Greg Adams . City of HughsonJames Aja . Operating Engineers Local 3Mary Armstrong . United Domestic WorkersJulio Arroyo . Teamsters Local 386Ross Briles . FunworksRaelene Brown . CWA Local 9333Anthony Cannella . City of CeresSean Carroll . Ross f. Carroll, Inc.Tom Changnon . SCOE

Sam Cuellar . City of PattersonRalph Curtis . Curtis & ArataDavid Danner . BAC Local 3Kimball Dreiling . Department of RehabilitationJoe Duran . Community Trust Credit UnionJan Ennenga . Manufacturers CouncilJohn Evans . Evans EnterprisesJohn Fantazia . City of NewmanErnie Flores . CVOCJeff Foster . Foster Farms

Rick Fritzemeier . Youth for Christ

Gilbert Gonzales . Machinist Local 1528Jeff Grover . Solecon Industrial ContractorsRichard Hagerty . Modesto SteelKathy Halsey . AT & T

Corwin Harper . Kaiser Permanente

Brad Hawn . LBDGGlenna Henson . EDDBrian Hogan . US BankFarrell Jackson . City of OakdaleCraig Lewis . Prudential California RealtyKirk Lindsey . Brite Transport SystemsJoy Madison . Modesto Chamber of CommerceTom Norquist . Tenney A. Norquist, Inc.William O’Brien . Stanislaus CountyBilly Powell . IBEWMargaret Randazzo . Modesto BeeJim Ridenour . City of ModestoRick Robinson . Stanislaus CountyRichard Rose . Modesto Junior College

Sharon Silva . Turlock Chamber of CommerceKurt Spycher . City of TurlockDiane Stewart . Machinist Local 1528Jim Theis . Coldwell Banker Endsley & Assoc.Tom Van Groningen . TVG ConsultingPaul Van Konynenburg . Britton-Konynenburg Steve Ward . Jack Frost IceJim Weaver . City of Waterford

Board Of Directors

Board OfficersRichard Hagerty . ChairModesto Steel

Sean Carroll . Vice ChairRoss F. Carroll, Inc.

Brian Hogan . TreasurerUS Bank

Jeff Grover . SecretarySolecon Industrial Contractors

Paul Van Konynenburg . Immediate Past ChairBritton-Konynenburg

Bill Bassitt . CEOThe Alliance

Stanislaus Economic Development & Workforce Alliance1010 10th Street . PO Box 3091Modesto . California 95353P - 209 . 567.4985 F - 209 . 567.4944website: www.stanalliance.com

Alliance Missionthe mission and responsibility of the allianceis overseeing both economic development andworkforce training activities for the county ofstanislaus.

SunOpta recently announced the location of its new soymilk processing and packaging facility to Stanislaus County. The 200,000 square foot facility will occupy the former Signature Fruit Plant #1. Company representatives indicated it should be operational by fall 2008. SunOpta will produce and package organic aseptic soymilk and other aseptic beverages from the Modesto plant. “We have been working with SunOpta for about two years,” said Doug Sweetland, Director of Economic Development for the Alliance. “Most people don’t realize that when a company decides to relocate, it can take several months or even years to facilitate the entire process.”

In a recent company announcement Allan Routh, President of the SunOpta Grains and Foods Group commented, “The new Modesto facility, when combined with the aseptic packaging facility in Alexandria, Minnesota will bring total production capacity to approximately 250 to 300 million quarts of soymilk and other beverages per year once the new plant is fully operational.”

Routh, who was in Modesto this month, sat down with Alliance team members and discussed company timeline, workforce needs and the Stanislaus Enterprise Zone 40. The new plant will be within zone boundaries and should be able to take advantage of Zone 40 benefits.

Routh further stated, “The expansion of our soymilk portfolio, especially into the foodservice market, requires us to expand our production capabilities to meet customer demands and accommodate growth in our core organic soymilk and alternate beverages portfolios. Strategically, this Modesto facility will enable SunOpta to geographically leverage our vertically integrated soymilk model and provide our customers with a cost effective and quality product. The Alliance Economic Development Staff was very instrumental in assisting SunOpta to make Modesto the best choice for our facility expansion.”

