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This portion of the agenda is usually held for the Chairman of our Board, Steve Gonsalves to welcome you all. Appropriately, Steve's away on business so I'll assume his role.
 | | Student Entrepreneurial Award Winners Upper Park Designs, LLC with their check from Tri Counties Bank |
Welcome, we are glad you are here. There hasn't been much to celebrate relative to the economic conditions surrounding our region, State or the Nation. TONIGHT, however, there is plenty to celebrate.
We, as a community will be recognizing Excellence in Business as well as Community Service. WE hope you enjoy yourselves and perhaps meet some new friends. If nothing else, the Dessert buffet will be worth it.
CEPCO's focus has been in Innovation Development. Working with our Innovation and Technology sector, connecting with our higher education institutions, and
 | Dessert Buffet by AS Catering - Always a hit!
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harvesting our talent has been a way of life.
One organization cannot create an Innovation Culture by itself. It requires sustained effort and willing partnerships.
The organizations you see represented here are all part of the Innovation Life Cycle
we are trying engage. The question is are we ready for Innovation. Can we compete as a community in the Innovation space. Can you encourage private investment ?
Since 2007, the Chico Tech Group has been the most effective job creator in the
region.
 | | Wine and Olive Oil Tasting |
The most valuable resource available for the technology base here is the Talent delivered from Chico State and Butte College. Each have played a role in developing a pipeline directly to firms looking to expand their labor force. Also since 2007, the City of Chico and CEPCO have been promoting the Come Home to Chico campaign which seeks to capitalize on the affinity that graduates and natives have for this place.  | Bob Linscheid and Dan Gonzales present the Entrepreneur of the Year Award
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Watch for an announcement soon where the collaboration I mentioned earlier between the Chamber, CEPCO and the City will be releasing the results of the Innovation Plan. It will be worth your time.
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