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Madera County E-BIZ
Welcome to Madera County Economic Development’s E-BIZ! On a monthly basis, our online Newsletter covers important local, regional and national news that impacts our local economy. E-BIZ reports on new projects and events in our cities and towns and keeps readers up to date on the state of the region’s economy. News about your business is always welcome. Please send items, questions, comments, or suggestions to the Madera County EDC at info@maderacountyedc.com or visit our Web site at maderacountyedc.com
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SAVE THE DATE
Attention Manufacturer's- GMCIA Meeting
March 12, 2008 at Noon 
Madera Manufacturer’s, please attend the upcoming Greater Madera County Industrial Association (GMCIA) meeting on March 12, 2008 at Noon, located at the Madera Municipal Golf Course.
For more information, contact Shirley Driggs at 559-673-8496.
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Madera General Plan Update
Topic: Land Use
March 31, 2008
(time and place has not been released)
Over the next two years, the City of Madera will be holding a series of public meetings to help update the city’s general plan. The process of adopting or amending the general plan requires public participation. The next general plan meeting will be addressing the topic of Land Use on March 31st.
For more information please visit www.maderageneralplan.com or email info@maderageneralplan.com
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MCEDC Commissioner Meeting
April 9, 2008 3:00pm in Oakhurst
Madera County Economic Development Commission (MCEDC) will hold their quarterly Commissioners Meeting on April 9, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the office of Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors in Oakhurst. The public is welcome to attend MCEDC's Commissioner Meetings. This is a great opportunity to meet Economic Development staff and learn more about the mission and services that MCEDC provides.
Note: MCEDC requests that presentations are no longer than 3-5 minutes.
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Madera County Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate in Madera County was 9.4 percent in January 2008, up from 8.8 percent in December 2007, and above the year-ago estimate of 8.1 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.3 percent for California and 5.4 percent for the nation during the same period. For more detailed information Click here |
LOCAL NEWS
New Planning Director Named for Madera County
Sierra Star
Jerald James, 46 has been confirmed by the board of supervisors as the new Madera County Planning Director, effective January 1st. Read more... |
Oakhurst defeat has a positive outcome
Fresno Bee
“While the incorporation issue sharply divided the community, the outcome won’t stop friends and neighbors from coming together now to work in the best interests of Oakhurst, said Dave Wolin, Town Council candidate. People who had been active on both sides were talking about forming a new organization, a community action group that would work to keep the Madera County Board of Supervisors aware of Oakhurst’s needs. Read more...
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Fresno airport activity soars in 2007
Business Journal
For the fifth consecutive year, Fresno Yosemite International enjoyed a historic number of passengers flowing through the airport. A record 1,318,483 passengers traveled through FYI in 2007, exceeding passenger traffic in 2006 by more that 3 percent. Read more...
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Farmers diversify with tourism to grow bottom line
Business Journal
 Some of the region’s well-known event destinations include the Madera Wine Trail and Tulare’s World Ag Expo, where 100,000 visitors pump more than $1 billion into the local economy each year. On a smaller scale, stops along self-guided fruit trails allow growers the chance to sell directly to the consumer. Some also provide entertainment opportunities like petting farms and train rides. Read more...
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Madera Co. casino’s pros, cons outlined in Large Study
Fresno Bee
A new Indian casino proposed for Madera County would add jobs, residents, pollution and problem gamblers to the San Joaquin Valley, according to an authoritative and long-awaited study. The massive study finds challenges and opportunities alike in the casino proposed by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.
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STATE NEWS
Cogdill elected as GOP leader
Modesto senator gives Valley 2 top legislative posts
Fresno Bee
Senate Republicans elected Modesto’s Dave Cogdill as their next leader, giving the San Joaquin Valley a monopoly on GOP power in the Legislature. GOP leadership in the Assembly is in the hands of Clovis’ Mike Villines, who has held the post for more than a year. As members of the minority party, Villines and Cogdill have less power than leading Democrats but will take on a key role in the ongoing fight over the state budget. Read more...
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NATIONAL NEWS
The importance of manufacturing
Economic Policy Institute
While U.S. manufacturing has been hit hard by a decade of rapid import growth and job loss, the manufacturing sector remain a vital part of the U.S. economy. The manufacturing sector supported 14 million jobs in 2007, or about 10.1% of total employment.
Read more...
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Proposed SBA ’09 Budget boosts Small Business Financing to $28 Billion, Supports Outreach to Underserved Markets
SBA News Release
President Bush announced a proposed FY 2009 budget for the U.S. Small Business Administration that increases small business lending capacity by 37 percent. Read more...
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New Challenges for Ethanol
Kiplinger Business Resource Center
 An ethanol flood is nearing, by next year, a slew of new plants will have lifted annual output to about 13 billion gallons. That’s more that can be used by E85 (85% ethanol-gasoline) in flexible fuel vehicles on the road and as E10, the 10% ethanol-gasoline blend approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for conventional engines. Prices will plunge further, and profits will disappear for makers. Look for ethanol prices to fall below $2, possibly hovering around $1.70 a gallon through the end of the year.
Read more...
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Save The Date |
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Contact
Madera County
EDC
2425 W.
Cleveland Ave., Suite 101
Madera, CA
93637
559-675-7768
www.maderacountyedc.com
Past
Newsletters
Please
click the below links to see a .pdf of our past
newsletters:
Spring
2007
Click Here
Winter
2007
Click Here
Newsletter
Ideas
If you have a story that you think
might be of interest, please contact:
jherd@maderacountyedc.com
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