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Sonoma County chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned, according to the famed plant wizard Luther Burbank Diverse County, with 1,010,000 acres of land on 1574 miles of scenic roadways, Cinema County is rightfully famed for its agriculture. Did a culture, industry and

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recreation, as well as for the amazingly successful ethnic and economic mixture of its more than 340,000 residents on for the forward looking philosophy of its local governing bodies. Now we invite you to take a closer look at Sonoma County in the eighties with your host Rich

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McGlinchy. Hello again. Welcome to another edition of Sonoma County in the eighties. On this particular of our addition, I should say of our program. We're going to talk to two persons were very much involved with economic development with Dr Ben Stone, who is the coordinator for

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the Economic Development Office upset of Sonoma County. I should say I would understand that that will really get me in trouble, and our other guest is Lino Congress, and she is the vice chair of the Economic Development Board. She's also the vice chair of the economic

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forum, which will be talking about later. And it's nice to have you here. Thank you. Thank you. It's good, I before we get into the actual work to fix before we get into the actual questioning entrant of my two guests, I'd like to mention the two

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paintings that are on our set these air, courtesy of Alice Petricka. Alice has been painting these beautiful regular teams for approximately the past 10 years. We think they're beautiful. And Alice me. Thank you very much for them. Now, how about a little background about your little

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kangaroo? Which I'd be delighted. Do you have about three hours? You didn't think I was settled? Okay, well, perhaps I should make it brief. I know time is of the essence. Um, many of the viewers, they're going to know that I grew up in Germany in

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economic terms. You would call that an import. I hope I don't add to the trade imbalance. Okay. I grew up in Germany, and I came to this country as a young bride and spent a very short time in Oakland, then moved up to Sonoma County, and

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that was at a time when economic development was really taking off, starting to take off in Cinema County. We moved up when State Farm moved up and we've lived in the area and raised out three Children here. And when the last one went to school, finally,

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I went back to school, including the Santa Rosa Junior College. Yes, and after the J. C. I went to Sonoma State University, and I now own my own business. Kangas Insurance and Financial Services sell insurance and investments into financial consulting. And when Nichols Basti appointed me

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to the e. D. B, I was just very thrilled, and I have enjoyed my activities. That's great. We'll talk more about the normal economic for what? Your device. Later. Then how about a little bit run down on you? I've been in some a county for about

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a year. I came here. Remember, I came here from Seattle from the Northwest that I've been involved in both the public and the private sector in my career. Um, I've enjoyed being down here and being part of this beautiful area. I just think this is a

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storybook and its beauty really enjoyed. Rematch. Let me give me a compliment to from from people idea with around the county. You're very welcome the way you have adopted Sonoma County and hard effort put for her. And that kind of leads me into this first question,

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Uh, when with Stomach and Economic Development Board established and originally for what purpose? It was established in 1956. So we have been in operation for over 30 years. Uh, it was established for two main purposes originally was established to provide economic advice to the supervisors on

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activities within the county from review them advice on the economic base of the county. And the second thing was to enhance the income level of county residents and to work to stabilize the county's economic base. So those were the original purposes behind the A comic development

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court. I hope we don't. Well, look around the county. It looks like you know, the county is progressing very well. The economy were one of the fastest growing of the nine Bay area counties. Um, uh, the companies that are moving here, certainly attractive ones on many

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of the businesses here are expanding. So I think it's fair to say we have a very healthy economy locally. Well, I think the economic about the board as such done a splendid job that includes a present. Members might have known the group for for seven many,

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many years and watched their efforts, and and they've always put forth their best efforts. Their best efforts have been forced from accounting to try to do what they feel is correct for the county to incorporate or to encourage businesses. Locate here also to strengthen the businesses

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that are already here, which I think is splendid secondary mode of motor before Willow. Our objective, uh, thinking of you to be. How many members does it have on How do they get appointed? There are 10 citizens that serve on the Economic Development Board. Each supervisor

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points to people to represent him or her. S O rry actually have 10 people. They're appointed for a term of typically, when the supervisor gets elected, they serve during the supervisors term. So a snooze supervisors come. Why, then new members often are appointed. We have the

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Economic Development Board meets once a month, ATT's 7 30 in the morning before Thursday of every month for typically an hour. That's dedication, right there typically for an hour to an hour and 1/2 and discuss our progress. And then we make occasional progress reports to the

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supervisors as a group. And then and then typically the two representative of each supervisor keep in touch with the supervisor and keep him or her price of our progress. Uh, we're going to know who everybody is on that board before the program is your, uh Well,

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I can tell you right now from the first District representative representing Supervisor Janet Nicholas is Mr Charles Cook and John Merritt from the second district representing Supervisor Jim Harverson are Ralph Sartori and marrying Hodge from the third district representing Supervisor Rudy. Our jury is not a

