BriarPatch Co-op (credit: Sierra FoodWineArt)
In short, our government is “smaller” than most and is a relative low “welfare” county; the BriarPatch is listed among the top 20 employers along with Grass Valley Group; wine grapes eclipse timber as an agricultural crop; and the ski industry (often downplayed in our western County) is a major economic engine.
My wife and I read this report closely and observed how it dovetails with the growth of our small business — Sierra FoodWineArt magazine — which is promoting many of these elements. A profile on the BriarPatch turning 35 years old is here.
The County Economic Resource Council ought to look closely at this report and ask if it is focusing on the right elements for economic development — or too stuck in the past.
“As part of Nevada County’s budget process, a County profile was created this year. Seven counties (Butte, El Dorado, Mendocino, Napa, Placer, Sutter, and Tehama) were selected for comparison purposes.
“The counties share characteristics, including rural geography, close to an urban center, demographics, and size. The intent of the report is to provide insight into Nevada County’s unique community, social, geographic, and demographic environment.
“The report includes information on Nevada County’s health and wellness, government, criminal justice and much more. The full report can be found here.
Some highlights:
•County staff per 1000 residents is 7.9 — the lowest of eight counties except for Placer.
•Nevada County continues to be a relatively low “welfare” county in comparison with most of its central valley and north state counterparts.
•Our county’s total taxable sales are the lowest, except for Tehema County.
•The total housing vacancy rate is 21 percent, the highest of all the comparison counties.
•Wine grapes have eclipsed timber as a top agriculture crop.
•Nevada County’s top employers include the County, Sugar Bowl and Tahoe Forest Hospital, among others.
•BriarPatch Co-op also is among the top 20 employers — along with Grass Valley Group and K-mart.
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““The counties share characteristics, including rural geography, close to an urban center, demographics, and size. The intent of the report is to provide insight into Nevada County’s unique community, social, geographic, and demographic environment.”
Doing a quick analysis of the link you provided basically makes this statement almost completely untrue. So much to pick apart I don’t know where to begin. I’ll just try a few.
1) Most of Placer county (population) is hardly rural.
2) Mendocino and Tehema counties are hardly near an urban center.
3) Size, no chance any where any how; Placer county, 350K, Nevada, 100 K, Tehema 63K.
I’m sure there is validity in many areas but not so much in many others. I’ve seen too many of these reports and what I’ve learned is you can’t ‘cherry pick’ the data and it has to be statistically valid.
This is what the State Dept of Ed does with school testing scores. NU is in the same category as Mendocino High and Beverly Hills High as well as some schools in East L.A., and 100 more, in which the ‘demographics’ are all over the place (number of single parent homes, number of kids who ride the bus, number of free lunches, median home price, etc). Bear River is not on the list of similar schools with NU.
Tony Waters, where are you?!?
Chris, I feel your pain. I am currently working on a computer-network issue with a school in the GVSD and I am sure the frustrations I am having with this project pale in comparison to what you have to deal with on a daily basis.
Michael, don’t get me started on computer-network issues. I commented on an article Jeff posted about some group hosting some type of broad band seminar at the NU community center (it’s the cafeteria, LOL!). “Come see how one gig is suppose to work.”
I’ve been trying to get my class ready since Wednesday and the printers, copiers, wireless don’t work. I’ve had to e-mail everything to home and do it here(they finally fixed the printer on Friday).
I spent most of the day at Junior Miner Scrimmage with Antelope, Roseville, Bradshaw Christian and Lincoln. We had 2,000 people there and none of the credit card machines worked for any of the concessions because of the failed wireless. So yes, I’m pained.
What were we talking about.?….oh yes….reports and their statistical validity.
Wine grapes as the top agricultural crop? I guess you haven’t been to the ridge as all the lumber, grapes and livestock are greatly eclipsed by the top crop in all of theses areas – cannabis!
Legal of not, lets be honest it is this communities biggest income producer, and how that money is spent as it goes into every forum of this community. From housing to energy, to every retail store.
Thanks for posting Jeff. I will have a demographics report to send you soon.