The new plant plans to hire 100 positions within the first year of operation, and could triple employment in the next three years. Routh will be working closely with the Alliance Business Services Unit to help SunOpta find qualified applicants for their Modesto operation.

SunOpta Announces Expansion of SoymilkOperation to Modesto

“Strategically this Modesto facility will enable SunOpta to geographically

leverage our vertically integrated soymilk model and provide our customers with a cost effective and quality product. The Alliance Economic Development Staff

was very instrumental in assisting SunOpta to make Modesto the best choice for our facility expansion.”

Allan Routh, President SunOpta Grains and Foods Group

Chris Crifesi . City of Riverbank

Marty Fox . Grimbleby Coleman CPA’s

Maria Halstead . Macerich Vintage Faire Mall

Leonard Harrington . Turlock Auto Plaza

Rob Santos . TID

STANISLAUS RIVER VALLEY . CALIFORNIA . Spring/Summer 2008

WWW.STANALLIANCE.COM >> NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE STANISLAUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & WORKFORCE ALLIANCE <<

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STANISLAUS IS SEEING GREEN...Cilion’s Ethanol Plant Close to Completion

For over 30 years Royal Robbins, based inModesto, has been designing and distributing a unique line of outdoor wear. Founded by Royal and Liz Robbins, the company is now a subsidiary of Kellwood Company, a leading marketer of apparel and consumer soft goods.

LeaAnn Hoogestraat, Manager of Economic Development for the Alliance began workingwith Royal Robbins in February 2007. “I’ve kept up on all of their corporate changes,” shecommented. “My chief concern has been to make sure we do whatever we can for our local businesses. I have stayed in close contact with this company since they were subsequently acquired by Kellwood in June 2007. We’d like them to stay here, and do anything we can to make that happen.”

Hoogestraat recently sat down with a companyrepresentative and discussed business issues.“I mentioned taking advantage of the enterprisezone, its benefits and how being in the zonecould help improve their bottom line. A callwas made to the corporate office and a greenlight to pursue the enterprise zone is a go.”

Royal Robbins has retail stores in Modesto andBerkeley. In July, they will open their first outlet store at 761 Kearney Avenue. The Royal Robbins clothing line is designed locally andemploys 41 people at its Princeton location in Modesto.

If you are a fan of this well known line of outdoor clothing, then look for its outlet storegrand opening soon!!

Popular Outdoor ClothingRetailer Set to Open Outlet Store

US Gasoline Price HistoryRegular Grade Reformulated Gas at Retail

Source: US EIA

Slated for completion this Summer, Cilion’s $100 million corn-to-ethanol plant near Highway 99 in Keyes, will pump out about 55 million to 60 million gallons of ethanol a year. Founded in May 2006, Cilion is a renewable fuels company that converts corn into ethanol to power cars and trucks. The company has established itself as a leader in the U.S. ethanol fuel market. The Keyesplant will be the second for California.

BUT MOTORISTS ARE SEEING RED!

The above chart shows fuel prices through late June 2008. As depicted, retail gasoline prices have more than tripled this decade. They are up $2 per gallon since the winter of 2006. For a commuter traveling 50 miles to work and getting 25 miles per gallon, that equates to an extra annual expense of $2,000. Multiplied by the roughly 20,000 Stanislaus residents that face an hour or longer commute, this translates into a $40 million economic hit. Below, shows that Americans are now cutting back on the number of miles they drive.

Change in Monthly Vehicle Miles TraveledYear-over-year, miles in billions. Source: Federal Highway Administration

ADAPTING TO CHANGE : Alliance Presents At ConferenceWhen Hershey announced it was closing, the Alliance Rapid Response Team steppedinto action. It was at a recent conferencewhere Alliance Business Services Representatives, Paula O’Leary and Darlene Smith, took part in a panel disussion aboutthe nationally recognized closure.