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bitch. And Scott Stegemann from the fourth District. We have low, uh, Angus and Jim West reach and they represent supervisor or Nicolas Pastilles. And then from the fifth District, we have Paul Paddock and Ron Adler and they represent a supervisor earning Carpenter Christian impressive compression. It's

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a repressive group. It really is. I way make a lot of things periodically to be facetious, relaxed, but, I mean, I have nobody are second to no one in my admiration for what needs to be done and tried to do. And what benefits. And you're both

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during a group. You need to be commended. Who are the development board officers this year? I know one of them. Let's stay. Who's the chairperson? Okay. The chairman this year is Jerry Poznan Novich. And as I said, he represents Supervisor Alan. Already on the vice chairman

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is what The high with me. Really? Yep. Me and I have been around way. Just have two officers and they re elected annually by the board. So we'll have. Will be a new election in July. July meeting. They typically a years. All right, well, given the

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vice chair for the past year, Robert be elected chair. Next time it could be could happen. You know, you gotta be ready for this. Uh, but seriously, uh, first of all, have you enjoyed How much have you enjoyed? And how have you enjoyed your time on

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the board and has being an officer of it? Has that been different than just being a regular member? Uh huh. That's a really good question, Rich. Um, I guess I started serving on the board in May or June of 1985 and I had to get used

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to those early meetings 7 30 to be out there and ready, and I did get used to it. So overcoming that minor hurdle I dag ride into the materials and I have observed the Economic Development Board all those years that I've been in Sonoma County and

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I've tried to find out what they were promoting, what they were doing with their activities were. And I suppose I have to admit it was a secret wish of mine to be on this board all along on me. I didn't know it. And so it's It's

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really a dream come true for me when I was appointed, and it's just as exciting as I thought it would be. It's really interesting to sit in a position where you could really have an effect on your community over the business life of your community or

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the future of your community. And your people certainly dio the decisions you make and the the project that you push and follow will be very, very important to Sonoma County are important right now. We'll be a lot more important years ahead, so I could see what

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you mean you're very impressive and important group. I think it's great that you feel that, and it's a really diversified group, which makes it more interesting. They're hardly ever is any angle of a particular issue that we don't examine simply because we have 10 opinions, nine

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of which are separate. They do. I've said it on a couple of days. People call them debates on their meetings. I guess what should? And it passed. And I agree that there, everything's get cussed and discussed doesn't really very good discussions. Yeah, really, and that's that's

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as it should be. You can't make can make decisions without having the approaching the conference thing. All right, where is you really be? Office located no, were located in the Old State Farm building. It's 3033 Cleveland, just north of cutting town, and we're open typically from

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8 to 5, at least off a little bit longer Monday through Friday on. Then we will be trying to be opened on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 to I came here with State Farm Bill that she probably reserved a suite location. People compact there very

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easily. Accessibility is what good assessable Uh today 1987. In the years ahead. What are the primary goal for economic development to really to work, to assist businesses to start up local businesses to start up succeed in expanding their operations? And towards that end, why there's two

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major activities that are carried out rich? The 1st 1 is developing objective economic information economic data regarding economic activities within the county, A subjective and factual is possible, and the second classification work we do involves business assistance programmes to help businesses succeed and become more knowledgeable

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about ways to succeed. And each kid cage I asked a question of either of you if the other would choose to comment around to it. My only do well, I guess once again, having seen the 20 years plus labs, I've seen the change in what DDB

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is doing. And certainly the emphasis currently is in helping smaller businesses, whether they be brand new or whether they're already located here and help them grow whatever assistance that they may need to be more successful. And that's that's just another way that we can broaden the

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economic base, make up more stable, a good idea that certainly a commendable idea because too often, much too often, as I've seen it in traveling abroad state, uh, head of the Information off association for about four different years and during that time were going around the

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state and a visit industrial boards, economic development office or whatever the county makes used to call it. And I found basically that their thought was always bringing in new business, which is a must on new life is a month truth, but to the extent that they

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sell them, really drilled on the business that was already there. And how can we help it get bigger? Because if it gets bigger, it hires more people and put more money in circulation community. So I think the fact that we do that here and work on

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that is really very, very important. It really is rich. About 70% of the new jobs that are created come from local businesses that succeed and grow, so it's really, you know, three or 43 out of four of it of river new jobs are created by local

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people, so that seems an appropriate place to focus and the private sector, through the brokers and so forth are often best skill that bring it. Helping other P other companies from outside the year relocate. So it's a good, appropriate division of of effort. We'll get a

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pause right here for a moment, bringing the audience of public service announcement after which, you know, Ben and I will return. We talk more about economic development into account. Hey, remember your lungs. I can understand why you forget them after all, is that song they got?

