PLACER VALLEY
“ That ’ s what draws people here . The combination of schools , of quality housing , ( parks ) and recreation , all those quality-of-life elements . … And employers see that as well .”
Shawn Tillman , economic development director , City of Lincoln
manente , Sutter Health , Pride Industries , Adventist Health and Topgolf , according to City of Roseville data . With three of the city ’ s top five private employers healthrelated , Roseville has become a healthcare hub , with the 2017 report noting that the city had 14,800 jobs in the sector , with average earnings annually of $ 78,800 .
Across sectors , Wendy Gerig , CEO of the Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce , says employers are encouraged by the city government ’ s attitude toward companies , how it provides all services and its level of responsiveness to concerns from the business community . “ They don ’ t wait until there are problems ,” Gerig says .
Laura Matteoli , Roseville ’ s economic development director , credits the local political atmosphere . “ In the 24 years I ’ ve been here , I would say that every city council that has sat is pro-business ,” she says .
Prior to Corefact opening its local office , which employs approximately 20 , Burnley met with Matteoli and other city staff . “ It just seemed to me like they were the most proactive , business-friendly community out there ,” he says . “ And you can see the growth . To us , it just felt like a safe bet .”
Meanwhile , Rocklin has 36,515 jobs , with its largest employers being Sierra College , Rocklin Unified School District , Oracle , American Health Care , and S . E . Scher Corporation , according to city officials .
Retail has also thrived in Rocklin , with specialty merchants like RC Willey , Bass Pro Shops and Pottery World , Marc Mondell , assistant city manager , says . “ It ’ s been increasing year after year over the last decade or so , frankly , which is encouraging , because you ’ re seeing a reverse trend in other parts of the country ,” he says .
Other sectors are doing well too , says Robin Trimble , CEO of the Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce .
Bruce Capagli is chief operating officer of Precision Medical Products , which has corporate headquarters in Rocklin with approximately 35-40 employees . “ It ’ s the location ,” says Capagli , whose company also recently opened a distribution center with 10-20 employees in Lincoln . “ We ’ re a bunch of Placer County guys .” He says , “ You can provide a great place to work in a Class A environment in a good , safe community that ’ s affordable for the people we employ .”
Lincoln , the smallest of the three cities , has the least amount of jobs , with fewer than 21,000 , per the Greater Sacramento Economic Council , though it still features some major companies , including the largest employer in Placer Valley , Thunder Valley Casino Resort . According to Shawn Tillman , economic development director for Lincoln , the next four largest private employers are San Francisco Bay Coffee Company ; Sierra Pacific Industries ; BZ Plumbing Co .; and Gladding , McBean .
Being small has its perks too . John Coburn , president of GC Products , which makes trims and finishes for commercial buildings , consolidated operations from Sparks , Nevada , to Lincoln in June 2018 . He says it has been easy to reach city staff , and the cost per square foot in Lincoln is affordable . “ The hub for workers is much better here ,” Coburn says .
16 comstocksmag . com | 2020