The annual State of the Sacramento County Forum, hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber on Nov. 14 at the Sheraton Grand, reported good news for 2008: More than 2,000 new jobs were created as the result of economic development efforts in the region.

The forum brought together more than 250 business and civic leaders to hear from county officials and representatives of Optisolar, Siemens and McClellan Park. Optisolar is building a half-mile long production plant at McClellan Park and Siemens is expanding its light rail manufacturing plant in the south area.

Sacramento County Board Chair Jimmie Yee reviewed notable progress affecting economic development in the county:
--Yee first praised the Metro Chamber, saying, "We are very fortunate that the Metro Chamber has the same vision as the county in promoting the growth of the region's prosperity."
--Sacramento County is using the temporary pause in the economy to work proactively for the future--looking 10 to 25 years ahead to plan for the future.
--Regional cooperation is strong via established revenue sharing between the county and the city of Sacramento; through efforts with adjacent counties in agri-tourism; through partnerships with surrounding agencies for the connector road between Highway 99 and Highway 50 and for the Highway 50 corridor. "We can't do anything without each other's help," Yee said.
--A third trauma center will be added in the south area at Kaiser after a spirited bidding process.
--The county's Health Department received a national award for its green-yellow-red restaurant rating system, one of the first in the nation.
--The county broke ground for a new $207 million water treatment system in the south area a joint venture with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, with both agencies sharing the cost.
--The Sacramento International Airport began its $1.25 billion expansion, with completion in 2012.
--A visioning strategy and programs have begun for the Jackson Highway and Grant Line Road corridors--a combined total of 30,000 acres of land, in addition to a plan for 10,000 acres in Natomas.

County CEO Terry Schutten presented the Sacramento County 2007-08 Report Card, an evaluation of performance in transportation, strong and health families, law and justice, public health and safety, sustainable and livable communities and economic growth: 2008-09 Sacramento County Report Card

The special focus of the State of the County Forum was a panel discussion on specific new jobs initiatives. Metro Chamber Board Chair Michael Jacobson, government relations manager for Intel, emceed the panel, beginning by noting that "whether the economy is up or down, there is always opportunity. You have to continue to move forward; complacency is not the solution." Summary of panelists comments:

Rob Leonard, director of economic development, Sacramento County reviewed how the county works with businesses to bring add boost employment:
--In 2008, 2,000 new jobs were or will be created in Sacramento County (not all have been realized yet), but they will bring $4.5 million in new revenues, being driven by $1 billion in investments in new facilities on three million new square-feet of development.
--New investments by Optisolar and Siemens happened because of creative partnerships with Sacramento County, McClellan Park, SMUD, city of Sacramento Housing Redevelopment and other agencies.
--The new Florin Town Centre redevelopment has been completed and despite the economy, 83 percent of the new space has been leased and much of the center is occupied.
--Successes like bringing in Optisolar to McClellan Park meant approaching the deal with creativity, cost-benefit analysis and putting money into the company's investment to help it reduce costs.

Alan Hersh, senior vice president, McClellan Park said the converted 2,880-acre air force base has become a dynamo of economic activity, with 14,000 employees present, 230 diverse tentants predominated by manufacturing, 35,000 jobs, six million square feet of built-out facility space and $475 million invested by the tenants.
--McClellan Park has achieved a good integration with North Highlands and the adjoining city of Sacramento neighborhoods, helping to improve a once shaky environment.
--McClellan Park's biggest competitive advantage, he said, "is we don't say 'no' and we deliver. There's not a lot of places that can do that and we can do that because of our partnerships."

Juergen Wilder, vice president and general manager, Rolling Stock Division of Siemens Transportation Systems, said the company that makes light rail cars just installed a 1.5 megawatt solar power system and changed from using oil-based to water-base paints, with a goal of reducing carbon emissions by one-half. However, if the company wants to continue expanding meeting some of the carbon-reduction goals set by the state might get harder.
--Finding a skilled workforce is "always a challenge." The company needs engineers and not having them is a "bottleneck" for growth.
--The manufacture of light rail car steel trucks was relocated to Sacramento where the engineers are located (rather than in Europe). However, Siemens needs 100 to 200 welders and that skillset needs to be developed in local schools, and Siemens is now in discussion with Sacramento education institutions for that.

Bryan Crabb, director of government affairs, at Optisolar reviewed the company's decision to build its manufacturing plant in Sacramento County. Optisolar is the newest company to locate to Sacramento. Founded in 2005, Optisolar's goal is to by a mega-manufacturing effort, to drive down the cost of solar panels. The company located to McClellan Park because it was "welcomed with open arms" by SMUD, very competitive rates on property, a talented workforce and highly trained contractors. Optisolar employs 500 people and expects to double that.
--Optisolar also chose to relocate to Sacramento because of the renewable energy market forming in the region.
--In Optisolar's quest to build "solar farms" of electric-generating panels, permitting barriers with state and federal agencies are complicated and take 12 to 18 months. This is keeping 250 round-the-clock jobs from being created. "Let's get going," he exclaimed.

Photos of the State of the Sacramento County Forum were taken by Riverview Media Photography and can be viewed and purchased here.