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Power Surge
The City of West Sacramento and SARTA (Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance) hosted the 6th Annual Power Surge event. The event was a huge success with over 100 attendees from the region’s growing group of young technology companies. The City of West Sacramento would especially like to thank the local restaurants and companies who donated food and drinks to the event. The attendees raved about the excellent food at the event, so if you were not in attendance, please consider trying one of these local eateries for lunch or dinner:

• Club Pheasant
• IKEA
• L & L Hawaiian Barbeque
• The River’s Edge Bar and Grill
• Vientiane Restaurant
• Jealousy Catering
• Nugget Market
• Target
• Vince’s Bar and Restaurant

Northern California World Trade Center
If your business is doing business locally or nationally, but would like to develop an international presence, the NCWTC can help! The City of West Sacramento and the Port of Sacramento are members and can help you in achieving your global aspirations. The NCWTC hosts classes, workshops and other events designed to help businesses grow globally. They also can provide one-on-one business assistance. Learn more by visiting www.norcalwtc.org or by calling Kurt Overmeyer at (916) 617-4535.

YOLO VENTURE COMMUNITIES
Yolo Venture Communities is a venture capital fund and community for Yolo County. You can visit the web portal and create a profile for yourself and your company at yolo.venturecommunities.com. Being a part of Yolo Venture Communities will give you access to information about venture funds, new start-up companies that might be partners for your business in the future and about the economy in West Sacramento. We also will have monthly mixers where you can network and learn about exciting new technologies and the companies that are working on them. Please also encourage any of your business contacts to do the same so West Sacramento can maintain a robust profile on the portal. Please contact Kurt Overmeyer at (916) 617-4535 if you have any questions about this exciting opportunity!

Best on the Block
Between now and November 1, the city is accepting entries for the annual “Best on the Block” program. Businesses that make upgrades to their façade are encouraged to apply! You can get rules and entry information by calling (916) 617-4620 or by visiting www.cityofwestsacramento.org/cityhall/departments/pcs/botb.cfm.

Small Business Guide
The city has published a small business guide designed to help people thinking of starting a small business be successful. The guide is available at www.letsstartsomething.org.

Port Wind Energy Shipments Start this Summer
Eleven ships transporting wind power equipment from Korea and Europe will be arriving at the Port of Sacramento this summer through November. Manufactured by the German firm, Repower AG, the equipment will be used to construct 95 new windmills at a large wind farm north of Travis Air Force Base. This is the largest shipment of wind equipment ever for the Port and the first time that Repower equipment has been shipped to California. For more information, see the Port’s Web site at www.portofsacramento.com.

General Plan Update
By early July, the city will be releasing the Issues and Opportunities Report as part of the General Plan Update. This report is designed to focus community attention on how to accommodate growth over the next 25 years. The report summarizes and uses information gained during the early stages of the General Plan Update effort, based on community workshops, stakeholder interviews, the Draft Background Report and city staff observations. Topics include employment growth, economic diversification, flood protection, walkability, traffic congestion, affordable housing, community design, health and availability of child care. The Issues and Opportunities Report is expected to stimulate discussion and help develop key policies and programs. It will serve as a supplement to the General Plan. To view a copy of the report, visit the General Plan Update Web site, www.jlmintier.com/westsac.

Help for Homeowners
The city of West Sacramento is helping homeowners facing foreclosure to keep their homes. Families that go through short sale or foreclosure can find themselves burdened with tax liabilities and badly damaged credit that affects their ability to rent a home, get a job or obtain a loan for many years. Sadly, many homeowners could have avoided these problems by receiving foreclosure counseling from a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.

You don’t have to go through foreclosure alone. Help is available! Lenders are willing to adjust mortgage payments, reduce interest rates, or reduce loan amounts to keep families in their homes. But the process can be time consuming and confusing. If you are having trouble making your house payment or are facing foreclosure, call the Home Loan Counseling Center at (916) 646-2005. Spanish translation available.

2008 West Sacramento Levee Erosion Repair
The city of West Sacramento continues significant repairs of levees under the Sacramento Bank Protection Program administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department of Water Resources. The repair site is south of Davis Road in Southport. The recommended repair for this site will be a “stability berm” along the lower slope of the river bank. Rocks or “armor” will also be installed to protect the levee from future erosion. The project is scheduled to begin construction in early August. The total cost of the project is estimated at $2 million dollars.

Local Restaurant Guide
Want to find a place to eat in West Sac? Visit our website at www.letsstartsomething.org for information on our growing community of local restaurants!