SSU Economic Outlook Conference in Rohnert Park on March 2, 2018 (Photo by Anthony Borders/NBBJ)
With national and California economies good, economist Robert Eyler, Ph.D., is positive about continued expansion — perhaps through 2021 — and believes Marin County will not recess without a national and state recession coming first.
“There are two major economy drivers in Marin — biosciences/biotech research linked to health and wellness, along with tourism, hospitality, food and beverage categories,” said the chief economist for Marin Economic Forum. He’s also dean of the School of Extended and International Education senior international officer and professor of economics at Sonoma State University. “These industry clusters should be supported and enabled to increase in breadth and depth in the years ahead.
“Tourism is big with so much weekly flow of visitors through Marin, the beverage and hospitality sector still has room to grow — including West Marin, home of a burgeoning artisan cheese market in a setting that includes scenic attractions and ocean views.”
Independence Fosters Marin General Hospital’s Innovative Spirit
By Lee Domanico, Chief Executive Officer
Much has been said about our success as a locally owned, independent facility. The hospital is now on solid operational and financial ground. Independence has allowed us to build our own infrastructure, finance, IT, supply management, and executive operations. Independence also allows us more room to be innovative as we develop programs for the community, foster the expertise of our medical staff and ensure we provide a safe, healing environment for our patients where our staff can do their best work.
San Rafael, CA (February 28, 2018) – Marin Economic Forum Chief Executive Officer Robin Sternberg announced today that the organization has received a $50,000 grant from the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay and $50,000 in matching funds from College of Marin to examine current and future employment needs in Marin County for two industries – tourism/hospitality and business/technology.
Since Marin Economic Forum’s (MEF) founding in 2009, this is the first time the nonprofit has been awarded grant funds for work related to workforce issues in Marin County and demonstrates the new administration’s proactive approach to addressing the needs of employers in Marin County.
Robin Sternberg, who was hired in August last year, has an extensive background in strategic efforts to improve the economy through private-public collaboration and economic and workforce development programs.
As transportation officials consider options to expand the Richmond Bridge to mitigate morning commutes coming into Marin and evening commutes leaving the county, the concept of a third lane on the north side of the upper deck coming into Marin has risen to the top – yet only as a section of roadway for pedestrians and bicyclists. In January, however, Marin Supervisor Damon Connolly (full disclosure, Damon is on MEF’s board), said that the third lane should also be used for westbound (inbound) vehicles, especially during morning commute times.
San Rafael, CA (February 23, 2018) – Marin Economic Forum Chief Executive Officer Robin Sternberg announced today a slate of new directors for the economic advocacy organization’s non-executive board.
New Board Directors are:
Karah Parschauer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Ultragenyx
Steve Fox, Chief Financial Officer of EO Products
Kevin Kearney, Real Estate Consultant, Vanguard Properties
Sherie Hickman, Administrator at Novato Community Hospital
Christian Thwaites, Chief Strategist at Brouwer & Janachowski
Transportation planners need more funds to complete the Novato Narrows widening project on Highway 101 between northern Marin and Petaluma. (IJ photo/Alan Dep)
By Mark Prado
Marin business leaders say completing the Novato Narrows widening is crucial for the economy of the North Bay and they hope new funding sources can see the project through.
Sources of cash from a state gas tax increase and possible bridge toll increase made getting $250 million to finish the work a possibility.
And Marin transportation officials are speeding up the design of Novato Narrows widening to make sure they are ready to go to construction if money becomes available.
This photo illustration shows plans for the RH showroom in the Village at Corte Madera mall parking lot. (Provided by Town of Corte Madera)
By Adrian Rodriguez
The Corte Madera Planning Commission Tuesday unanimously signed off on an application for a swanky 46,000-square-foot furniture gallery at the Village at Corte Madera shopping mall.
The Corte Madera-based luxury furniture brand RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, will now take its proposal to the Town Council for consideration. The council is expected to review the project at a public hearing in December, said Phil Boyle, senior planner.
A major proposed mixed-use project along Third Street in San Rafael got both praise and slams this week in its first public run-through before the city’s Design Review Board.
The project, at 999 Third St. at the former site of a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. building, includes two new lab and office buildings from pharmaceutical company BioMarin and a 53-unit senior housing and activities building for Whistlestop, a nonprofit serving older adults.
The Marin Economic Forum has done reports on local development projects, including the proposed RH showroom in Corte Madera. (Rendering courtesy of Restoration Hardware/Town of Corte Madera)
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The Marin Economic Forum was formed in 2010 to create a public/private partnership that makes a strong local economy a community priority. The goal was to make sure economic factors were not overlooked in the public decision making process across Marin.
For instance, while a lot of political attention is devoted to traffic or saving open space, the forum’s work is intended to help make sure the importance of local jobs and healthy businesses are also on the decision-making radar.
San Rafael, CA (August 23, 2017) – Marin Economic Forum Chairman of the Board Haden Ongaro announced today the hiring of Kentfield resident Robin Sternberg as Marin Economic Forum’s new Chief Executive Officer. Marin Economic Forum (MEF) is a public-private partnership created in 2010 to foster economic vitality while also enhancing social equity and protecting the environment. MEF’s 2016-2017 budget is $454,000, which includes recent matching grants of $150,000 from Marin County.
Sternberg comes to the Marin Economic Forum with a strong background in economic development and job growth strategies for high technology sectors and small businesses. Most recently she worked as the Senior Economic Development Advisor on the American Jobs Project at the University of California at Berkeley, where she was a lead advisor and author of a report focused on job creation in the clean energy efficiency sector.
