Alpine Management Systems, Inc.(fka ALPN)

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This could be helpful as well. Time will tell.

3/29/2007 10:01:00 PM

Cities, County unite in pursuit of Enterprise Zone
Williams and Colusa City Council members and Colusa County Supervisors who attended the quarterly Cities/County Joint Meeting hosted by the City of Colusa on March 27 at the Wintun Dinner House agreed that it is time for the cities and the county to work together and to diligently pursue an Enterprise Zone [EZ] in Colusa County.

The Enterprise Zone program targets economically distressed areas throughout California. Special state and local incentives encourage business investment and promote the creation of new jobs. The purpose of the EZ program is to provide tax incentives to businesses and allow private sector market forces to revive the local economy.

During the Tuesday evening meeting, Colusa County Economic Development Corporation [EDC] Executive Director Peter Jukusky stated that it is expected that by the first or second week of April, the State will make the announcement of potentially up to eight new Enterprise Zones available in California.

"I would estimate that the application cycle would be six months from the time of announcement," Jukusky said. "If we are going to do this as three joint government agencies, we can't waste time," he added.

In 2004, Colusa County applied for one of the three EZs available. At that time, the county was number four in the finalists, missing the award by a narrow margin.

Colusa County Supervisor Kim Dolbow Vann spoke to the task of application during Tuesday evening's meeting. She stated that Colusa County's miss in 2004 could be due to not presenting a united effort in the application process.

Vann commented that for Colusa County to receive one of the EZs in this round its leaders would have to be united, and lobby hard to make it clear that this county is deserving of the award, but also that it is willing to support the effort in the long-term.

She urged those gathered for the meeting to make a commitment to the effort as a united community. "We need to have good conversation and flesh out how we want this to work," she said. "We need to hold hands, go to Sacramento, and prove that we not only want this, but that we deserve it."

Vann said that the cities and the county need to be committed to not only applying for the EZ, but to marketing it as well.

The application process in 2004 was funded by Colusa Industrial Properties and the Valley Ranch Business Park, along with EDC. The application process costs $100,000 to $125,000. Vann said the cities and the county would need to be committed to this project financially as well.

She urged the city and county leaders in attendance to find a way to 'carve' this out and make it work.

The group was also reminded that the tax incentives involved are State and Federal, and that it is not coming from local coffers.

"It is time to take care of ourselves," said Vann adding that the cities and the county should no longer depend on outside sources to take care of the problems. "All of the entities need to have a shift in thinking."

The consensus in the room was one of a positive effort to move forward. An exploratory committee including Supervisor Dan Yerxa, Colusa City Councilmember Kay Hosmer and Williams City Mayor Don Barker was formed. With assistance of city staff and EDC the committee will move forward to decide first were the county's core industrial areas are located.

Jukusky said on Wednesday morning that he was pleased with the reception of the EZ application by the city and county reprsentatives at the meeting. "Now it is the task of these individuals on the committee, and in attendance at the meeting to bring the knowledge they have gained on Enterprise Zones back to each Board or Council," he said.

At the onset of the meeting, Colusa Mayor Bob Mackaben commented on the need for industry here. He added that Ed Hulbert and Colusa Industrial Properties are doing their part. He also added that Premier Mushrooms, located on CIP, are set for success. "They are doing things right," he said.

Representatives from the cities of Williams and Colusa, the County of Colusa, and the Colusa County Economic Development Corporation, as well as area business members and guests, attended. Elected officials attending were Supervisor Vice Chair Tom Indrieri, Supervisors Kim Dolbow Vann, Gary Evans and Dan Yerxa, Colusa Mayor Bob MacKaben, Vice Mayor Richard Patton, Councilmember Kay Hosmer and Williams Mayor Don Barker, Vice Mayor Patricia Ash and Councilmember Mark Azevedo.