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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. 6 |
June 2009 |
Ÿ American River Confluence Festival Features Nature Activities, Family Fun
Ÿ North Tahoe Farmers Markets Opening in June
Ÿ Roseville Glass Business Finds Success in Hard Times
Ÿ Thunder Valley Hotel and Spa Construction Back on Schedule
Ÿ Gardening Author, Renowned Plant Hunter to Speak in Loomis
Ÿ Placer County Commissions Economic Development Study
Ÿ Construction Begins in Auburn for Dutch Bros. Coffee Franchise
Ÿ Aerotek Locates an Office in Roseville
Ÿ State’s New Film Tax Credits Expected to Draw More Producers
Ÿ Chicago Fire Might be Spreading to Placer County
Ÿ Roseville’s Classic Car Cruise, a “High Octane” Street Fair
Ÿ What’s in Your E-Mail Newsletter?
American River Confluence Festival Features Nature Activities, Family Fun
Protect American River Canyons (PARC) hosts its 18th annual American River Confluence Festival in Auburn on Sunday, June 14, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the American River Overlook Park. PARC’s free, annual river festival features family-friendly nature, recreational and art activities; information booths; and delicious food in a shaded river village atmosphere. Continuous entertainment on the American River Stage includes Haute Trash Fashions, In Full Swing Band, juggler Izzy Tooinsky, Wild Things canyon animals, and more. This year’s festival theme is “The American River - Keep it Wild! Keep it Scenic!” PARC is an Auburn-based grassroots educational group dedicated to preserving the recreational, cultural, and historical resources of the American River’s North and Middle Forks. For details call Eric at (530) 885-8878 or visit PARC at http://www.parc-auburn.org/
North Tahoe Farmers Markets Opening in June
Residents and visitors to North Lake Tahoe can purchase fresh, locally-grown produce at the Kings Beach Farmers Market, at the state recreation area parking lot, every Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., starting June 9. The market at Homewood Mountain Ski Resort in Homewood, opening June 20, runs every Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., through August 29. And Tahoe City’s market, located on Commons Beach, which opened in May, is held every Thursday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., through October 15. Other markets, some held year-round, are located in Auburn, Granite Bay, Roseville, Colfax, and Foresthill. For a complete list of Farmers Markets and dates and times, visit http://www.foothillfarmersmarket.com/
Roseville Glass Business Finds Success in Hard Times
Longtime Roseville resident Dan Frey, the CEO of Glass Guru, on Cirby Way, turned his passion into a franchise model. The dream started in the summer of 2002 with Dan and his wife Joy working out of their home. They soon opened a shop and found a niche - fixing failed windows instead of replacing them. Since then, Frey has expanded his business into franchises. So far, 29 entrepreneurs in 10 states have bought into his Glass Guru brand name and opened shops, including local owners in Auburn, Folsom, Sacramento, and Marysville. Dan’s growing family business is now heading into Stockton and Modesto, Washington and Hawaii. For more, visit the Roseville Press Tribune at
http://rosevillept.com/detail/110400.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=or Glass Guru at http://www.theglassguru.com/locations_roseville_california.html
Thunder Valley Hotel and Spa Construction Back on Schedule
United Auburn Indian Community, the Auburn-based tribe that owns the five-year-old Thunder Valley casino near Lincoln, has decided to move ahead with a scaled-down but still ambitious plan for expansion. Part of the revised plan calls for putting in new buildings that have room for growth, including a hotel that will start with 300 rooms but could be increased later to 400. Acting general manager Richard St. Jean said a shell space in the expansion area will have room to seat up to 2,000 people, but that the space could also partially house another restaurant. A new pool and cabana area will be available for a variety of uses, from private functions and small concerts to weddings. The current expansion is expected to be completed by mid-2010. For more, visit the Auburn Journal at
or Thunder Valley Casino at http://www.thundervalleyresort.com/
Gardening Author, Renowned Plant Hunter to Speak in Loomis
Dan Hinkley, a plant hunter, author, horticulturist, and nurseryman will present talks at High Hand Nursery on June 13 & 14. Hinkley is a world-renowned plant hunter who has traveled to exotic locations around the globe in search of rare and unusual plants. On Saturday at 1 p.m., Hinkley will lecture on “Good Plants for the Twenty-First Century”; and on Sunday, 11 a.m., on “Recent Travels – in Search of Good Plants.” Six rare and beautiful gems discovered by Hinkley will be offered for sale exclusively at the event by Monrovia, one of the world’s largest producers of container-grown plants. Lecture tickets are $5 each. Guests can also reserve tickets for dinner with Hinkley on June 13, at 5:30 p.m., in the High Hand Conservatory, where he will sign copies of his latest book, The Explorer’s Garden; Shrubs and Vines from the Four Corners of the World. High Hand Nursery, Conservatory and Gallery is located at 3750 Taylor Road. For details and reservations, visit High Hand Nursery at http://www.highhand.com/
Placer County Commissions Economic Development Study
