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CALED In Action CALED honored Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) with the first ever "California Economic Development Corporate Leadership Award" at CALED's 26th Annual Conference in Palm Springs. This year's conference theme was "Is California Really a Great Place to be in Business?" It emphasized topics such as California's manufacturing, local workforce issues, and what is the state doing to help economic development. Featured speakers included top economic development leaders such as Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno), Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy; Victoria L. Bradshaw, Secretary, California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Sunne Wright McPeak, Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. The conference was attended by over 300 economic development stakeholders from across the state. Assemblymember Arambula presented PG&E with the award by recognizing its continued support of the economic vitality of California's communities. When asked, "Why PG&E?" Wayne Schell, CALED President & CEO responded, "PG&E deserves this honor because they have supported and understood the value of economic development for years. Not only do they talk-the-talk, they walk-the-walk by contributing resources to help grow many local economies. We are very appreciative of their efforts in helping California businesses thrive." One of the many ways that PG&E supports economic development is through its shareholder-funded Economic Development Grant Program. Over the past four years, PG&E has given out 185 grants totaling almost $1 million to local governments and community-based organizations for local economic development and community development projects. These grants were used to assist businesses and create jobs. The response rate among interested applicants has continued to grow significantly each and every year. Beverly Alexander, Vice President of Customer Satisfaction, accepted the award on behalf of PG&E. "It is a great honor to be the first recipient of this prestigious award," said Alexander "PG&E is proud to be a long-time supporter of CALED and economic development in California and the communities we serve. We recognize that our health and the vitality of our service area are inextricably linked. PG&E's successes in this area are the result of strong state, regional and local partnerships." Pacific Gas and Electric Company is committed to the economic vitality of all the communities it serves. The PG&E Economic Development Team, consisting of 18 representatives, works with partner organizations to attract and retain businesses and jobs in Northern and Central California. PG&E provides a variety of services aimed at promoting Northern and Central California as a desired business location. |
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