MAY - 2026 : from Kimberly Parker
Celebrate Our Small Businesses
May is a time to recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurs, family businesses, makers, and local employers that help define Nevada County’s economy and community character. The U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes small businesses each year to highlight the important role small businesses play in communities across the country.
From storefronts in our historic cities and town, to home-based businesses, farms, artists, manufacturers, and service providers, small businesses are at the heart of what makes our region vibrant and resilient.
It is also a good opportunity for business owners to pause and look ahead. Even small steps can make a meaningful difference over time. Consider reviewing your online presence to ensure your website, hours, and contact information are current. Reconnecting with past customers through a simple email update or social media post can help strengthen relationships and encourage repeat business.
This is also a good time to look at workforce needs, succession planning, or opportunities to collaborate with other local businesses and organizations. Businesses that stay connected to their community and adapt to changing customer needs are often the ones that continue to grow and thrive.
Nevada County is fortunate to have a strong network of partners that support local businesses through technical assistance, training, financing resources, and mentoring. Whether you are just getting started or have operated for decades, there are resources available to help. Please feel free to reach out to my office if I can help you get connected.
I encourage everyone to shop local, support local services, and thank the small businesses that invest in our community every day.
Click here to email the Economic Development Office
Nevada County’s Remote Work Economy Stabilizes at a Higher Hybrid Baseline Across Key Industries
Nevada County’s labor force continues to reflect a lasting transformation in how and where work is performed. While remote work surged during the early pandemic period, the more important story today is stabilization at a higher baseline, particularly across professional, technical, and public sector occupations.
Using an American Community Survey occupational proxy model, Nevada County shows the highest sustained remote work capacity in information technology and technical services, where roughly three out of four workers are now in hybrid or fully remote roles. Professional and scientific occupations also remain highly adaptable, with more than half of workers maintaining regular remote work options.
Public administration has similarly retained much of its pandemic era flexibility, with approximately one third of roles continuing in hybrid formats. This shift has important implications for local government operations, recruitment, and retention in rural communities where commute distance is a defining factor in labor market participation.
Education and health services show more modest gains, reflecting the essential in person nature of much of this work, though administrative and support functions continue to benefit from hybrid models.
For Nevada County, this structural shift carries significant economic development implications. Remote and hybrid work continues to support in migration, stabilize local spending, and expand workforce participation beyond traditional geographic constraints. At the same time, it underscores the importance of broadband infrastructure, housing availability, and quality of life investments that make remote compatible communities competitive.
The Second Annual Nevada County Recreation Fair was a huge success!
Recreation came alive at this year’s Nevada County Recreation Fair, held April 25 at the fairgrounds. The event was bigger, more vibrant, and more interactive than ever, showcasing the full spectrum of what makes recreation in our county so dynamic. Everything from outdoor adventure and youth sports to wellness, stewardship, and community connection.
Hundreds of attendees of all ages enjoyed hands-on activities and demonstrations throughout the day. Highlights included a lively RC car track, captivating falcon and owl demonstrations, face painting, an immersive flight simulator, crafting activities, outdoor games, ultimate frisbee tossing, a horseshoeing demonstration, and much more. The wide variety of booths and interactive stations offered something for everyone, reflecting the rich range of recreation opportunities available across Nevada County.
Overall, the 2026 Recreation Fair was a vibrant celebration of community, adventure, and the many ways Nevada County residents get outside, get active, and get connected.
Nevada County Launches New Emergency Alerts System Nevada County Alerts
Nevada County businesses are encouraged to sign up for the new emergency notification system, Nevada County Alerts, which is replacing CodeRED. The system will provide important real time alerts related to wildfires, severe weather, evacuations, road closures, and other emergency situations that could impact business operations, employees, and customers.
For businesses, timely information can help protect staff, reduce disruptions, support continuity planning, and improve communication during emergencies. Even businesses currently enrolled in CodeRED will need to register again to ensure contact information is up to date and alerts are received through the new system.
Nevada County Alerts is supported by the County Office of Emergency Services and was approved by the Board of Supervisors as part of the County’s ongoing emergency preparedness efforts. A Countywide test of the system is planned for late May.
Business owners are encouraged to share information about the new system with employees, tenants, vendors, and customers to help strengthen community preparedness across Nevada County.
Click here to go to Nevada County alerts.
NEWS AROUND THE COUNTY
BUSINESS
Calling all Nevada County Businesses!
Are you looking to promote your business? The Nevada County Economic Development Office wants to hear from you.
Be featured in an upcoming economic development e-newsletter and through our social media platforms. It is your opportunity to share more about your business story, achievements, and new products and services.
To be added to the business spotlight interest list, contact us at kimberly.parker@nevadacountyca.gov
GRANTS AND FINANCE
California Strategic Growth Council’s Community Resilience Centers (CRC)
The California Strategic Growth Council’s Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program provides funding to support projects that help communities prepare for and respond to climate-related emergencies, including extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and power outages. Funding is available for planning activities as well as implementation projects that develop, renovate, or expand community facilities serving as resilience hubs during emergencies.
Planning Grants range from $100,000 to $500,000, while implementation Grants range from $1 million to $10 million. The program prioritizes projects serving under-resourced communities and supports partnerships that strengthen local emergency preparedness, community services, and climate resilience. No local match funding is required. Visit the California Strategic Growth Council CRC Program page for program details, eligibility information, and application materials.
