Summit addresses economic themes, impact on Kern County

By Mark Nessia

Feb 13, 2017  1

 Kern Economic Development Summit

Kern County’s story is one worth telling.

The state’s third-largest county by area was the fastest-growing economy in the U.S. until 2014 and ranked in the top 10 through 2015. It ranks No. 2 for oil, No. 2 for agriculture, is the country’s renewable energy capital and ranks fourth in industrial variety, according to Kern Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Richard Chapman.

Unfortunately, not many have heard the tale and that is what the Kern County Economic Summit aims to address.

Taking place March 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel, the 17th annual Kern County Economic Summit discusses relevant and timely economic themes — particularly among Kern County’s major industries — and is attended by public-sector, private-sector and community leaders, informing them about the county’s forecast and the impacts of national and global events. The event is a partnership between KEDC, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and California State University, Bakersfield.

“We call it a cross-pollination of local opinion leaders as well as national speakers,” Chapman said. “We want to have folks come out of this with both macro and micro points of view.”

Joel Kotkin, an internationally recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends, will be the keynote speaker.

“Our economy is different than the rest of the state of California so we need a keynote speaker that can appreciate those differences,” event organizer Kim Schaefer said.

Chapman said Kotkin is very studied on the economic differences between coastal cities and inland/valley cities and his speech will resonate on how Kern County is a model for upward mobility.

Past events have featured speakers such as Stephen Moore and Peter Navarro, who are now economic advisers for the Trump administration, and Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard. Chapman noted that often, keynote speakers will come into the event knowing “bits and pieces about Kern” and leave as some of its biggest ambassadors.

“They come here, meet the people, talk to the decision-makers and leave singing our praises,” Chapman said.

The half-day event runs from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and gives attendees the ability to network with elected officials, business owners and community leaders.

“We’re trying to hit on all the pressing matters that folks have on the top of their minds right now and also start a dialogue moving forward,” Chapman said. “It’s not a one-and-done event. … There has to be a call to action.”

Sponsorship opportunities are still available and individual tickets ($100 each) go on sale Feb. 27. For more information, contact Schaefer at 661-203-8500 or email economicsummit@kedc.com.

http://www.bakersfield.com/kern-business-journal/summit-addresses-economic-themes-impact-on-kern-county/article_06ead4c1-8d78-538f-894c-1acbeed62d4d.html