The California Business Minute provides information about the people, businesses and organizations that are creating and growing business along with retaining and growing jobs in California.
Additionally, the California Business Minute provides information on a variety of sectors from aerospace, agriculture, construction, finance, health care, real estate, retail, technology, transportation and utilities. Information is also provided on topics ranging from general business trends, labor markets, infrastructure, community, economic and employment development in concert with redevelopment actions and covers California's diverse regions.
For the week of 01-20-08
California Broadband Taskforce Release Report
The California Broadband Taskforce released its final report on how to enhance Broadband service in the state entitle, The State of Connectivity, Building Innovation Through Broadband.
The Report adopted three key goals:
1. California must ensure ubiquitous and affordable broadband infrastructure, made available through a variety of technologies to all Californians; 2. California must drive the creation and use of applications that produce the greatest economic, educational, and social benefits for Californias economy and communities; 3. California must construct next-generation broadband infrastructure, positioning California as the global economic leader in a knowledge-based economy.
The report identified that most Californians have access to broadband, but the Report also illustrated that 1.4 million of mostly rural Californians lack broadband access at any speed and that only half of Californians have access to broadband at speeds greater than 10 Mbps,
The Report recommends key actions to help California achieve its goals: Build out high speed broadband infrastructure to all Californians. Develop model permitting standards and encourage collaboration among providers. Increase the use and adoption of broadband and computer technology. Engage and reward broadband innovation and research. Create a statewide e-health network. Leverage educational opportunities to increase broadband use. Continue state-level and statewide leadership.
The Report is available online at
Also see 11-15-07 Minute, The Economics from Broadband in California
BROADBAND BY THE MINUTES
WiFi
WiFi Riverside
Wireless Issues
Broadband in California
See California Broadband Taskforce Report at Initiatives and Directives under Economic Overview
For week of 12-31 thru 01-05 Governor Announces Engineering Initiative
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed an education initiative that aims to boost by almost 50 percent the number of California-trained engineers during the next decade by building new partnerships with schools, the military and businesses. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his plan to address the shortage and critical need for new engineers in the state specifically to keep the Golden State competitive.
The Governor's proposal will bring approximately 20,000 new engineers into California's workforce over the next decade by expanding existing educational programs and building new partnerships between schools, the military and the private sector.
The states Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) forecasts that California will need approximately 20,000 to 24,000 additional engineers educated in California to begin meeting the growing engineering needs of both the private and public sectors over the next decade. There are too few graduates to meet the demand for civil, electronics, mechanical, aerospace and industrial industries, according LWDA. The growing economy and the upcoming retirement boom are fueling the projected shortfall.
The Governor proposes to:
Establish programs at the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) to expedite certification for veterans with engineering backgrounds. This will open up important employment opportunities to the approximately 3,000 service members discharged to California each year that hold engineering-related military jobs Direct $1 million in federal Workforce Investment Act funds to develop new apprenticeship programs that partner private industry and California Community Colleges (CCC) Launch the Engineering Education Council to bring more private funds into "pipeline" programs at UC, CSU, CCC and other engineering programs. These programs help move math and science students into the engineering field Expand the statewide charter of High Tech High, a California charter school organization, to build out engineering-focused charter schools. In 2006, the State Board of Education approved 10 High Tech High charter schools; the Governor proposes to raise this number and expand its charter to grades K-12
