GUEST OPINION: Rohnert Park complex has vision for what county needs - jobs

<p>Innovation and entrepreneurship are hallmarks of the American dream, a dream turned nightmare since September 2008 when the house of cards our economy was built upon began to crash around us. We forgot that people need jobs to remain homeowners and hopefully jobs in industries that have long-term demand and continue to fill commercial real estate.</p><p>The North Bay has seen industries come and go and wondered why these companies left such a beautiful aesthetic. The simple answer is we live in a globally competitive environment; every day there are other cities, counties and countries waiting to take our employers and thinkers.</p><p>The Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster is seeking redevelopment funding from the city of Rohnert Park, funding that can only be used for redevelopment and cannot be repurposed for things like public safety or education. The funding is for business and economic stimulus.</p><p>The Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster remains the only organization of its kind: a non-profit group focused on the creation of high-value jobs by enabling and accelerating the success of technology startups and emerging growth companies.</p><p>Their goal is to assist in at least 100 startups, creating more than 2,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Most of these new businesses will exist in Rohnert Park, northern Petaluma and throughout Sonoma County.</p><p>Consider this. When one job in high tech is created in Rohnert Park specifically, due to supporting businesses, Sonoma State University and other organizations in the Rohnert Park area, 2.7 total jobs are created.</p><p>Imagine if 2,000 new workers were employed in new high-tech companies in Rohnert Park. A new job in grocery retail creates a total of 1.3 new jobs. Ironically, a new high-tech job creates almost another job in retail based on the incomes and jobs created to support the new high-tech firm.</p><p>The business cluster's economic impact can be as important as any large firm that locates in this region. Startup and growth companies help to fill vacant commercial real estate, contract with services, support businesses and create jobs. The income these employees earn stimulates spending and jobs. </p><p>Rohnert Park will be affected more than any other community by the cluster's growth and the companies that are born from its work.</p><p>More than 84 percent of new firms from incubators locate their new business within 5 miles of the incubator: Rohnert Park may now have the engine it needs to be a friendly city to both high technology and retail. Firms such as WavePoint Ventures are looking to make investments in firms coming from the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster, which generates more action for venture capital in this region.</p><p>Business incubation is a cost-effective means of creating jobs. It provides a space where ideas can come to life and entrepreneurs can be both mentored and financed by experienced CEOs who can speed progress toward commercialization.</p><p>The School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University is now working with the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster on building bridges between ideas, innovation and commercial viability, as well as providing economic development support for the entire North Bay region.</p><p>As a lifelong resident of Sonoma County, I believe this group is something this county needs and should be replicated throughout the North Bay.</p><p><i>Robert Eyler is chairman of the Economics Department and director of the Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University.</p>