Ryan Trauntvein( left) of GitHUB and Remington Maxwell( right) of Grass Valley( a local manufacturer of broadcasting equipment) teach a monthly“ Free Code Camp” as part of the Connected Communities Academy. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHAVATI KARKI-PEARL
[ KB ] copy caption from 0617 story activities and a thriving arts scene. The community could attract, or with the help of the academy, cultivate freelance workers to live within the county and work remotely for companies around the world.
TINY BUT MIGHTY The nonprofit academy is managed by the NCERC which, by 2020, hopes to draw national recognition for the county as one of the most economically-competitive rural areas in the U. S.
This may sound lofty, but the NCERC has a solid platform to build on: Its programs encourage existing business growth and promote activities to attract entrepreneurs, startups and established businesses to the area.
“ In order to reach our 2020 goal, we are building a workforce that meets the needs of our employers,” Gregory says.“ Be it with someone who specializes in virtual reality or nuanced information systems, we can fill those positions in Nevada County.”
The organization is strategic in its efforts to recruit both employees and companies to the region. Many larger economic development teams target international companies with thousands of employees. The NCERC focuses on building relationships with smaller tech employers that have the potential to thrive in Nevada County.
They specifically target businesses working to develop products and services related to augmented and virtual reality. The organization has a task force, called the talent connection, that meets monthly to drive initiatives to recruit, develop and retain talent for local companies.
“ Our smaller size is actually a key benefit because it allows us to be nimble without getting stuck in the bureaucracy larger regions encounter,” Gregory says.“ When the talent connection task force comes up with an idea, like starting the academy, it can be implemented quickly.”
Another selling point the NCERC highlights is the region’ s rare combination of assets, including a cluster of tech business, a slow pace of life and reasonably priced homes when compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Regions like Silicon Valley, Seattle, San Francisco and Austin are well-branded as hubs for tech jobs while Nevada County has often flown under the radar. But it has an impressive lineup of technology offerings, especially considering its smaller size and population relative to major tech hubs, Gregory says.
There is a legacy of video broadcast innovation in Nevada County. AJA Video Systems, Ensemble Designs, Grass Valley( a manufacturer of broadcasting equipment) and Telestream are major players in the video industry based in the region. In addition, there are businesses specializing
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