Union and Rapid Response Practitioners from around the country convened at the 2008 Workforce and Economic Development/AFL-CIO Conference entitled “Adapting to Change”. O’Leary and Smith, along with Local Teamsters 386 ConsultantDon Wilson and Raelene Brown, plus the Central Labor Council presented a well-received workshop entitled “Union & Rapid Response Collaboration in the Real World, a timeline case study of the Hershey, Oakdale, CA closure”. The panel talked about the closure, how it affected the community of Stanislaus and how the Alliance Worknet continues to support the dislocated workers.

O’Leary and Smith have been invited to take their show on the road.WHO’S LOOKING

Firms Show Interest in StanislausSquare Potential

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With in the last year, several new companies have decided to locate in Stanislaus County.

Absopure Water CompanyLocation: Modesto

CilionLocation: Keyes

Westfalia SeparatorLocation: Patterson

SunOptaLocation: Modesto

Sconza Candy CompanyLocation: Oakdale

Premier Bakery Location: Modesto

MADE IN THE STANISLAUS

RIVER VALLEY

Alliance ImplementingCertified Site CriteriaWhat does this mean? Essentially, all industrially zoned sites in the county, 10 acres or more, have been evaluated to determine if they meet the criteria for a Tier 1, 2 or 3 status. Tier 1 sites are those sites that have the characteristics to meet a 60 days or less development timeframe. Tier 2 sites are those sites that can be ready within a year. Tier 3 sites are a year out for eventual development.

The Certified Site program assists property owners and developers in determining the status of their land and what it will take to make the property ready for development. The program will better help the Alliance identify inventory that can be marketed to site selection firms and brokers throughout the Country as available to meet their client demands for land and time.

Rapid Response Team Continues ToPlay Key Role In Helping BusinessIn June, the Alliance Rapid Response Team assisted 10 companies with layoff and/orclosure assistance. Approximately 370 people were affected by the downsizings.

Alliance Business Services RepsHelp Recruit For Local EmployersAlliance BSR’s have been busy assisting local employers find the best possible matchfor their employment needs.

O’Briens Market Premier BakeryAntonini Trucking Burnside AutobodyModesto Tech College Ryders RestaurantTenney Norquist CilionGallo Center for the Arts PlastipakWestfalia Separator Absopure

Kaiser Permanente is the nation's largest not-for-profit health plan, serving 8.7 million members. Improving the health of the community it serves, as well as improving the health of its members is a strategicpriority for the organization. Helping them to “Thrive” is a commitment.

Through the Strengthening Stanislaus II campaign Kaiser is doing just that. Thehealth care giant continues to play a leading role in the economic vitality of Stanislaus County. It was the first organization to pledge their support at $250,000.

Corwin Harper, Senior Vice President/Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente Central Valley sits on the Alliance Board of Directors, as well as serving as a campaign co-chair for the fund-raising program.

“Successful communities across the countryhave strong economic development programs, that is why we need to support the Alliance,” said Harper in a written statement.

It is through partnerships with groups like the Alliance, Kaiser works to benefit the overall community by addressing issues and concerns that affect its overall health.

"Kaiser Permanente believes that economic development, education, health and wellness and environmental stewardship are the foundation of a healthy community. Helping ensure a healthy workforce that supports economic development and leads to the total health of the communities we serve is a core value of Kaiser Permanente," Harper said.

This Fall Kaiser will open the doors to its new, environmentally ”green” Modesto Medical Center. Kaiser's hospital expansion is a welcome addition to this community!

Enterprise Zone Receives Approval For ExpansionIn a letter dated June 30, the Department of Housing and Community Development approved the expansion of Zone 40. The approval of the expansion request extends the final geographic boundries to include 189 acres in the City of Patterson and 620 acres in the City of Turlock. The effective date of the expansion area will be retroactive to June 12, 2008. With the expansion, the total acreage of Zone 40 has increased to approximately 75,000 acres, whichcontinues to make Stanislaus one of the largest enterprise zones in California. To date close to 4,300 voucher applications have been received and 328 companies have requested vouchers. For information on Zone 40, call 523-ZONE.

