Monday, February 28, 2011

Plenty Of Solano Commercial Space For Rent Available

Solano County’s main government and business capital Fairfield has too much commercial space for rent. It was around 15.6% in the 4th quarter of 2010; increasing from maybe 14.9% the previous quarter. 
Vacaville  which is primarily a bedroom community with nice retail and dining spaces for rent is at around 20.9% - it was about 21%.

People believe the vacancy rate for commercial Solano real estate is healthy when it is below 4%.  Solano is over built with too much commercial real estate available for lease.

Nominations For Most Innovative Solano Businesses



Solano Business News Is Taking Nominations For Solano County’s Most Innovative Businesses.

What Solano Business News is looking for includes:
• Offering great value for the price.
• Innovative new services or products
• Creative marketing strategies
• Solano businesses that have created positive impacts in our Solano County community.

Must be located in Solano County's Fairfield, Benicia, Dixon, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vallejo or Vacaville.

Deadline is March 4th, 2011.
Call Steven Kays at 707 427-6443

Free Green Tech Help & $50 U.S. Green Building Council Workshop

Free: Solano Business Incubator at California Business Center offers free Solano conference rooms to lecturers discussing green technology. Solano Business Incubator is not using your tax dollars as costs are covered from private donors. 707 434-8000.

$50: U.S. Green Building Council is sponsoring green workshops
March 3, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1–3:30 p.m.
www.usgbc-rec.org, 707-664-6250

Job hirers biased against the jobless?

 
Are employers biased against hiring people who are on Solano unemployment? Read the Sacramento Bee article

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/28/3435016/job-front-are-hirers-biased-against.html

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Some Good News. California Tax Burden Dropped. But It's Still Too High

Californians' income tax burden luckily declined in 2009. But Californian's tax burden is sixth highest in the US.

California taxes declined from around 11% of personal income in 2008, to around 10.6% in 2009.

California's 2009 per capita personal income was around $46,366, while their per capita tax bill was around $4,910.

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/02/californians-tax-burden-declin.html

Is Vallejo A Dying City For Good Business?

Here Is What Others Are Saying. Might Vallejo Be A Dying City For Good Business? Or Can Vallejo Revitalize Itself?

http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_17348543

Yolo County Versus Solano Innovations With Alternative Transportation

Is Yolo County more innovative than Solano County?

Natural Resource Defense Council scored Yolo County as one of America’s "Smartest Regions for Transportation". Solano Transportation Authority is also making good progress. However Yolo County's population is more focused on alternative transportation, making Solano Transportation Authority's that much harder.

Solano Transportation Authority and Fairfield City Council hope to further redevelope the central bus center at Fairfield's central business district, near highway I-80.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/02/25/yolo-among-top-transportation-regions.html

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Unconventional Ways to Sell Innovative Ideas

Unconventional Ways to Sell Your Innovative Invention Or Business Idea

Ask what your boss’s significant other thinks about your innovative idea. A it turns out, this facet is often what makes or kills new innovations in Solano.  It's not intrinsically unethical to creatively appeal to a boss's significant other, any more than it's intrinsically wise to do so.

700 Job Openings Today At Job Fair

Employers at the Sacramento job fair today Wed Feb 23, 2011 have around 700 job openings.

Solano County residents that land a job say in downtown Sacramento will find driving times perhaps under 45 minutes to the highway 80 and 50 interchange.

The California Job Journal has the HIREvent career fair noon until 4PM.  Holiday Inn-Northeast at 5321 Date Avenue, Sacramento.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/23/3422860/job-journal-to-host-career-fair.html

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Solano Booksellers Struggling Against Online Booksellers

Amazon.com and large booksellers pushed smaller Solano booksellers out of business. Despite this trend Borders, and Barnes & Noble decided to open nice new Solano bookstores.
 
Solano's Innovation Institute predicts local booksellers will suffer faster from the likes of Amazon.com, than the Solano booksellers perhaps originally estimated.

