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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
The programs utilize $30 million authorized by the Budget Act of 2018, and funded through the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 (SB 5).
The Healthy Soils Program was additionally appropriated $5 million from the California Climate Investments, authorized by the Budget Act of 2018.
The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program provides farmers and ranchers with grants to implement irrigation systems that save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Projects funded through the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, or SWEEP, commonly include elements such as soil, plant or weather sensors, micro-irrigation systems, pump retrofits or replacements, renewable energy, and variable frequency drives (among others).
The draft RGA for the SWEEP program is posted at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep.
Public comments on the draft RGA for SWEEP will be accepted from Oct. 26 through Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. PST (15-day comment period).
The Healthy Soils Program offers grants to farmers who take action to capture greenhouse gas emissions – such as carbon dioxide – in the soil to help combat climate change.
The Healthy Soils Program will be implemented under two separate sections: Incentives Program and Demonstration Projects.
The Incentives Program will award grants to provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for implementation of agricultural management practices that sequester soil carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Demonstration Projects will award projects that monitor and demonstrate to farmers and ranchers in California, specific management practices in agriculture that sequester carbon, improve soil health, and reduce atmospheric GHGs.
The RGAs for both the HSP Incentives Program and Demonstration Projects can be found on the CDFA Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) Web pages: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/IncentivesProgram.html and https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/DemonstrationProjects.html.
Public comments on the draft RGA for HSP Incentives and Demonstration projects will be accepted from Oct. 25 through Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. P.M. PST (15-day comment period).
Comments regarding the draft RGAs must be submitted to
The Healthy Soils Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.
California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more.
At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.
For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.
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- Written by: Gem Faire
It will take place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, located at 1350 Bennett Valley Road.
Hours are Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event is open to the public.
Admission of $7 is valid for the entire weekend.
Exhibitors from all over the world will be on site with the largest selection of fine jewelry, crystals, gemstones, beads, minerals, fossils and much more.
Take advantage of buying direct from the importers and wholesalers. From loose gems, raw minerals and millions of bead strands, to finished jewelry, fashion accessories, supplies and tools, find them all under one roof.
Jewelry repair, cleaning and ring sizing service is available while you shop. Free door prize drawings are conducted every hour throughout the weekend.
For more information, visit www.gemfaire.com or contact Gem Faire Inc. at 503-252-8300 or
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- Written by: California Treasurer’s Office
The Web site currently provides employers with information on the program, and allows them to apply for the pilot program that begins next month.
“As we celebrate National Retirement Security Week, we are excited to launch this new website that’s just the latest step in finally giving businesses and their employees, up and down this great state, access to this groundbreaking new program,” said Treasurer Chiang. “This easy to navigate site will allow employers to apply for our pilot launch and help us better prepare for the statewide launch next year. CalSavers will not only help put employees on a path to saving for a more dignified retirement, but will help facilitate the most ambitious expansion of retirement security since the passage of Social Security.”
Today, in California, nearly half of middle-income workers in the state are at risk of retiring into economic hardship, with each generation on track to retire poorer than the last.
CalSavers will specifically address this personal savings crisis by providing employers and their employees access to this new retirement savings program.
CalSavers will help up to 7.5 million workers – from Generation Z to baby boomers – save for their retirement.
It will give employees access to a completely voluntary, low-cost, portable retirement savings program, with professionally managed investments overseen by a public and transparent board of directors, chaired by Treasurer Chiang.
Like any retirement program, CalSavers is fully sustained by participant fees, which means not a penny of taxpayer money will be spent on it. Similarly, there are no fees for employers.
The new site will also provide members of the public access to customer service representatives so that they can get more information about the program. Additionally, the site has been launched in both English and Spanish.
The pilot will launch next month, when a diverse group of employers from across the state will have the ability to be the first to sign up for CalSavers. Beginning in mid-2019, the program will open fully statewide for enrollment. Employers with 100 or more employees, who do not already offer a retirement plan, will have one year from the full program launch date to register. Employers with 50 or more employees will be required to register within two years, and those with five or more employees in year three.
After the pilot, employers of any size can register at any time, even before their registration deadline.
California was the first state in the nation to enact legislation creating a broad-based retirement savings program and board, providing a model for other states, including Oregon and Illinois, which followed California’s lead.
For more information about CalSavers, visit the CalSavers website, email
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- Written by: Mediacom
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two local Mediacom employees earned top customer service awards and recognition by the company’s senior management team during an awards ceremony held earlier this month.
Vladimir Lopez Jr., a resident of Kelseyville, was awarded the “People’s Choice Award” award for his outstanding work as a broadband specialist in the technical operations field.
Lopez was awarded based off customer satisfaction surveys and has been employed with Mediacom for two years.
Kevin Petrie, a resident of Lucerne, was recognized with “Area Operations Employee of the Year” award for his extraordinary work performance. Petrie has been employed with Mediacom for seven years.
Mediacom employs 4,600 people companywide. The company’s owner and senior management team personally present annual awards to employees who earn the highest performance rankings and demonstrate outstanding service.