Chico Economic Planning Corporation

THIS EDA INVESTMENT FUNDS THE CHICOSTART ACCELERATE INNOVATION BY MOBILIZATION TO RURAL COMMUNITIES (AIM-RC) TECHNOLOGY-BASED BUSINESS INCUBATOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, TO SUPPORT A NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THREE ORGANIZATIONS, LED BY CHICOSTART AND PARTNERING WITH CLEANSTART, A SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO. AIM-RC WILL SUPPORT INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR UNDERSERVED RURAL POPULATIONS ACROSS KEY SEGMENTS OF CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THOUGH PROVEN PROGRAMMING THAT MOBILIZES EMERGING BUSINESS SUPPORT, INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT, AND BUSINESS ACCELERATION IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TARGET REGION. FOCUSING ON CRITICAL REGIONAL INDUSTRIES IN CALIFORNIA'S RURAL FAR NORTH, AIM-RC WILL FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE/FOOD PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL WATER EFFICIENCY, HEALTHCARE/BIOTECHNOLOGY, SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT, CLEAN TECHNOLOGY/CLEAN MANUFACTURING, AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT EXPECTS TO CREATE 80 NEW RURAL-FOCUSED JOBS BY 2025 THAT SUPPORT HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND REGIONS IN RURAL CALIFORNIA. ADDITIONALLY, AIM-RC AIMS TO PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES TO 40+ ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES, COMPLETE 75+ INVESTOR/STRATEGIC PARTNER INTRODUCTIONS FOR PROJECT PARTICIPANTS, LAUNCH 40+ NEW BUSINESSES, DEVELOP UP TO 7 NEW PATENT APPLICATIONS, AND SECURE AT LEASE $6 MILLION IN EQUITY INVESTMENTS FOR NEW COMPANIES AND PRODUCTS.

BRIC RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY PROJECT (BRIC-RR)

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS