North Coast Economic Development Forum Set for Friday

An Economic Development Forum for the North Coast Region will be held Friday, Nov. 9, from  8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The free event will be at the 4‐H Center 6445 Commerce Blvd. Rohnert Park.

It is co‐hosted by North Coast Regional Food System Network, USDA Rural Development and the counties of Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma.

PROGRAM
8:30 a.m.: Registration, refreshments, tabling of regional organizations and lending institutions. Tabling available throughout morning session

9:00 a.m.: Welcome, Cliff Paulin, Coordinator, North Coast Regional Food System Network.

9:15 a.m. Access to local capital: An Overview. Glenda Humiston, California State Director, USDA Rural Development.

9:45 a.m.: Agricultural Value Chains and Economic Impacts: Dairy, grass‐fed beef and grains in the North Bay. Robert Eyler, Associate Professor, Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics

10:15 a.m.: Regional Leader Comments. Supervisor Valerie Brown, pepresenting counties of the North Coast Regional Food System Network.

10:30 a.m.: Capital Access Issues and Success Stories: A Panel of Regional Leaders. Glenda Humiston, California State Director, USDA Rural Development;
Rick Kaye, student, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program; Doug Mosel, Mendocino Grain Project; Kathryn Quanbeck, Meat Processing Facility for the North Coast; Fredrick Smith, Securing Capital for Small Agricultural Producers
Albert Straus, Straus Family Dairy.
Moderator: Stephanie Larson, Sonoma County UC Cooperative Extension.

12 p.m.: Adjourn

Lunch on your own
Please register online at http://ucanr.edu/northcoasteconomy or call (707) 565‐2050.

Afternoon session, 1‐4 p.m. ‐- California FarmLink Farm Finance Expo.

If you're a small farmer, make sure to return to the 4H Center after lunch, from 1‐ 4p.m., for the Farm Finance Expo session sponsored by California FarmLink (www.cafarmlink.org).

This session is a "one‐stop‐shop" for agricultural loans that will guide you
through all the ways you can find, apply for and access loans for your small farm or ranch.

You'll also have an opportunity to directly connect with lenders in your area and get one step closer to future financing. Go to
http://northcoastfarmfinanceexpo.brownpapertickets.com to sign up. This is a free event.