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At a stopover in China on his trade mission to Asia, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a new initiative to provide 3,000 recent California college graduates with the guidance, skills and entrepreneurial know-how to start their own businesses and participate successfully in the knowledge-based, networked economy.
The program will be developed through a partnership with Alibaba.com, one of the world's largest e-commerce companies.
“I’m pleased to announce today, in collaboration with Alibaba.com, the creation of the Schwarzenegger Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative," Schwarzenegger said. "As the eighth largest economy in the world and the home of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, California has long been a cultural and economic pace-setter for America and the world. With the launch of this program, we hope to stimulate job creation and continue the state's tradition as the cradle of some of the world’s greatest innovations."
Alibaba.com will invest $3 million in the program and will provide an Entrepreneur Start-up Kit to students, including in-classroom instruction and Web-based consultation, as well as free or reduced-cost tools from Alibaba.com platforms that will allow grads to manage their businesses from sourcing products to online retail.
This program, the details of which are still under development, will be offered throughout 2011 in conjunction with 15 state-owned colleges and universities throughout California.
The idea for the Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative was coordinated with Gov. Schwarzenegger, who on Saturday, Sept. 11, was keynote speaker at Alibaba Group’s Annual Netrepreneur Summit in Hangzhou, China.
Alibaba.com officials noted that California is the company's largest buyer market, in which users take advantage of products and services at no cost to themselves to cut costs and grow their businesses. In the past few months, Ailibaba.com made two major acquisitions of established California e-commerce companies (Vendio and Auctiva), increasing its employment base in the state from 25 to nearly 200."
At the same time Gov. Schwarzenegger was visiting Hangzhou, Alibaba.com was hosting a group of 50 entrepreneurial college students, members of the Kairos Society, at the Netrepreneur Summit, as part of a newly created company effort called the Entrepreneur Abroad program.
"In 2110, Alibaba.com noticed a trend in its users," explained Alibaba.com CEO David Wei. "In the wake of the economic downturn, more and more college students are forgoing joining companies upon graduation and are instead starting their own businesses while still in school, sourcing their products through Alibaba.com."
Kairos Society members have started companies engaged on a wide range of industries, including alternative energy solutions, home décor products, breath mints, shoes, clothing, and restaurants.
"This wouldn’t have been possible several years ago, but the Internet is bringing the world together and making starting a business easier because it gives even small companies a low-cost way to reach suppliers and customers all over the world," Wei said.
With 65 percent of new jobs created in the U.S. coming from small businesses, giving more students the direct tools and knowledge they need to launch viable, sustainable companies will promote even more job growth in the future. This is the concept behind the Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative.
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DAVIS, Calif. – USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Val Dolcini announced the launch of a Conservation Loan (CL) program that will provide farm owners and farm-related business operators access to credit to implement conservation techniques that conserve natural resources.
“California farmers and ranchers, who want to implement conservation measures on their lands, can now get additional assistance with up-front costs,” said Dolcini. “In return, these producers will help reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and promote sustainable agricultural practices.”
CL funds can be used to implement conservation practices approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), such as the installation of conservation structures; establishment of forest cover; installation of water conservation measures; establishment or improvement of permanent pastures; implementation of manure management; and the adaptation of other emerging or existing conservation practices, techniques or technologies.
For more information on the Conservation Loan program, contact a local FSA office or visit the FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.
For more information about this announcement please see the September 3 edition of the Federal Register: www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/federalNotices?area=home&subject=lare&topic=frd-ii.
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"California has long been known for our production of superior, award-winning wines," said Governor Schwarzenegger in his proclamation. "The Judgment of Paris in 1976 brought California wine to the world stage and established our wine producers as respected masters of their craft. This month is dedicated to celebrating our rich history of wine-making and the bright future of this important industry."
For a copy of the proclamation, go to www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/governors-proclamation.
From special tastings and harvest tours, to wine education classes and major wine festivals, consumers can participate in many celebration events in all regions of the state. To find the latest events in September, visit www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/september-wine-events to view 30 wineevents throughout California. Events are being updated regularly.
California is now home to more than 4,600 grape growers and 3,000 bonded wineries, its fertile land accounting for approximately 90 percent of wine production in the United States.
For the month of September, Governor Schwarzenegger encourages consumers to take advantage of California Wine Month events – such as taking a tour or enrolling in a class – and become more familiar with this rich and unique part of the California culture.
An important part of this culture, Governor Schwarzenegger mentions, is the California wine community's long term commitment to promoting socially and environmentally responsible farming practices, something that is of interest to more and more consumers.
California has a widely adopted sustainable winegrowing and winemaking program, and all of the regions hosting California Wine Month events participate in it.
The state's vintners and growers, along with California's 80,000 restaurants, have helped make the Golden State a top destination for culinary travelers from around the world, attracting nearly 21 million visitors each year to its wine regions. The wine industry supports 820,000 jobs across the nation, including 330,000 in California.
California Wine Month, created and coordinated by Wine Institute (www.wineinstitute.org) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (www.cawg.org), is also supported by several hotel, restaurant, retail and association partners including the California Travel and Tourism Commission, California Restaurant Association, Safeway, Von's and Pavilions, Kimpton Hotels, Lark Creek Restaurant Group, Joie de Vivre Hotels, Ritz Carlton/J.W. Marriott (LA), Tavistock Restaurant Group, California Wine Merchants (NYC), Patina Restaurant Group, Revival Cafe & Bar, 1300 on Fillmore, Amtrak, Vino Volo and Tony's Fine Foods.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Effective Aug. 10, by approval of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Lakeport attorney Dennis A. Fordham was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Law Library for a renewable term expiring January 1, 2011.
Fordham is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law.
The Law Library is located at 175 Third St. in Lakeport (between Main and Forbes).
Its hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Library telephone number is 707-263-2205; visit the library's Web page at www.lake.co.ca.us.