A project that began in late April will develop a strategy for future economic development in Placer County. The study, commissioned by the Placer County Office of Economic Development, is being undertaken by Chico-based Chabin Concepts, Inc. The $35,000 effort is funded by a state of California community development block grant, Chabin’s president Audrey Taylor said. “It is to update the economic development strategy, which focuses on how to increase job creation and business investment in the county,” Taylor explained. “(We’re looking at) how they coordinate with the cities. We’ll be talking to all of the cities, and to different organizations, and with businesses, economic development professionals within the cities, and education groups.” Taylor estimates the process will take four to five months. “What we’ll be delivering is a roadmap of economic development in today’s market - how they might be moving forward.” For details, visit the Auburn Journal at
or Placer County Office of Economic Development at
http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CEO/EconDev.aspx
Construction Begins in Auburn for Dutch Bros. Coffee Franchise
Last month Jeremy and Heather Mauel held a groundbreaking ceremony for their first Dutch Bros Coffee store at Hwy. 49 and Dry Creek Road in North Auburn. The Mauels will be co-owners of the business with Phil and Stefanie Williams. The building project includes removing most of an existing structure and creating a 400-square-foot building with two drive-through lanes covered with wide canopies. The remodel will reflect the colors - gray and blue - and similar style of the other 143 Dutch Bros. sites located in six other western states. Target date for opening is late July. The menu will be focused on coffee drinks, but will include teas and juices, smoothies, and hot cocoa. Jeremy’s personal coffee favorite is called the Double Torture. “It’s a mocha with vanilla, plus two extra shots,” he said. “It’s a nice rich bold drink.” For more, visit the Auburn Journal at
Aerotek Locates an Office in Roseville
Aerotek, Inc., a technical and professional staffing service, recently expanded to serve Roseville customers. The Roseville office will enable Aerotek to accommodate an increase in employees and the customer demand in the area. The staffing company has numerous offices in Northern California, and has been in the Sacramento area for 15 years. The Roseville office will be located at 3741 Douglas Blvd., No. 255. For details, visit the Sacramento Business Journal at http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/04/20/daily35.html
For information regarding staffing opportunities, visit Aerotek at http://www.aerotek.com/?source=overture
State’s New Film Tax Credits Expected to Draw More Producers
Applications for California’s new film tax credits will be available next month, an exciting prospect for the Placer-Lake Tahoe Film Office. The office helps match production companies to locations around the county appropriate to their projects. “When I came to the film office in Placer County in the late ‘90s, there were only about three states that had film tax credits,” said film office director Beverly Lewis. “Today there are about 40.” And as California joins the majority of states with film tax incentives, it’s expected that Placer County, with its long list of spectacular locations, will attract more film production in the area she said. Recently, Lewis gave a group of Los Angeles-based location managers a “fam,” or familiarization, tour of the county. For details, visit the Sierra Sun at http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20090505/NEWS/905059969/1004/NONE&parentprofile=1051
or the Placer-Lake Tahoe Film Office at http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CEO/EconDev/PlacerLTFilmOfc.aspx
Chicago Fire Might be Spreading to Placer County
The owner of the two Chicago Fire restaurants is looking for a location in Placer County. Eric Schnetz missed the authentic tomato pizza pies of Chicago so much that he opened a restaurant to make them. He started by opening Chicago Fire in a former restaurant in Folsom’s historic district, and then, in 2007, opened a restaurant in midtown Sacramento. Schnetz maintains an authentic Chicago pizza taste by ordering his sausage from Midwest suppliers and using Wisconsin cheese. For a potential restaurant in Roseville or Rocklin, he wants to convert an existing restaurant building. For details, visit the Sacramento Business Journal at http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/04/27/story13.html
or Chicago Fire at http://www.chicagofirerestaurant.com/
Roseville’s Classic Car Cruise, a “High Octane” Street Fair
The scene: Downtown Roseville, Vernon Street: Classic cars 1975 or older; Foothill Farmers Market offering fresh produce and baked goods; a Beer Garden; kids’ Fun Zone, featuring a different theme each week; a different live band performing every week, and between sets, community performances and acts; more than 100 vendors displaying arts, crafts, and products from around the world; “a taste of Roseville” providing some of the best food and treats from the Roseville area. The free event runs every Tuesday in May, June, and July, 5 to 9 p.m. For details, visit Downtown Tuesday Nights at
http://www.2025events.com/5701/index.html or PlacerArts at http://www.placercountycalendar.com/alleventsdata.php?id=154899&display=&eportal=placerarts
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.