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This two-day sustainable economic development conference was
hosted by the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and
CIWMB.
Dates and Location
- Location: Veterans' Memorial Building, 649 San Benito Street, Hollister, California.
- Thursday, October 19, 2006--An all-day session was open to anyone who wanted to attend.
- Friday, October 20--Zone administrators were able to attend a workshop ("Building A
Bridge--Using Economic Development Tools to Create a Zero-Waste Economy in Your Region") which included discussion on implementing the previous day's topics in specific
recycling market development zones (RMDZ).
The October 19 session of this conference highlighted the work of national and regional experts who are embarking on an innovative approach to helping local green businesses become more
sustainable. Local green businesses from the Central Coast Recycling Market
Development Zone were showcased.
Agenda for October 19
| 8:30 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome
- Robert Scattini, Mayor of Hollister
- Pat Wiggins, Board Member, California Integrated Waste Management Board
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| 9:10 a.m. |
The Big Picture: Defining the Challenge
- Don Shaffer, Director, Business Alliance for Local Living
Economies
- Mandy Rose, Director, San Benito County Integrated Waste
Management
- Jeff Pyle, Economic Development Manager, City of Hollister
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| 10:00 a.m. |
Keynote Address
- Sam Farr, U.S. Congressional Representative, California District 17
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| 10:45 a.m. |
Break |
| 11:00 a.m. |
Sustainable Agriculture Panel
- Michael Dimrock, Director, Roots of Change Fund
- Paul Hain, President, San Benito County Farm Bureau
- Sallie Calhoun, Owner/Operator, Paicines Ranch
- Drew Goodman, Founder/CEO, Earthbound Farm (invited)
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| 12:00 p.m. |
Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Lunch Address
- Jeffrey Danzinger, Board Member, California Integrated Waste Management Board
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| 12:45 p.m. |
Town Hall Forum
- With Joseph McIntyre, Director, Ag Innovations
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| 1:30 p.m. |
Break |
| 1:45 p.m. |
Keynote Address
- Ken Alston, CEO, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
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| 2:30 p.m. |
Discussion Groups: Interactive Dialogue With
Expert Panelists Zero-Waste Manufacturing
and Green Building
- Gil Friend, CEO, Natural Logic
- Cameron Wright, President, West Coast Rubber Recycling
- Scott Marshall, President, Cedar Valley Shingle
Renewable Energy
- Paul Frankel, CEO, Ecosa Capital
- Ed Bless, President, Hw Solutions
- John Varela, President, Biofuels Distribution (invited)
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| 3:45 p.m. |
Keynote Address and Next Steps
- Michelle Long, Executive Director, Sustainable Connections
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October 20 Session (for Zone Administrators):
Building A Bridge--Using Economic Development Tools to Create a Zero-Waste
Economy in Your Region
As mentioned above, this training for RMDZ zone administrators
dealt with implementation of topics covered during the main conference
in specific RMDZs. Additional topics:
- The "cradle to
cradle" process and how it relates to sustainability and indirectly to
use of recycled content.
- Don Shaffer of BALLE also presented on why and
how it may be appropriate for many RMDZ businesses to combine debt funding
(loans) with equity funding (working with "angel" investors or other
investment groups to give a small percentage of company ownership in
exchange for expansion capital).
Agenda for October 20
| 8:30 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome/Overview
- Corky Mau, Supervisor, CIWMB's RMDZ Program
- Mandy Rose, Director, Central Coast RMDZ
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| 9:20 a.m. |
Introductions |
| 9:45 a.m. |
Zero-Waste Workshop
- Ken Alston, CEO, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC)
Ken has led product development teams at some of the world’s
most innovative companies. Ken will discuss why the timing is right for many small
and medium-sized companies in California to adopt zero-waste
practices. He will lead an interactive exercise with the group
that shows how zone administrators can work effectively with
target businesses.
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| 11:30 a.m. |
Break |
| 11:45 a.m. |
Economic Development Workshop
- Don Shaffer, Executive Director, BALLE
Don works with business owners and government leaders from
across the U.S. and Canada on economic development strategies.
He will introduce the concept of "Local Living Economies,"
describe the San Benito County project in more detail, and share
other case studies as a way to generate discussion. He will also
lead an interactive exercise focused on the different tools for
debt and equity financing for small businesses.
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| 1:00 p.m. |
Lunch
This will be a "working" lunch at which attendees will
discuss key topics in small groups, then share insights in a
larger group.
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| 2:00 |
Adjourn |
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