Last Friday afternoon, we attended the Game Changers presentation put on by the Shasta County Economic Development Center, at the Redding Convention Center.
The event was well attended. Erin and I met lots of local people interested and excited about Redding’s future. I also learned about several local resources and start-up companies I’d not otherwise have known about, like Technisoil.
Our Keynote guest: “From “Textile to Technology” A Community’s Transformation. The Story of Greenville, South Carolina. A native South Carolinian, Nancy (Whitworth) has been in Greenville for 30 years and has played an integral role in Greenville’s transformation from a dying textile town with serious economic problems to being an innovative community with an entrepreneurial spirit that is willing to take risks.” She did an excellent job demonstrating how Greeenvile found success after the devastation of their major local industry.
There were other presentations from some local companies that are very promising. To the left, John Weise of software startup, Zenius Solutions.
As part of his presentation, Weise spoke about how more software businesses than ever before seem to be turning towards subscription-based business models. In case you were not already aware, software companies often provide their products and services on the basis of a recurring payment format. Essentially, this means that their customers can pay to access the software that they need for as long as they require it. In recent years, subscription-based business models have proved hugely advantageous to businesses in the software industry as they provide a continuous income stream that can boost company growth.
As well as the presentation that was given by Weise, I was also struck by a few things from the keynote. First, Greenville really took chances on making their downtown likable and livable, and it worked out well. But they endured years of risk with private/public partnerships and (gulp) eminent domain to reclaim their best parts. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but the successful results speak for themselves. Nancy had toured Redding prior, and was really impressed with our river, our artful bridge, and the Cascade Theater. It seems Greenville had so much less than Redding to start with, but did so much more to leverage what they had.
Another interesting thing was the repeated mention of Bethel Church, and the students it has attracted. Redding is in a public/private partnership with Bethel for the very building in which the event took place. People I spoke with mentioned the influx of young people with new ideas as a very positive aspect of life in Redding. Erin and I agree. Meeting Bethel students with their varied backgrounds and cultures has expanded Redding’s culture. The subject came up remarkably often, and seemed yet another very positive factor to the companies located here.
It was a terrific and eye opening event. There’s more info about the Game Changer event at redding.com. Also, you can review related Tweets at #edcgc. Thanks EDC, sponsors, speakers, and all who attended.
A Park Marina Vision
Once there was a plan for Redding’s most visible riverfront. Some students envisioned what it might look like. It was a nice idea.
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“Of the 27 acres in the Park Marina area, 18 acres will be dedicated to open space for various recreational uses. New development on the site will include:
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• a 6,000 square foot outdoor amphitheater;
• a 12 screen theater complex;
• 145 residential units of different types and sizes;
• two hotels and a bed-and-breakfast;
• a marketplace with eateries, small scale development, a
permanent outdoors facility for weekly farmers’ markets
and seasonal craft fairs, an arts plaza;
• 1,000 parking spaces in two new three-story garages on
Park Marina Drive;
• traffic calming measures along the whole project site and
a pedestrian bridge”
You can read the whole Park Marina plan document at the link. Thanks Cal Poly students and staff, for showing us what could be.
This subject came up at dinner with friends yesterday evening. And how Redding so often turns its back on the river that defines us. Surely it will not be that way forever.
Palo Cedro to Redding in 19 seconds
Less than that, actually. Here’s a brief experimental video.
Just fiddling with a new production technique on a rainy day.
Subway style highway graphic puts Redding on the map.
Click on the Info button to enlarge the map. An ingenious and useful graphic design for visualizing getting around the country.
From Redding, it’s an easy hop on the Green Line to the Red Line, and then a straight shot to either San Francisco or New York. Or stay on the Green Line for either San Diego or Seattle. Nice.
Brilliant design work by Cameron Booth. Thanks for putting Redding on the map.
Redding connection to Vostok
Redding musician Craig Padilla recorded lovely, evocative, longform organic/electronic music in his studio on West Street in Redding. Vostok was one of his major works. It went on to become his highly regarded release on the artist-run Spotted Peccary label. Lately, Vostok itself has been in the news.
You can listen to some of Vostok at the link. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago!
I was teasing Craig that the low droning sound that is heard on the recording was only Russians drilling on orders from Vladimir Putin to get him a really cold glass of water.
We must have been keeping Shasta County a secret
Spectacular view of Redding from Space
Okay, it’s the whole hemisphere, but Redding is there. Image courtesy of NASA. Thanks, NASA.
Taken on January 4th 2012, so this year’s early light snowpack is well evident. A wonderful and thought provoking image.
All the real estate there is, until we get to Mars.
You can find this full 64MP image of Earth in large format glory at the link. Well worth the the view. It’s Really Redding.
State of the City of Redding California
The image above sums up much of the State of the City luncheon yesterday, both spoken and unspoken. Our area has been hit hard by an economic wave. The figure at the flag faces skyward. Stretching out her arm as if to implore the heavens, as solemn citizens in the foreground stand. Left, our mayor Missy McArthur and other officials set a positive tone, emphasizing the extensive public work projects that have continued despite the economy. Tough times have befallen Redding before. It won’t last, but we will.
Redding’s 15th Annual Beer and Wine Festival
We attended this year’s 15th Annual Redding Beer and Wine Festival at the Promenade, and I took a few shots, er, photographs.
It would be hard to pick a favorite food or drink vendor. Some standouts include Gaia’s Woodside Grill, Market Street Steakhouse, Bricks Smokehouse, Grilla Bites, CR Gibbs, and seen pouring here, Shameless O’Leery’s.
We tried some terrific home brew from the Shasta SOB (Society of Brewers) club. And of course there was so much fine wine. It was a great opportunity to try out vintners like Matson and wineries from the Manton wine country. We had some great tastings at the Mosely Family Cellar booth.
Lots of fun, and some great opportunities to to try some different things. As always, it was good to see family and friends. See you next year!
Moss no mas
Yesterday we learned that Moss Lumber would be closing it’s doors for the last time. The current economic downturn has been extremely rough on all the trades, but none so much as building. The Redding store with its teepee burner out front is a local landmark.
David Benda wrote a blogpost about it that was of interest. There’s a lot of this sort of thing going around, but it still hits very hard. We sincerely wish the best to the Moss family and their crew.
