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2nd Annual Central Valley Venture Forum is October 18
This year’s Central Valley Venture Forum will be held on Thursday, October 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Leon and Pete Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center at Fresno State. The forum will feature:
- expert speakers and panelists
- local growth companies showcasing their business ventures
- panels of experienced angel and venture capital investors
- presentations by policy officials and market leaders from the private sector and institutional investment communities
- plenty of networking opportunities
Space is limited so register today by visiting http://lyles.csufresno.edu/events/2007/cvvf/evite.htm. This year’s event is sponsored by Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Central Valley Business Incubator, Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and Central Valley Fund.
The Met brings Scott McNealy to Fresno
The Fresno Metropolitan Museum will be hosting a luncheon on Tuesday, October 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Pardini’s, featuring Scott McNealy, Chairman and Co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Inc. McNealy will discuss the future of technology and its implications on Valley agribusiness, education and industry. His glimpse into future technology will provide a unique perspective designed to guide businesses for the next decade.
McNealy’s vision of network computing has served as a guide and barometer for the direction and pace of technology innovation. A champion of Sun’s 24-year old strategy to share, McNealy is always fighting for openness and choice: “Without choice, you have no innovation. Without innovation, you have nothing.”
Luncheon tickets are $25 each or $200 for a table of 10. The Fresno Met requests that tickets be reserved by October 19. For tickets or more information, call 559.441.1444 or visit www.fresnomet.org.
Entrepreneurship workshops announced; www.SJVGrowBiz.com launched
A series of workshops is being developed to support entrepreneurs and business owners in their efforts to grow their firms and assist in creating a dynamic economic climate in the San Joaquin Valley. The series of workshops is being developed with funding from California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, Golden Capital Network, Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Central Valley Business Incubator, and Pacific Community Venture.
The workshops include:
- Entrepreneurship Training Level 1;
- Equity 101: Demystifying Venture Capital and Private Equity; and
- Supporting Business Startups and High-Growth Companies.
SJVGrowBiz.com has been established to promote these workshops. Be sure to check the site often for upcoming workshops. For more information, contact Kristine Walter at kristinew@lylescenter.com.
Fresno Filmmakers Forum seeks sponsors
Fresno has a growing community of filmmakers. Like many of our local industries, however, it is a disconnected group, which means missed opportunities. Local filmmakers along with the Fresno Film & Entertainment Commission, Creative Fresno, and Entandem Productions are teaming to hold the Fresno Filmmakers Forum, an event for local filmmakers and production professionals as a way to develop a filmmaking community. The goal of the Fresno Filmmakers Forum is to connect local filmmakers and production crewmembers and encourage sharing of expertise, resources, and support. The one-day forum starts with a facilitated discussion about the local industry. It continues with two technical workshops, a networking lunch, a creative discussion panel, and ends with the screening of local producer Kerry Yo Nakagawa’s “American Pastime” followed by a Q&A.
The Fresno Filmmakers Forum is currently seeking sponsors for our event. If you have a business that targets creative professionals, this may be an opportunity for you. Include your company in the Fresno Filmmakers Forum program, which will be distributed to every attendee at the event. The program will be referenced an average of seven times per attendee and will have an extended shelf life and pass-along factor beyond the event. Your company will be listed as a sponsor on the Web site with a link to your site. Program ads start at $60. For more information, contact Suzanne Bertz-Rosa at suzanne@creativefresno.com.
The forum will be held on Saturday, October 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Warnors Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.fresnofilmmakersforum.com.
Catching up with TreeTOPs, a Regional Urban Forest Initiative
TreeTOPS is a regional initiative created by the RJI and Tree Fresno to promote Trees, Trails, and Open Space. Recently, a $500,000 grant proposal, on behalf of TreeTOPS, was submitted to CAL FIRE by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. The grant leadership team consists of Lee Ayres, RJI Livability Task Force and Tree Fresno member; Mark Keppler, founder of the Trails Coalition who serves on the Tree Fresno Board of Directors; and Dave Koehler, Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. If awarded, funds will be used to:
- Develop a regional trails and open space preservation plan in coordination with the Metro Rural Loop project and the Farmland Preservation study;
- Update the Tree Fresno Web site to become a regional asset serving 10% of households;
- Develop plans to establish a Center for Urban Forest Education at California State University, Fresno; and
- Conduct three demonstration projects.