Years ago, Steven Kays, CEO of Innovation Institute, LLC was puzzled as to why Borders, and Barnes & Noble went ahead with their costly plans to open their new Solano county book shops. Kays asked if Borders, and Barnes & Noble were only operating from a short term business plan to drive book buyers to their websites, with the expectation of closing down the brick and mortar parts of their business later.

More on Borders, and Barnes & Noble in Solano County.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_17442000

Monday, February 21, 2011

What Traits Do Highly Successful People Have?

What Traits Do Highly Successful People Have?

Learn from other business people to improve your Solano business skills.

http://blog.topplaza.com/2010/06/top-10-traits-of-highly-successful-people

Sunday, February 20, 2011

UC Davis & Solano's Innovation Institute tackling airport liquid explosives


UC Davis and nearby Innovation Institute are innovating systems used for wine testing. They are being applied instead to recognize liquid explosives at airport checkpoints.  Separately Innovation Institute filed patent applications in over 80 countries on related ways of testing liquid contents.  Innovation Institute’s invention is called Adaptive Tracking System™ which also matches profiles of suspected terrorists with its Adaptive Predictor™ in predicting likely substances airport passengers might be carrying.

Subscribers can read more at www.DailyRepublic.com

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Free Salary Subsidies: Solano County Reimburses 80%


Get Free Salary Subsidies From Solano County. CalWorks Reimburses 80% Of The Salary For Newly Filled Job Openings.  New Solano Employees Must Already Have Qualified For Receiving CalWorks Benefits.

Solano County employers get reimbursed 80% of the salaries when filling new Solano job openings. Solano employers must give at least 20 hours per week. Solano employers can set salaries at up to $16 per hour, dollar amounts over $16 per hour are not reimbursed. Solano employers’ supervisory and Solano training costs must be at least 25% of the Solano employers’ subsidized wage costs. Monies can come from CalWorks and other Solano government job subsidy programs.

Solano Supervisor Mike Reagan, from the Solano Board of Supervisors said, "Local companies want to expand their businesses, create jobs and get our economy moving," Solano Supervisor Mike Reagan also stated, “We want them to do so as well and the Create Jobs program gives them (Solano job seekers) a little extra incentive to add jobs now.”

Industrial level job openings might be one of the ideal employees Solano businesses can go to Solano’s CalWorks for.

Other California counties have their own employment subsidy programs. Solano County employers can get more details via createjobs@solanocounty.com, www.solanocounty.com/createjobs or 707 553-5173. The Solano job subsidy program applies to all Solano County cities of Benecia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville plus Vallejo.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Free Solano Tax Workshops For Solano Businesses & Individuals

Free Solano Tax Workshops. To check on availability. Call California Business Center 707 434-8000. Other services for small professional businesses including Solano conference rooms. California Business Center also offers Virtual offices, office suite rentals, phone answering. Tax services, and free initial tax help provided by tenants renting Fairfield office suites California Business Center.

Free General Tax Workshops: http://www.fairfield.ca.gov/latest_news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=170&TargetID=1

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Tips For Getting Recruited By Solano Hi Technology Start Ups

Interesting Tips For Getting Recruited By Solano Hi Tech Start Ups

How do you convince Solano start ups to hire you?  Interesting video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omxGFEaJtgw

A good percentage of the Solano hi technology start ups are in Solano Business Incubator.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Solano Businesses Like How Government Helps Redevelop Solano's Main Gateway

Solano County Businesses Like How Solano & Local Government Helps Redevelop Solano's Main Gateway To Solano Capital.

Solano businesses along the main gateway drivers take to the Solano capital and central business center look forward to how the area will be redeveloped.

Another great improvement was made along Solano County’s main gateway in 2010. The grand opening of the innovated Allan Witt Aquatics Complex, involved a very modern indoor and outdoor swimming pool.  It also included the replacement and relocation of restroom facilities, and commenced an improvement project at the sports center that will extend its useful life and reduce energy consumption. The Fairfield aquatics complex was completed with capital funds, the new restroom facilities were relocated and replaced using Community Development Block Grant funds, and the sports center project is being funded with a low-cost loan from the State of California Energy Commission and park capital funds.

