TranslateEDC Press Releases
Board of Supervisors approves locations for County program to provide free internet to low-income households
The Board of Supervisors today approved those affordable housing site locations eligible to receive free internet for one year for 556 low-income Sonoma County households using American Rescue Plan Act funding. Eligible sites were selected among affordable housing properties countywide with a minimum of 20 housing units, and operated or served by Burbank Housing, MidPen Housing, PEP Housing, and West County Community Services. Other criteria used to identify eligible sites included geographic distribution throughout the county, distribution among housing for seniors, families, low-income workers, and unhoused individuals, and location within Comcast’s service area. Read full story
Creative Sonoma announces $180,000 in grants to 45 arts and cultural nonprofits
Creative Sonoma is pleased to announce the recipients of its Arts Impact Grants for Organizations program, designed to sustain Sonoma County’s creative and cultural nonprofits and demonstrate the power of the arts to contribute to the social cohesion of our communities. A record 45 arts and cultural nonprofits will be awarded a total of $180,000 to provide programs and services across the county. For 2025, these general operating support and arts project grants are funded by the County of Sonoma and the National Endowment for the Arts. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves internet program for low-income households, continues broadband infrastructure development
The Board of Supervisors today approved plans to provide free internet for one year to over 500 low-income Sonoma County households using American Rescue Plan Act funding. The Board also approved the use of approximately $2.3 million of ARPA funding for additional broadband infrastructure development in the Walsh Landing and/or Jenner areas. The Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative has applied for a $17 million grant from the California Public Utilities Commission that would help further expand broadband infrastructure to underserved areas of unincorporated Sonoma County. Read full story
Creative Sonoma Announces #TeachTheArts campaign to promote arts education, boost local teaching workforce
Creative Sonoma, a division of the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative, today announced the launch of #TeachTheArts, a new campaign to inform and encourage artists, particularly student artists, to consider a career in arts education. The campaign was created by a committee of local arts, education, and cultural partners convened by Creative Sonoma to promote job opportunities in arts education resulting from Prop 28 funding. It is designed to boost the local arts educator workforce by highlighting the demand for arts teachers and by engaging students who have an interest in dance, theatre, music, visual art, and media arts. Read full story
Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative secures funding, partnerships to strengthen local immigrant services
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a grant agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to authorize state funding in the amount of $141,235 to strengthen and support current programs and services available to the local immigrant population. Read full story
Sonoma County Economic Development Board unveils new name, focus on strategic partnerships as Economic Development Collaborative
The Economic Development Board, which is the County agency focused on growing a healthy economy by helping local businesses, today announced it has changed its name to the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative. Read full story
Sonoma County Announces Call to Artists for Design of Permanent Public Fire Memorial
The County of Sonoma is seeking proposals from qualified artists or artist teams to design, create and install artwork honoring the victims of the devastating 2017 wildfires and commemorating the community’s resilience. Read full story
2024 Biomass Utilization Symposium Planned May 2-3
The 2024 Sonoma Mendocino Economic Development District is sponsoring a Biomass Utilization Symposium that will bring together industry, academia, government, tribes and community-based organizations to explore the opportunities and challenges of implementing forest biomass utilization projects for fire safety, forest health, renewable energy, and wood products, and supporting the appropriate growth of sustainable, stewardship-based, rural economic development. Read full story
EDB to Host Event Exploring Economic Equity in Sonoma County
The Sonoma County Economic Development Board (EDB) is hosting their annual Fall Economic Perspective event on Thursday, October 19th, at Sonoma State University. The October event will feature a keynote address from economist, Dr. William Rodgers III, on the benefits of economic equity and how Sonoma County fares. The event will also honor the recipients of the Economic Prosperity Awards. Read full story