Participants in the grant funded project are expected to include the City of Fresno, Caltrans, and the COGs, county and city governments, and the conservation districts in the region.
For more information about the activities of TreeTOPs, contact Lee Ayres at LSAyres@aol.com.
CVBI to host 'Made in the Central Valley' fundraiser and mock Central Valley Stock Exchange
The Central Valley Business Incubator will host the “Made in the Central Valley” fundraiser featuring a mock Central Valley Stock Exchange. The fundraiser is an opportunity for community and business leaders to support CVBI’s efforts to develop the local economy through the support of high-growth companies.
“This event will showcase the exciting businesses that have been started by local entrepreneurs and nurtured in CVBI’s two incubator facilities,” said Claude Laval, CVBI Board Chairman.
The Central Valley Stock Exchange (CVSE) will be a fun way for guests to see demonstrations from CVBI’s member businesses. Guests will receive play money at the door to “invest” in the companies vying for their support. The entrepreneurs with the most investments will win trips for weekend getaways within central California.
The event will be held on Thursday, October 25, at 5:30 p.m., at the Clovis Veteran’s Memorial Building. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling 559-292-9033.
My Downtown, My Choice
The City of Fresno staffed a display booth and provided information about “My Downtown, My Choice” during the Billion Dollar Tour on September 29, 2007. Continuing the Vision Plan for Downtown, “My Downtown, My Choice” provides a plan to revitalize Fresno’s downtown that includes information about the nearly one billion dollars worth of projects that have already been completed including restoration of the nationally recognized Santa Fe Depot, the gathering spaces and restaurants at Civic Center Square, a new Federal building, the expansion of Community Medical Centers, Chukchansi Park and affordable mixed-use housing, to name a few. The presentation also includes plans to develop a vibrant downtown by creating districts with a unique style of their own including a Cultural Arts district, Courthouse Park district, Civic Center district and a River district. The connectivity of these districts will include street cars from downtown to The Tower District, green space, parkways and a river; and the completion of the Five Projects in Five Years: Public Safety Complex, Downtown Park, River District, Fulton Mall and Streetcar.
For more information, please view the My Downtown, My Choice presentation at www.Fresno.gov or email Economic.Development@fresno.gov.
Update on the $250,000 Entrepreneur USA Business Plan competition
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State is in the midst of a unique communitywide effort to attract and retain entrepreneurs from across the United States. The $250,000 Entrepreneur USA Business Plan Competition is a collaborative effort with key economic hubs such as the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State (OCED), the Regional Jobs Initiative (RJI), City of Fresno Economic Development Department (EDD), Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce (GFACC), Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI), Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County (EDC), SBA/SCORE and many more. The Competition will highlight the viable entrepreneurial environment of the Central Valley.
The Competition will be launched May 21-22, 2008. The Lyles Center is currently developing a web site that will provide market information to entrepreneurs, serve as a portal for business and community resources and provide a place to submit entries. All of the prize-winner earnings of $100,000 have been identified, and Lyles Center is seeking further capital and in-kind funding. Different Levels of Sponsorship are available for interested organizations that want to join the effort in creating a national competitive advantage in Fresno and contribute to Fresno’s economic growth. These levels can be reviewed at http://www.lylescenter.com/100k_business_plan.php.
For further information on how your organization can become involved, please contact Christine Cerda at Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at (559) 285-1999.
8th Annual Joint HR & Safety Conference is next week
The Human Resource Association of Central California, in partnership with many other local business-focused organizations, is holding the Eighth Annual Joint HR & Safety Conference, "Disasters, Spies, Thieves & Gangs: Protection in the 21st Century Workforce," on Thursday, October 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Grand Occasions in Fresno. Three breakout sessions will feature discussions on topics such as “Spying on Employees,” “Crisis Management,” “Mental Illness in the Workplace,” “Managing your Workers’ Compensation Claims Effectively,” among many others. The lunchtime keynote address will feature Officers Dave Martin and Jim Munro from the Clovis Police Department speaking on “Gangs in the Workplace.” Space is limited. For more information or to register, visit http://www.hraccfresno.org/hrandsafetyconference.html.
