Introducing The Green Innovation Zone
By Bill Buratto
As the nation creeps out of the recession and the State of California continues its struggles with record deficits, local governments are faced with the challenge of developing new strategies to increase revenue and determine priorities. Over the past several years, cities and counties have seen dramatic reductions in state allocations and other revenue sources, a trend that is likely to continue for some time.
Consequently, local governments are looking for ways to increase dollars to provide for basic services and maintain a high quality of life for citizens. Among the strategies considered is economic and workforce development; or more simply, create jobs and an educated workforce, which increases the personal wealth of citizens, thereby increasing tax and other revenues.
A group of business leaders, public officials, educational institutions, economic development organizations, and nonprofits from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties have come together to create the Green Coast Innovation Zone (GCiZ) as a regional economic and workforce development strategy. The three counties are contiguous and have common geographic, demographic, and economic profiles including similar industry sectors. Each county has at least one major university and a military installation where research and product development can and does occur.
Local Green Leaders
A roundup of 9 green companies already doing business in the Green Innovation Zone...
Agromin
Privately owned
9 employees
$1 to $2.5 million / yr.
Nationally recognized green waste and recycling company that makes organic mulch, fertilizer, and other products.
Gills Onions
Privately Owned
200 Employees
$50 - $100 million / yr.
Gills Onions are 100% usable, there is no waste disposal problem or yield loss, all wrapped in eco-friendly PLA retail packaging.
Houweling’s Hot Houses
Privately owned
12 employees
$2.5 to $5 million / yr.
Operates 70.2 hectares high-tech hydroponic, solar powered
greenhouses in Oxnard, CA.
Limoneira
Public Corporation
$34.4 million / yr.
Has over 7,000 acres of rich agriculture land in production producing lemons, avocados, oranges, specialty citrus, and more.
Ojai Energy Systems / LibertyPak
Privately owned
4 Employees
< $500k / yr.
Uses lithium ion battery technology for the motion picture film and lighting industry.
Pentair Pool Products
Privately owned
1500 employees
$50 to $100 million / yr.
Provides high performance, reliable, and energy-efficient aquatic equipment.
Solartronics Inc / Mulick Construction & Design
Privately owned
5 Employees
$1 to $2.5 million / yr.
A local solar integrator and solar panel installer.
Continental Wind Power
Privately owned
10 employees
$1 million / yr.
Looking to build a plant in Ventura County, Continental Wind Power is a startup wind turbine company.
Transonic Combustion Inc
Privately Owned
4 Employees
$300,000.00 / yr.
Developing a revolutionary internal combustion engine that will get over 100 miles per gallon.
The GCiZ is intended to leverage public and private assets and natural resources to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship, and job growth through research, business incubation, private investment, focused workforce development, targeted economic development, and policy development.
The GCiZ will focus on the emerging green economy including renewable energy and other technologies that promote sustainability. It will also help facilitate the transformation to a more sustainable economy and environment in the region.
A recent study, Innovating the Green Economy in California Regions conducted by the Center for Community Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, looked at where and how much innovation is occurring in the green economy in California and how it takes place at the regional level. They found that the green economy is growing more rapidly than other sectors and that most innovation is taking place in the coastal regions of the state. They further concluded that innovation and business growth is positively influenced by collaboration with government agencies, universities, unions, utilities, and associations in the regional innovation system.(http://communityinnovation.berkeley.edu)
The concept for GCiZ is to create a mechanism for collaboration, information sharing, education and networking to harness the collective energy, intellectual capital, resources, and assets across the tri-counties towards meeting common goals and objectives. It will also foster networking between innovators, entrepreneurs, the investment community, and other service providers.
The Green Coast has strengths that when viewed in combination add up to a unique set of regional assets. Our climate and geography are excellent for renewable energy projects in solar, wind, and wave technologies. The region is a global leader in sustainable agriculture including solar installations (Limoneira), organic tomato operations (Houweling’s Hot House, Winset Farms) and the recycling of green waste (Agromin). It is the home of Clipper Windpower, the only independently-owned utility-scale wind turbine company based in the United States. The region is also a demonstration site for wind projects and there are two utility-scale solar projects in development. Additionally, Pacific Gas & Electric has recently signed an agreement with Vandenberg Air Force Base to develop a wave energy project.
The region is also a leader in green construction and sustainable practices. Santa Barbara County’s energy efficiency municipal district is a national leader in reducing the energy cost of operating buildings. The Ventura County Naval Base has also been nationally recognized for its energy efficiency programs. In 2008 they received the Energy Star® Label for Office Facility from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The base also received the White House “Closing the Circle” Award for Leadership in Federal Environmental Stewardship in 2006.
The GCiZ is developing partnerships with major employers, research facilities, and educators. The University of California, Santa Barbara’s Institute for Energy Efficiency, and the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management – as well as California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo’s California Central Coast Research Partnership – are already working with entrepreneurs and scientists to develop new energy-related technologies and projects. The community college systems and the Workforce Investment Boards in the tri-county region are creating innovative job training programs to help train the green workforce.
The GCiZ is in its start-up phase. It has published a white paper, recruited a leadership team, convened a summit, established workgroups, and developed a budget and fundraising plan. There are more than 70 entities across the three counties involved in the effort.
There is much more to be done, but those involved believe that GCiZ holds great promise as an economic and workforce development strategy for our region. And, that through collaboration, we can build on our collective assets to grow an industry sector in its infancy and foster new enterprises and job creation. At the same time, we can enhance our environmental sustainability and preserve the quality of life that is uniquely - the Green Coast.
Bill Buratto is President/CEO of the Ventura County Economic Development Association and Chair of the Green Coast Innovation Zone. He can be reached at bburatto@vceda.org.
