Solano County Business News

 

 

Attracting Business:

Solano County Board Supervisor, Duane Kromm, with Mayors Karin MacMillan, David Fleming and Jim Spering are politically cooperating to attract and retain businesses via their individual visions for the non-profit, Solano Economic Development Corp (Sedcorp). Linda L Brown is Sedcorp's fairly recent new head, and is mostly getting favorable reviews from the local business community.

Professional Businesses are Flocking To Fairfield & Suisun:

Since the November 2001 election, many small to large professional businesses have been moving into the central regions of Fairfield and Suisun.  Doyle Wiseman's new three story office building located in the historic section of Suisun near the recently developed waterfront is just an example.  And the two-story California Business Center in central Fairfield now has Solano county's highest concentration of professional businesses, who have opted for its flexible and cost effective offices. Businesses are coming from the inner San Francisco Bay Area seeking Solano's quality of life and lower housing and labor costs.  The duration of the inflow remains to be determined. Research predicted trends from this web site.

Solano Land Use:

Solano County and many of its cities are working to protect natural land areas from development.  Preservationists claim cattlemen are destroying the lands through erosion, and worsening  the water quality.  But the agricultural community also seeks to sell their lands to developers.  There are many who claim it's important to preserve the remaining natural lands, while focusing on developing the extensive available lands within the growth areas.  Debates on this issue are expected to increase over the coming decades as the inner bay area growth continues its inflow into the outer bay area's Solano County.

Fairfield's Rockville Park - Expansion, Use Fees, Preservation:

Fairfield is lucky to have Rockville Park, which is about a five-minute drive from central Fairfield.  Of great popularity is the proposal to greatly expand the park's size by purchasing adjoining parcels.  Due to the increasingly heavy use of Rockville Park, the city wisely proposes charging per car parking fee for erosion control, and other upkeep.  The practice of charging park fees is common in other communities.  Some have asked that bikes be prohibited from the park due to erosion control, and to minimize contact between bikes and hikers. Dogs will probably continue to be permitted if they remain on a leash.

Downtown Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo Revitalization:

All three cities are making progress with the use of local, state and federal funds.  Vallejo continues to possibly be an excellent long-term investment for the less active investor willing to deal with its many problems from the somewhat improving crime rates, to high vacancies.  How long are investors willing to wait?  The cheapest Solano County commercial properties might be found in downtown Vallejo.

Gateway to Central Fairfield:

The main entrance leading to downtown Fairfield is being revamped.  Brian Miller from the Planning & Economic Development Department of Fairfield, with the support of Solano County and out of area governments is working to continue its improvement.  Many of the local businesses are greatly pleased.  Others want needed changes to happen more quickly.

Solano Small Business Development Center:

Solano County's Suisun, next to Fairfield, is beginning to give greater emphasis on helping professional businesses. The new leadership is offering a different array of workshops and services.

Solano Cities Increasing Cooperation:

The Solano cities of Vacaville and Fairfield are beginning to talk more about ways in which to work more closely in helping their local businesses.  Mayor David Fleming of Vacaville, Mayor Karin MacMillan of Fairfield, and Jim Spering, mayor of Suisun, realize cooperation is the most cost effective strategy considering how the cities are inter-linked in many ways. Predictions are that Duane Kromm and his peers at the Solano Board of Supervisors will get their respective cities to further increase cooperation in the coming months.

Fairfield & Suisun City Public Schools:

Though they’re not the best in the state, Fairfield and Suisun's schools plus those of the county in general, rate reasonably well after balancing in all the factors.  Further major improvements to the schools are underway.  The school improvements are slated to help attract and retain professional staff in Fairfield.  Other cities in Solano County are trying to follow Fairfield and Suisun's lead.