2.0, advises creating a website. “This is a reasonably cheap promotion tool; it may even substitute for a bricks-and-mortar establishment, depending on the business.” For the complete would-be entrepreneur’s handbook, visit http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0901/gallery.entrepreneur_handbook.moneymag/index.html
California Advanced Services Fund Provides Grants
With an allocation of $100 million, the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) is providing grants to qualified “telephone corporations” to promote universal service in unserved and underserved areas in the state. The program, expected to last two years, was authorized in December of 2007. In November 2008, the California Public Utilities Commission approved funding for six projects that will bring broadband services for the first time to 1,294 households in unserved areas. With questions about this program, contact Norman Low at (415) 703-1607 or ncl@cpuc.ca.gov. For details about the CASF, visit the California Public Utilities Commission at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Information+for+providing+service/announcingcasf.htm
North Lake Tahoe Releases New Vacation Planner
Visitors may find it’s never been easier to plan a trip to North Lake Tahoe than with the newly released North Lake Tahoe Vacation Planner. The free 74-page guide is filled with information about the area, from Incline Village in Nevada all the way south along Tahoe’s shoreline to Emerald Bay. A new North Tahoe map provides detailed listings of attractions and activities - ski resorts, marinas, golf courses, and hiking trails. “Potential visitors will really get a feel for what North Lake Tahoe has to offer year-round,” said Andy Chapman, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association’s tourism director. “And the guide’s new, smaller size makes it easy to take with you.” To download the guide, visit http://www.gotahoenorth.com/
Resources Address Needs of Small-business Owners
The weakened economy hasn’t slowed the number of people taking orientations, said Sierra College Business Development Center (SBDC) director Indria Gillespie. At the same time, Gillespie is seeing more distressed businesses. She advises taping on SBDC resources sooner rather than later. The SBDC’s resources include numerous training classes, some online, offered at a nominal fee. Counseling sessions are free, paid for by a grant from the Small Business Administration. Monthly orientations for startup companies are held in Roseville and Auburn. For details, visit SBDC at http://www.sbdcsierra.org/ or the Auburn Journal at http://auburnjournal.com/detail/102480.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=Resources+address+needs+of+small+business+owners&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=stories&town_id=&page=
Other small-business resources are Sierra Economic Development Corporation at http://www.sedd.org/ and Foothill Employer Advisory Council at http://ceac.org/region_3/foothill_eac/
New Auburn Gym Reflects Owner’s Fitness Vision
Titan Gilroy, the owner of a successful manufacturing company in Auburn, recently realized his dream of opening a sports training facility. Titan’s Dungeon is a high-end, 15,000-square-foot fitness center that Gilroy describes as a hardcore training gym. “It is martial arts, boxing, weight-lifting, circuit training, and body-building,” he said. Gilroy plans to teach boxing classes, but has brought on a team of specialists in other areas. The gym is located at 12856 Earhart Ave. For details, visit Titan’s Dungeon at http://www.titansdungeon.com/ or the Auburn Journal at
What’s in Your E-Mail Newsletter?
In Progress Online (IPOL), our monthly economic development e-mail newsletter, covers the latest news on Placer County business and industry, agriculture, tourism, and the arts. It reports on new projects in our cities and towns and keeps readers up to date on the state of the region’s economy. IPOL posts news of state and local training, incentives, and loan programs that benefit business. It provides links to more information on each item. News about your business is always welcome. Please send items, questions, comments, or suggestions to the Office of Economic Development at econdev@placer.ca.gov or visit the OED Web site at http://www.placer.ca.gov/CEO/EconDev.aspx. For past In Progress Online newsletters, go to Placer County Biz News at http://www.placer.ca.gov/CEO/Econdev/business%20news.aspx.