Alliance Welcomes New Board MembersOn July 1, Richard Hagerty took over as Chairman replacing Paul Van Konynenburg who served as Chair for two years. Joining Hagerty at the executive board table will be vice chair Sean Carroll, Ross F. Carroll, Inc.; treasurer, Brian Hogan, US Bank; secretary Jeff Grover, Solecon Industrial Contractors; and immediate past chair Paul Van Konynenburg.

Alliance board members new and old will join forces in fiscal year 2008-2009 to guide economic and workforce development in the Stanislaus River Valley: Greg Adams, City of Hughson; James Aja, Operating Engineers Local 3; Mary Armstrong, United Domestic Workers of America; Julio Arroyo, General Teamsters Local Union 38; Ross Briles, Fun Works; Raelene Brown, CWA Local 1528; Anthony Cannella, City Ceres; Sean Carroll, Ross F. Carroll Inc.; Tom Changnon, Stanislaus County of Education; Chris Crifasi, City of Riverbank; Sam Cuellar, City of Patterson; Ralph Curtis, Curtis & Arata; David Danner, BAC Local 3; Kimball Dreiling, Department of Rehabilitation; Joe Duran, Community Trust Credit Union; Jan Ennenga, Manufactures Council; John Evans, Evans Enterprises; John Fantazia, City of Newman; Ernie Flores, Central Valley Opportunity Center; Jeff Foster, Foster Farms; Martin Fox, Gimbleby Coleman CPA's; Rick Fritzmeier, Youth for Christ; Gilbert Gonzales, Machinists Local 1528; Jeff Grover, Solecon Industrial Contractors, Inc.; Richard Hagerty, Modesto Steel; Kathy Halsey, AT&T External Affairs; Maria Halstead, Vintage Fair Mall; Leonard Harrington, Turlock Auto Plaza; Corwin Harper, Kaiser Permanente; Brad Hawn, Lionakis Beaumont Design Group; Glenna Henson, Employment Development Department; Brian Hogan, US Bank; Farrell Jackson, City of Oakdale; Craig Lewis, Prudential California Realty; Kirk Lindsey, Brite Transport; Joy Madison, Modesto Chamber of Commerce; Tom Norquist, Tenney A Norquist; William O'Brien, Stanislaus County; Billy Powell, IBEW; Margaret Randazzo, Modesto Bee; Jim Ridenour, City of Modesto; Rick Robinson, Stanislaus County CEO; Richard Rose, Modesto Junior College; Rob Santos, TID; Sharon Silva, Turlock Chamber of Commerce; Kurt Spycher, City of Turlock; Diane Stewart, Machinists Local 1528; Jim Theis, Coldwell Banker Endsley & Associates; Tom Van Groningen, TVG; Paul Van Konynenburg, Britton-Konynenburg Partners; Steve Ward, Jack Frost Ice; Jim Weaver; Pacific Southwest Container.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Kaiser Supports Strengthening Stanislaus II Campaign

After an intensive review of consulting firms from across the country, a Palo Alto based firm will head an in-depth study into the current lab and research activities of Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Merced counties. Frost and Sullivan was awarded the project in early July by a search committee headed by Jeff Rowe, Director of the Alliance Worknet. The study will be conducted through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Through Frost and Sullivan, the study will determine the employment needs and skill levels of the existing bio and science business base, and work with the educational community to provide the training programs needed to fill available positions as identified by employers. In addition, the firm will assist in identifying the potential for future business opportunities in the biotech industry.

The end result of this effort is to further diversify the regional economy while strengthening the existing agricultural base.

VALLEY BIO SCIENCE C O A L I T I O NC O A L I T I O NSTANISLAUS - SAN JOAQUIN - MERCED

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