This week the website NerdWallet completed a series of metrics measuring the states of California vs. Texas. Like the recent article by the Business Insider, (See CalBizBlog posting 05-02-13). NerdWallet analyst<< MORE >>

The credit quality of most cities in California will remain under fiscal pressure for the next several years despite some recent improvements in revenues, according to a new report by Moody's Investors Service. << MORE >>

A new product of the California Business Minute/CalBizBlog is the presentation of the review of key rankings of California, its metro/micro statitistical areas counties and cities. The following present the rankings for the month of April. Thus if you need further drill down then you can go to the www.CaliforniaBusinessMinute.com for the ranking. It is a great tool to keep for the state and your local community.<< MORE >>

This week the online publication - Business Insider embarked on a ranking of Texas v California. The article entitled, “ Forget What You Heard: Here’s Why California Is Better than Texas for Business and Your Family- << MORE >>

The California workforce of the 21st Century is expected to face a very different set of opportunities and challenges than those faced by previous generations. << MORE >>

This past week the California Workforce Association held its annual gathering in San Diego. At the event, many presentations were made. However, one in particular caught our attention on a recent report entitled: Left Out, Left Behind: California’s Widening Workforce Training Gap. << MORE >>

According to the Financial Times, Google will be assembling its new technology
device, Google Glasses at a facility operated by Foxconn in Santa Clara.  Google
Glasses is a platform that you wear like eye glasses. Google held a contest whereby
winners would have the chance to buy the $1500 device.  Google Glasses is the
second product that Google has manufactured on US soil. The first of which was
the ill-fated Nexus Q media streamer. Foxconn is the same company running
facilities in Pacific Rim countries that make devices for Google, Apple, and
others.  Techies across the Golden State say that small scale production will
take place here due to the experimental nature of the manufacturing making it
desirable to produce it in California to allow constant monitoring and updating.
Apparently, initial production will be small. However, if the product succeeds,
production will probably go overseas. Yet again just another lost opportunity
and yet another device to distract automobile drivers. 

California voters continue to offer a highly pessimistic appraisal of the state’s economy, their own personal economic well-being, and the unemployment picture according to a new Field Poll.<< MORE >>

This past week, the California Business Minute reported on several new and annual reports that rank states and cities. << MORE >>

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2:00 PM
LISTEN TO CALED CONFERENCE CALL
Listen in to the conference call on the reasons to attend the California
Association for Local Economic Development Annual conference. Tim Johnson
of the California Business Minute will be moderating the call with Carrie
Rogers of the LA County Economic Development Corporation and Gurbax  Sahota
of CALED.  The Conference call will be Tuesday, March 12 at 2pm. 
Dial 805-399-1000 then the Code number 698003# to be connected.  The call is free  
 
Callers can receive the following prizes-
 
Callers #7 & #21 will receive 30 days of Free Advertising at California Business
Minute.
 
Callers #30 & #40 will be mentioned in an article written by Tim Johnson of the
California Business Minute for the May/June edition of Expansion Solutions
magazine
 
Callers #49 & #59 will have articles written about their business or organization
at the California Business Minute.
 
No cost to enter, but all winners must represent a business, chamber of commerce,
economic development organization, local government agency, workforce investment
entity or One-Stop program, college and university based in California to be
eligible. Winners will be notified by the California Business Minute after the
conference call.

The California Business Minute reserves the right to disqualify any winner who
does not fulfill the identified criterion.

I recently received an e-mail from economic developers on the issue of governors from other states coming to California to recruit business. Before I could respond to his e-mail . . . << MORE >>

While most small business owners plan to play it safe and control costs after a year of increased layoffs, they also report an uptick in optimism about the direction of the economy and their companies, with slightly more owners planning to boost hiring and capital expenditures in 2013, according to a new survey paid for by Union Bank. << MORE >>

This past week, the brouhaha from Texas Governor Rick Perry recruiting business in California has raised a lot of eyebrows. The press and news media coverage has been plentiful. << MORE >>

This week Texas Governor Rick Perry’s minyons launched a $24,000 radio ad campaign describing the virtues of doing business in Texas. The message suggests that it is cheaper to do business in the Lone Star State. Yet. . . << MORE >>

This is a true story. It is a humorous but heartfelt tale of a unique challenge faced by community and economic developers in hosting Super Bowl 31 in San Diego. During their efforts they met and were impressed if not inspired by a boy with muscular dystrophy who participated in that challenge by sharing with them his love for his hometown and football.<< MORE >>

After the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index dropped to the most pessimistic level in two years in November, business owners are more optimistic as 2013 begins. << MORE >>

It appears that California’s job market saw good growth as it created over 450,000 jobs in 2012. This is just below the range of jobs created during the economic expansion of the early to mid-part of the last decade. This is according to an examination of the State of California’s Employment Development Department numbers for 2012. << MORE >>

The California Business Minute has cobbled together its rankings of the top ten business news stories in California for 2012. The following provides insight on the stories and background on each. << MORE >>

To the readers of  the California Business Minute and the CALBIZBLOG 

Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year's

In a guest commentary, the California Business Minute's friend, Matt Slepin, Managing Partner of the San Francisco- based Terra Search Partners has given us permission to share this recently written and published piece on Real Estate Investment Trusts. Enjoy! << MORE >>