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I've hard. It wasn't. You gotta have bombs. Vital smoking really messes your lungs up until finally you can't breathe. Maybe they'll never Right. I left Mile lungs in San Francisco, So take care of your lungs. They're only human. The American Lung Association, This is Raymond Burr.

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There have been important changes in our criminal justice system. Now crime victims have rights. If you or someone you know is a victim of a crime, a free program is available to help you learn about, Thies writes. Pick up the phone and dial toll free 1

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800 victims. Learn about victims rights and services. Call now 1 800 victims. Welcome back to this tradition of Sonoma County in the eighties were talking about economic development, and we're talking with two persons who are very, very closely involved with it. Our economic development coordinator, Ben

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Stone, and little Congas who was the vice chair of the baby, you know, So the sheriff's more. We're gonna get to that in just a moment. But then Or as I said earlier, I'll ask the question and of either of you would like to comment, by

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all means do How is the economic data development function accomplished? It's typically accomplished in the past by the county staff to the Economic Development Board in the future will be handled by the Snow Economic Forum, which hopefully will be discussing in a few minutes. Um, the

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types of data we developed. I brought some here just Teoh, show me we could hold up a couple of their hold these up immunity. If we can get a shot, Go ahead. What you got there is a directory of manufacturers. We also have right next to

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it a directory of employers and these were used by broad variety of people. They're used to people want to start a new business. It tells them where they might go for sources for their goods, for the materials they may use. It also gives them lists of

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customers, potential customers. Um, and it also helps them identify the competition. It gives the name and the phone number and the address of about 2000 companies in the county of these available to the public. Yes, they are there at the available at the EBI office, Uh,

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in the old State farm buildings are also available, typically at the chambers throughout the county. They're very reasonably priced, their $10 for the director manufacturers and $5 for the employers. Everybody in New York Community County in the And they're also very much used by people looking

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for work, either young people out of college or people on their way to look for You know, what we have here, this one is, are many file, and it provides a lot of, uh, broad information on trends in the county economic trends in terms of population,

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housing, labour, those types of things typically on one page, form these last two. You have our economic overview and the economic data file, and they provide a lot of detailed information on demographics, Economic indicators uh, what you've got. Their data file is a roughly 250 pages,

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and it's promoted. You could write a trivial pursuit game over that, uh, Sonoma County. Trivial Pursuit. Almost every fact figure on Sonoma County is contained, and that goes for about $13. The next Brothers has called doing business in Sonoma County, and it provides a guide for

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people trying to start a business. It gives them kind of a step by step, approach the steps. They should think about it, starting a business. And the last one here. Last one we have here is our international trade directory. All right, take it on. It has

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a lot of information of what's available from the U. S. Government, from the state, from the county and from other agencies for people wanted to get started in exporting goods overseas. So we have a fairly broad array of information for people want to start a business

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or to expand their business. Okay, Once again, these are all available from the Economic Development Office. Yes, he's at 3033 clean really week in Santa Rosa, just North Korean State Farm going the whole state farm building, right. And, uh, as I said, these in the past

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have been developed by county staff, and now we'll be developing them with some state university to the Economic forum. OK, now, Economic Forum. We've mentioned that, and we also have the vice chair with just by good fortune this evening. Um, what's the idea behind this moment?

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What's the idea behind the Sonoma Economic Forum Question? Yes, it is a good question. Um, the idea is one of a partnership. Now, Ben was telling you and enrich, you were showing the various publications, the various items of data that have been developed over the years,

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and they have filled a need up to a point. In fact, I'm not sure if under bends guidance, we couldn't continue on that same track, However, um, with the Sonoma Economic Forum, we hope to go deeper into the issues. So beside gathering information, we would want

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to gather information, analyze, reach conclusions and discuss those findings. Um, and that could be done via publication. Or it could be done in some of the open forums meetings that would be open to the public. And why did we form of partnership? The idea being that

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we would take the highly skilled people that are resource to as its enormous state university and combine them with the business community. And at the start, this was a partnership between Economic Development Board and Cinema State University and, um for I would say, a little over

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a year, the steering committee, which I had the privilege to chair, worked on preparing for the formal organisation, which we have now formed. So, speaking of that, what is the former structure of economic Okay, the formal structure will basically be one off a nonprofit corporation. However,

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it will be under the umbrella of the Sonoma State University's foundation and for various legal and practical reasons. We had to go along that way and nobody minds the protection of a number. Anyway, um, from these, um, an executive board will be at the top of

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the hierarchy making the decisions as to what direction the forum is going to go. And I could elaborate here because, um, while we have given a great deal of thought to how this should be set up, we also working with here and now snowmen County of

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the eighties and Cinema State University, and it's evolving and the new school of business and the dean of the school of business. In fact, the decision was made that because this partnership concept and the preliminaries that have been going on this last year because it was