Eligible applicants include:
- Local governments, including cities, counties, and special districts.
- Nonprofit organizations and community-based organizations.
- California Native American Tribes and Tribal organizations.
- Public agencies, joint powers authorities, and other eligible community-serving entities.
Projects serving disadvantaged or low-income communities strongly encouraged.
Deadline: Grant solicitations are scheduled to be posted on May 29, with applications due this summer.
The grant portal and program information are available here:
California Strategic Growth Council CRC Program
U.S. Small Business Town Hall
Manufacturing in America
E2G Grant Initiative
Learn about new federal funding opportunities at the Townhall: Manufacturing in America Grant Initiative on May 27, 2026, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, held online. This session will provide details on grant funding available to support small manufacturers through training, technical assistance, and innovative workforce development initiatives.
Explore federal grant opportunity here.
Beverage Container Redemption
Innovation Grant Program
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery is supporting start-up costs for recycling programs, which shall be limited to recycling centers, mobile recycling, reverse-vending machines, or bag drop programs. These funds are also available to existing recycling centers for the purpose of establishing mobile recycling to expand outreach. No more than 50% of these funds shall be used for any one type of program from the following list: mobile recycling, reverse vending machine or bag drop.
Eligible Applicants: Business, Nonprofit, Other Legal Entity, Public Agency,
Tribal Government
Matching: None required
Application deadline: June 23, 2026
Expected Award: October 20, 2026
Click here to go to grant site.
Biomass Financing Webinar Series
Valley Vision is offering a free, three-part virtual series for local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations across the Sierra and Sacramento Valley who work with woody biomass and are ready to build the business model and financing strategy to get their projects funded.
Sessions: May 29, June 26, and July 31, 2026.
12pm to 1:30pm
Topics: Project Concepting and Costing | Productization & Bankability | Financing Mechanisms & Investor Pitch
Curriculum by Neal Gottlieb, experienced CFO and business consultant, our guest speaker for the first webinar will be Luke Carpenter, Blue Forest Director of Investment.
To register, click here.
For information or questions, contact Valley Vision Investment Coordinator by clicking here.
*Valley Vision is a Sacramento-based regional nonprofit that works across Northern California to advance economic development, workforce initiatives, food systems, and community resilience through partnerships between public, private, and community organizations. The organization is also active in forest resilience and biomass utilization efforts that support wildfire risk reduction and rural economic development across the Sierra region.
CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grants Open Through July 8
CAL FIRE is accepting applications for its 2026 Wildfire Prevention Grants Program, with up to $135 million available statewide to support projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve community resilience. Funding is available for hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education projects.
Eligible activities include: vegetation management, fuel breaks, tree thinning, prescribed grazing, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), evacuation planning, and public education efforts.
Match: not required but is encouraged.
Application due date: July 8, 2026
Priority will be given to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support home and community hardening, or maintain existing fuels reduction investments.
The recommended grant amount is $950,000 or less, with project equipment capped at a cumulative total of $750,000.
Applicants must demonstrate project readiness and the ability to complete projects on time and within budget, including meeting CEQA and NEPA requirements within 12 months of grant execution.
Click here to go to grant site.
TRAINING
Don't miss the tremendous array of trainings being offered over the next month.
Share the trainings with members of your team and staff.
The following training classes and webinars are courtesy of the Sierra mall Business Development Center at:
(530) 582-5022.
Accessing Capital
May 27, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
In-Person, Roseville, CA
Free
This workshop is designed to help small business owners better understand funding opportunities and the lending process. Participants will gain a practical overview of fundraising and business lending, including how lenders evaluate borrowers, tips to strengthen loan applications, and strategies to improve or repair credit to increase approval odds.
Register for this training here.
Legal Issues for Small Businesses
June 9, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Webinar
Free
Join entrepreneur and business expert Steve Roth for an informative webinar focused on the core legal issues every new company and all business should understand. Drawing from years of experience starting and building companies, this session will provide practical guidance on selecting the right corporate structure, protecting intellectual property, managing contracts, avoiding litigation, and implementing workplace and employment best practices.
Register for this training here.
Marketing the Launch
of your E-Commerce Shop
June 17, 9:00 - 10:00 am
Webinar
Free
This training focuses on e-commerce strategies for small businesses. The workshop will cover tools and techniques for building an online presence, increasing digital sales, and strengthening online business operations. Designed for both new and existing businesses, the training provides practical guidance for improving and expanding e-commerce efforts.
Register for this training here.
The following training webinars are offered by Score
10 Common Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
May 22, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Webinar
Free
This webinar will explore 10 common marketing mistakes businesses often make and provide practical strategies to avoid them. Participants will learn how to prioritize marketing efforts, better define target audiences, and optimize websites to improve customer engagement and drive action.
Presented by marketing professional Victoria Byrne, founder of Creative Marketing Services, Inc., the session draws on more than 20 years of experience supporting corporate and small business marketing initiatives. The webinar is designed to provide actionable guidance for businesses looking to strengthen their marketing foundation and improve outreach efforts. Our Chamber of Commerce is the perfect platform to connect with other business owners and entrepreneurs in the area. We offer a variety of programs and services to help our members stay informed, connected, and competitive in today's fast-paced business world. From networking events to educational seminars, we provide the resources and support you need to succeed.