Inaugural Business Matchmaking and Networking event a success
Millions of dollars are spent each year by large companies and government agencies on goods and services that could be purchased from local small businesses. The City of Fresno Economic Development Department, along with its organizing partners and sponsors, launched the Inaugural Business Matchmaking and Networking event on August 31, with the goal of keeping these important dollars local. One-on-one meetings were scheduled between supplier and procurement representatives and took place throughout the day. These small business “suppliers” focused on pursuing contracts with local, state, federal, and private buying organizations. Exhibit booths were staffed by representatives from 28 large companies and government entities and 12 nonprofits that provided networking opportunities, tips and resources for small business representatives. Close to 100 small businesses and 37 different buying organizations attended the event. Initial feedback has been positive, and a survey is under way to collect hard data that will be used to demonstrate how effective the event was and to find out how to improve next year’s event on August 1, 2008.
If you are interested in sponsoring or participating in the August 1, 2008, event, please e-mail Peggy Chiok, City of Fresno Attraction and Community Development Manager, at peggy.chiok@fresno.gov or call 559.621.8360.
Call for nominations: 19th Annual California Family Business Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 19th Annual California Family Business Awards, the only family business awards program in the Central Valley. Nomination forms and instructions may be downloaded at www.thebusinessjournal.com or obtained by calling 559.278.5662. Awards will be given on January 17, 2008, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Tornino’s.
Update on Scott Aircraft mega-hanger complex at FYI
Since its April 23 groundbreaking, construction of Scott Aircraft’s aviation complex at Fresno Yosemite International Airport has been rapidly progressing. Scott Aircraft’s $6 million investment at Fresno Yosemite will expand the company’s existing facility by replacing its current 12,000–square-foot hangar with a 43,000-square-foot mega-hangar that will accommodate up to 18 corporate jets. The investment is the result of entrepreneur Kent Scott’s vision to attract the growing corporate jet business to Fresno via its strategic geographical location within California.
Exterior construction of the 43,000-square-foot hangar/office complex is complete, and three 12,000-gallon fuel tanks have been installed. The fuel tanks will provide fuel service to Scott’s corporate jet and general aviation customers. Meanwhile, large retractable hangar doors are being installed, and the landscaping portion of the project is under way. Subsequent phases of the parking lot construction and interior electrical, plumbing and finish work will complete the aviation complex. The mega-hangar will be available to receive aircraft this November, while the office facilities will open in December.
City of Fresno Municipal Restoration Zone
The Municipal Restoration Zone (MRZ), established October 31, 2006, offers significant incentives to new businesses that open or relocate within the MRZ boundaries and to existing MRZ businesses that expand by at least 20 percent. Qualified companies may receive rebates and refunds on business license fees, building permit fees, and city sales and/or property taxes. They also may receive credits for hiring employees who live within the boundaries of the award winning MRZ. From the launch of the MRZ in December 2006 thru June 2007, the potential value of incentives reached $461,401.
Check to see if your business is in an incentive zone or what the benefits are of incentive zones located within specific boundaries in the City of Fresno by visiting www.fresnoez.com and selecting Incentive Zones and Tax Incentives from the left navigational menu.
Fresno Jewish Film Series to begin October 13
The Fifth Annual Jewish Film Series is scheduled to begin Saturday, October 13, at 7 p.m., with a showing of “The Ritchie Boys.” Other films to be screened through April 2008 include: “Close to Home”; “Only Human”; “51 Birch Street”; “Wondrous Oblivion”; “Yellow Asphalt”; and “Mein Führer.” All shows will screen at Temple Beth Israel, 6622 N. Maroa Ave., Fresno. Tickets are $7 at the door or $35 for a season pass to all seven shows. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.FresnoJewishFilm.org.
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