Memorandum
Date: September 23, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Ben Rickelman, Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: ADDENDUM - Consideration of support in the amount of $26,000 for the Lake County Economic Development Corporation and $34,000 for the Lake County Chamber of Commerce
Executive Summary:
To decrease expenditures and increase organizational efficiencies the Lake County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) have agreed to share an Executive Director. They will remain separate organizations, with separate boards, and plan to revisit this organizational structure in a year.
The EDC has received a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant annually since 2019 for $109,000, which has not been distributed to recipients this year. The EDC is working with Congressman Thompson’s Office to seek more information on these funds. The Chamber is also aiming to reduce expenditures.
Through the Small Business Development Centers network the EDC offers free, specialized counseling to entrepreneurs in Lake County and it also organizes the restaurant expo, the shop- local campaign, and hosts events and webinars focused on small business operations. The EDC’s program, Centro Latino Del Lago, offers free, Spanish consulting services with the California Hispanic SBDC. The EDC is also the lead agency for planning the Health Education Regional Training (HEART) Hub and managed the latest Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The EDC facilitates access to capital through its own USDA revolving loans program and networking for the County’s Community Development Block Grant revolving loans program and regional Community Development Financial Institutions. The Chamber co- produces the Lake Life magazine, supports the Certified Tourism Ambassador program, a bass fishing tournament, and operates the Visitor Center.
The EDC and the Chamber are requesting $60,000 combined from the County for a one-time payment to stabilize their funding. This would be split between the two organizations at $26,000 for the EDC and $34,000 for the Chamber. This funding would come from the planned economic development impact fee deferral program, which is part of the economic development, housing, and risk reduction allocation. The fee deferral program capitalization was allocated $900,000 and thereby would be reduced to $840,000. The EDC plans to construct a sustainability plan for financial stability in future years taking into account the uncertainty of the Rural Business Development Grant funding and the Chamber plans to pivot from advocacy to being a neutral convener of community conversations. If the EDC receives the Rural Business Development Grant funding they will pay the $26,000 allocation to the County and the Chamber and the EDC will also explore strategies to pay back the entire allocation to the County.
The Chamber and the EDC’s programming and individual counseling support the County’s Vision 2028 priority of “grow our economy and spur creation of quality local jobs”. The partnership with the SBDC advisory network, programming on business operations, and facilitating access to capital are all key for Lake County residents to start and grow businesses that employ Lake County residents. These services are in the County’s interest, which is itself not equipped to provide.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☒ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☒ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Agree to transfer $60,000 from the FY 25/26 Economic Development, Housing, and Risk Reduction Allocation from Cannabis Fund 064 to the Lake County Economic Development Corporation for $26,000 and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce $34,000.