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working so well that the dean of the school of Business who is currently Jeff Doubt PhD, should be the permanent share of the executive board. Okay, so to give you a little more idea, just like in the beginning on the steering committee, we will have to

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representatives from Sonoma State being the dean and one of his professors from the economics department Steve Lewis. And we will have two people from the E. D. B, currently Jim Westridge and myself from me to be. And beyond that, we have Val Sabako, one of the

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individuals who originally promoted the idea, often of economic think tank think tank, led to partnership and forum, and I don't want to go into the development there too much. But Val was instrumental in that regard, works on the kind of information that the that there's no

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makeup for him will be developing, and how will that be presented? Okay, what kinds of information. Um, first of all, we have set ourselves an overall objective, that it should be economic issues and that those economic issues should be of concern to the public into the

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decision makers in Sonoma County. This is too differentiated from, say, a private contract where a particular corporation sees the need for data and wants to form a contract and have a research carried out. So we're looking at economic issues and the vast majority of individuals who

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have indicated a preference wanted studies on demographics. Demographics. As you probably know, it's a big area, and it could encompass anything from the distribution of the population in the area. Growth patterns, income patterns, employment and unemployment skills. Um, your name, everything is gonna happen in tow.

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It's the demographics will be on main emphasis. And the way we found out was, um, and perhaps I'm jumping a little bit ahead here in in our schedule. Last August, the Economic Forum had a kickoff breakfast that Cinema State University and somewhere around 100 business leaders

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from the area attended, and we wanted to share the concept with them to see. Did they think it would be a worthwhile idea, and they seem to feel so. And then we went one step further and said, If you do believe this to be a worthwhile

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idea, what kinds of things do you want us to research? And we pretty much gave them a list of possibles. And many of the various items are under the general topic. If demographics, let's jump to another subject quickly. But but I didn't cover some of these

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things. Tell us a little bit more about the local agricultural marketing program. Very quickly. Rich Re are being formed a committee to look into ways to help agriculture succeed in the county. This county is blessed with a climate location near San Francisco, where there's every reason

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for agriculture to succeed. Recently, you may have seen in the paper that agriculture is still our largest industry, certainly with the changing palette of America for fresh vegetables, Fresh foods. Why? There's a real opportunity for cinema county to excel, so we're forming a committee to work

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with. That involves the snow Mr University, the junior college. Various farm groups were looking at Princeton developing a logo or an Appalachian for semi saying grown and we're process in Sonoma County. That would be on restaurant menus in the groceries, on products that go out, much

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as you see washing state apples or those types of things. So it's an effort to help hair culture succeed. It should. It should certainly worthwhile project. What's the concept behind the small business? This is a program where we'll bring in the various agencies that work with

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small business in the county. The Service Corp. Retired executives, the Junior College Cinema State University, the Chambers of Commerce and the Snow Mechanic on developed board. You will collate, locate ourselves and to provide a one stop place for people to get information on how to start

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or expand their business. I really think that's a fascinating little deal about how to start your business. Yeah, that fascinate me. Uh, one of the major question here. What's the idea behind this normal county international trade? The, uh, the rapid plummet of the dollar going down

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to 60% from what it was with the against the yen has given American producers a riel opportunity now overseas on President Reagan and governed Major really emphasising exports and a to local level. We can do things to help, too. Uh, the eggnog billboard surveyed roughly 200

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companies we found there. 75 of them were exporting and were interested in forming a World Trade Association. So we've had our first steering committee meeting and will be putting on programs to help companies, uh, especially new to export company succeed in their exporting. We have a

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little less than, uh, there's one other thing I wanted to ask in addition to Economic Forum, whatever activities is eating be pursuing at the moment. Well, it's a committed some of the user, most of them primarily working with the I think our property has been the

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Snowman Economic Forum on then. These programs, such as the Moral Business Center, Agriculture Marketing on the International Trade Association. Yeah, and I think the nice thing here is that every year we go to the Board of Supervisors was a work plan. And like this year, the

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work plan included the forum and our agricultural marketing, the International Trade Association, the business Center, and hopefully, as we go into next year, some of these tests will be achieved, and we can put new tests on our list of work program. That way we keep the

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supervisor surprised of what we want to do. And if they like it, they give us a start. Finish things. Things get started and get lost in the shuffle. But thank you both. Thank you. Thank you Should very much, uh, we have to wrap up, as they

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say. So we will do that right now. You've had Ben Stone, the coordinator for economic development office and low. Candace, who is the vice chair of the of the Economic Development Board and also the vice chair of the Snowmen Economic Forum as our guest. And we

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have been talking about economic. My name is rich. McGlinchey programs to know McCann in the eighties. I'll be back next week with another member of the county government. Family are related agency until then. So long. Good luck. Could help. And good night.