Central Sierra EDD

07/15/2026

Miss our last bootcamp? Well you're in luck! Our next cohort of the business bootcamp starts on August 4th! Register for our no-cost virtual Business Bootcamp today!

This four-week cohort will teach you everything you need to start your business. Coupled with a no-cost advisor connection toward the latter part of the series, your business idea will become reality in no time!

Dates: August 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm each week
Location: Virtual via Zoom

To register: bit.ly/augustbizbootcamp

You can also contact us directly to sign up: (209)422-6416 or [email protected]

This workshop is intended for entrepreneurs who are looking to open up their business in Stanislaus or Tuolumne county.

06/26/2026

Join regional leaders from education, industry, workforce, economic development, local government, and community organizations as we work together to shape a stronger pipeline from education to meaningful careers across the Sierra Jobs First region.

This interactive engagement session is your opportunity to:
🌲 Help identify regional workforce needs and emerging opportunities
🤝 Connect with partners from across the Sierra
💡 Share ideas that will help shape future education and workforce pathways
🚀 Contribute to a regional framework that supports innovation, technical skills, and long-term economic prosperity

Whether you're an educator, employer, economic developer, workforce professional, public agency, nonprofit, or community partner, your perspective matters.

📅 Wednesday, July 8, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Mother Lode Job Training Center
197 Mono Way, Suite B
Sonora, CA

This Sierra Jobs First Catalyst Project is led by Amador College Connect in partnership with Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), Lemelson-MIT, Columbia College, Mother Lode Job Training, and regional collaborators.

RSVP: https://forms.gle/pTPsFV5FWVeUnxqT6

We will see you there! :)

06/09/2026

Would your business like to:
Paint a city building?
Help repair highways and roads?
Provide services to local school districts?

Inquire about our Contract Ready program! Our team can help you identify, bid for, and support you through the entire process of securing a local, state, or federal contract!

We have informational on-demand webinars that can be watched at your own pace to guide you through the different elements of contracting!

Get the link via our bio or by going to: bit.ly/CRPWebinarSeries

For any questions or to learn more about the Contract Ready Program, contact us at: (209)254-6406

Contact us at: Dan

03/27/2026

Yesterday we co-hosted the Central Sierra Biomass Business Competition with Mother Lode Job Training that brought together 7 innovative entrepreneurs and businesses from across the region to pitch their ideas that transform forest biomass into viable products that serve to protect our communities by reducing wildfire risk.

We’re excited to congratulate RJ Skaar of Arnold Green Waste & Forest Products (Calaveras County) as this year’s winner! 🎉

RJ’s concept focuses on converting low-value wood waste, like slash and forest debris, into wood briquettes, creating a practical, market-ready solution that supports fuels reduction, local jobs, and a more circular economy.

The competition showcased a diverse group of participants from early-stage concepts to growing businesses that represented multiple counties across the Central Sierra region, as well as interest from outside the region looking to invest and build here.

In the first photo (from left to right):
- Mike Jones of Jones Land Management
- RJ Skaar of Arnold Green Waste and Forest Products
- Corbin Clough
- Sophia Kaufman, Project Coordinator for MLJT and CSEDD
- Greg Stangl of Phoenix Energy
- John Azevedo of Forager Fuels
- Kevin Starks

The final contestant, Doug Ware of Ware Inc., attended via Zoom and is not pictured. Our judges included:
- Tom Crosby, President of the Tuolumne County Business Council
- Mat Galvan, former President of the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce, Owner of Sierra Focused Media and Sierra Sourced, and Valley Sierra SBDC Advisor
- Dave Thoeny, Executive Director of Mother Lode Job Training and Central Sierra Economic Development District

This event is part of our ongoing work to advance the regional bioeconomy, support entrepreneurship, and build pathways for new industries rooted in the Sierra’s natural resources.

Thank you to all of the participants, judges, and partners who made this event a success. We’re excited to continue supporting these businesses and bringing new investment into the region 👏

03/11/2026

You could win $2500 to support your biomass business! 💰

Do you have a business idea that uses forest or agricultural biomass? The Central Sierra Biomass Business Competition is your chance to pitch your concept, gain industry feedback, and access no-cost business support services to help grow your venture.

🌲 Only 8 competitors will be selected.
⏳ Applications close March 18

If you’re an entrepreneur or business working in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, or Mariposa County, we want to hear your idea!

👉 Apply now:

With the State of California naming the bioeconomy as a priority sector for the Sierra Region, Central Sierra Economic Development District and Mother Lode Job Training are advancing regional goals to grow a strong, sustainable biomass-based economy. The Biomass Business Competition is one way we’...

02/25/2026

We’re looking forward to connecting with our local business community at the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo tomorrow! 😊 CSEDD will be tabling from 5:00pm – 7:00pm and we’d love to see you there.

This is a great opportunity to meet local businesses, learn about regional resources, and network with the people helping drive economic growth in Tuolumne County. Plus, there will be appetizers and a raffle prize! 🎁

📍Black Oak Casino Resort Conference Center
🎟 Free admission & open to the public

Come say hello, grab a bite, enter to win, and connect with your local business community. A strong local economy starts with supporting the businesses that power it and this is a great opportunity to meet and connect with the businesses in your community!

Business Expo is back!

Join us Thursday, February 26 from 5 to 7pm at Black Oak Casino Resort for an evening of local business, networking, and community. Free and open to the public.

Want to show off your business?

Display tables are $30 for Chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Deadline to reserve a table is February 12.
Free refreshments. No host bar. Real conversations. Real connections.

Call 209 336 0160 for details or to reserve a table.

02/09/2026

Help shape the future of EV charging in the Sierras! 🚗⚡

Our partners at Keep Sierra Green are running a regional EV Readiness Survey to better understand where charging is needed most, what barriers businesses face, and what support would make installation easier.

Your feedback will help guide future planning and funding efforts for EV infrastructure across the Sierra region.

📍 Employers in Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa & Tuolumne Counties - we want to hear from you because your voice matters!

👉 Take the short survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGXGMDL

01/28/2026

UPDATE: Our webinar that was scheduled for tomorrow, January 29 has been cancelled. We have no further webinars schedule at this time, but we are still accepting intake forms from interested business and property owners!

Learn more about the program, check eligibility, and fill out your intake form today at csedd.org/sierrachargingnetwork

01/28/2026

The Sierra Charging Network is moving forward and even without scheduled webinars, you can still get involved!

We’re continuing to collect intake forms from Sierra region business and property owners interested in hosting EV charging at their location. Expanding this infrastructure strengthens our rural economy, supports tourism, and prepares the Sierras for a clean-energy future.

🌄 Want to be part of the network?
Fill out your intake form: https://forms.gle/jDRkzgZFvxf4GU389
Learn more about the Sierra Charging Network: csedd.org/sierrachargingnetwork

01/21/2026

Happening TOMORROW: Learn how your business can benefit from no-cost EV charging infrastructure through the Sierra Charging Network

Hosting EV chargers can attract new customers, boost visibility, and support your community. There are big benefits to expending EV infrastructure in the Sierra region and this program covers installation costs for eligible sites

🗓️ Thursday, Jan 22 | 2–3 PM
👉 RSVP required: https://forms.gle/jDRkzgZFvxf4GU389

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your business and support clean transportation in the Sierra region.