Fairfield Mayor Harry Price and others are pushing hard to make Solano County's Fairfield a more business friendly place.  The project is also supported by Fairfield City Council members John Mraz, Catherine Moy, Chuck Timm, Rick Viccaro. Assistant to Fairfield City Manager, Curt Johnston, Fairfield Economic Development Division Manager, Brian Miller and many other important Fairfield City staff like Erin Beavers, Fairfield Director of Community Development, David White. Local Solano Supervisor Jim Spering also is working to see things move forward.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Sales Of Small Businesses Are Increasing Again

Sales Of Small Businesses Are Increasing Again
Over 1,200 small to medium sized California companies were sold in January 2011.  BizBen.com says this is the highest number of California businesses sold in any one month since 2008.

Peter Siegel from the website, said "we're starting to experience the turnaround that has been predicted."

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Creating Best Business Card Design

Your business card is part of the first impression you make for your Solano business. Here are valuable tips for getting the most from your business card

http://www.squidoo.com/businesscardtips

Monday, February 7, 2011

CA State Business Laws Reason Why Solano's CoPart Moving To Texas

Solano business leaders are blaming California's business laws for the reason CoPart is moving its headquarters from Solano County to Texas. Solano's CoPart will be retaining an office is Fairfield however.

"It's a reflection of the business climate of California, and Copart has to do what is in the best interest of its stockholders and company," per Fairfield City Manager Sean Quinn.

Solano's CoPart always had an 'extremely good relationship' with Fairfield. Hence Solano's CoPart's move means it is based on the California state business climate, and probably not local, or Solano county climate, Sean Quinn said.

Solano's CoPart has around 400 employees in Solano County.  That will be cut down to 100 people.

Details in www.DailyRepublic.com

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Home Based Businesses Growing In Sacramento. Maybe Growing In Solano Too?

The Sacramento Bee is claiming that home based businesses are growing in the new economy.  While Solano Business News has yet to see clear studies, it appears Solano County home based businesses are probably growing in number as well.

Sacramento Bee on Home Based Businesses Growing In Sacramento
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/06/3378941/home-based-offices-grow-in-capital.html

Steve Case To Head Obama's StartUp Intitiave

President Barack Obama picked fellow buddy from Hawaii AOL co-founder Steve Case to head the White House's Startup America Partnership.

Steve Case is the son of a Hawaii attorney, plus elementary school teacher, and cousin to Ed Case - previous Hawaii Congressman. Steve Case boost investments in startup companies and innovative small businesses.  Solano County will also probably benefit.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Be Glad You're Doing Business In Solano County Versus Sacramento Or Stockton.

Forbes magazine just listed the most miserable cities.  Three of the worst cities in the US are within driving distance from Solano County.  The three miserable cities are Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto. Details at http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/3377008/forbes-valley-miserable.htmlhttp://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/3377008/forbes-valley-miserable.html

Solano CoPart Headquarters Moving To Texas

Solano County's CoPart, the web automobile auctioneer is relocating its Solano headquarters to Dallas.

Solano's CoPart, established in 1982, will be moving to Texas in 2012.  Solano CoPart Headquarters sold Solano CoPart Headquarters office building on Fairfield's Business Center Drive to a health company.  Solano CoPart Headquarters rents back the available office space for least at the building back.

Details on Solano's CoPart Headquarters move at www.DailyRepublic.com (subscription required).

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Solano Women Owned Businesses Get Free Help

Women owned businesses may qualify for completely free consultations and other workshops at Solano Business Incubator in Fairfield's California Business Center. Workshops are geared for small business services that are run as a Solano home office business, or from Solano office space rentals.

Solano small businesses owned by women will get a boost in scoring federal contracts through a new program that begins Friday, according to a press release from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The government's Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract program allows contracting officials to set aside specific contracts for such businesses to help federal agencies reach a goal of awarding them a minimum of 5 percent of federal contracting dollars.

More details from Fairfield's "Daily Republic" newspaper.