The South Placer Heritage Foundation, Lincoln branch of River City Bank and a Rocklin-based engineering firm that specializes in water projects won major awards at the 17th annual Placer County Economic Development Summit March 19.
The summit is an annual breakfast meeting sponsored by the county’s Economic Development Board.
During the summit each year, the board presents awards to recognize outstanding contributions to local economic-development efforts.
The Heritage Foundation received the Public Sector Award for spearheading renovation of the historic Blue Goose Fruit Shed in Loomis.
This year, the board bestowed its Private Sector Award to ECO:LOGIC Engineering, a Rocklin-based company that planned, designed and operates the city of Lincoln Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility.
River City’s Bank’s branch office in Lincoln received the Employer of the Year Award from the Business Advantage Network, a local coalition of government and nonprofit agencies involved in job-development work. The award recognizes the office for its commitment to supporting seniors and its outstanding record of community involvement.
SOUTH PLACER HERITAGE FOUNDATION
The foundation was nominated for its award by Placer County Agricultural Commissioner Christine E. Turner.
“The South Placer Heritage Foundation has done an outstanding job in restoring the Blue Goose Fruit Shed through the involvement of community volunteers and businesses donating time, labor, expertise and materials to make it happen,” she explained.
“The restored building is now serving as an important community and business center and celebrates Placer County’s rich agricultural history as the one-time ‘fruit capital of the world.’ ”
The foundation was instrumental in ensuring that the renovation project maintained the fruit shed’s historical character while updating it to serve as a modern community and business center.
Todd Lowell, a member of the foundation’s board of directors, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation.
ECO:LOGIC ENGINEERING
Founded in Roseville in 1993, the company set out to provide water-engineering expertise to small and medium-sized communities in Northern California.
“The firm measures its success by the quality and value of its work to the communities, and the elegance of its solutions,” explained city of Lincoln Mayor Pro Tem Spencer Short.
He noted a representative of the State Water Resources Control Board has called the Lincoln plant the model for how wastewater should be treated in California.
The company has a worldwide reputation among engineers for quality and leadership in California’s challenging water environment. Last year, Inc.com ranked ECO:LOGIC among the top-50 environmental-services companies in the United States.
Short noted that ECO:LOGIC has grown from just five people to a firm with about 160 top water specialists who are dedicated to developing new strategies and projects needed to ensure the region maintains a clean water supply.
On hand to accept the award for ECO:LOGIC were Chief Executive Officer David Bennett, Principal Charles Bunker and Administrative Manager LeeAnn Rodriguez.
LINCOLN BRANCH OF RIVER CITY BANK
“When the branch opened in 2001, a deliberate effort was made to recruit and hire senior employees, which would reflect the community at large,” explained a nomination letter from Tanja Poley, an employment specialist for the Area 4 Agency on Aging.
She noted the bank branch provides space for seniors to receive free tax-preparation counseling from AARP and health-insurance counseling from the Heath Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program.
Poley also emphasized that staff at the Lincoln branch support community organizations such as the Lighthouse Counseling Center, Police Athletic League, Kiwanis Club, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Mercy Housing and the city of Lincoln’s Economic Development Committee.
“Employees are supported, encouraged and allowed time to participate in these and other community events,” Poley said.
The award was presented to River City Bank Chief Executive Officer Jeanne Reaves and branch Manager Michael Storz.