State Controller John Chiang today announced he is sponsoring two bills to improve the performance of and the public’s confidence in the nation’s two largest public pension funds – the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS). The bills would cap the amount of gifts members and staff may receive each year, and require a pension fund board member or employee to wait two years after leaving before working with a firm that has business with the funds.
Tag: california
Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Loan Applications for Clean Energy Business Financing Program Available
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| The California Energy Commission today released the applications for the Clean Energy Business Financing Program (CEBFP), making available more than $30 million in low-interest loans to eligible California clean energy manufacturing businesses. The CEBFP will use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), State Energy Program (SEP) funds for 2.75 percent interest rate loans to private companies to reduce energy use, increase renewable energy generation, and create and retain California jobs.
“These loans for small business clean energy manufacturers will create jobs and upgrade our aging infrastructure,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “California is paving the way for a new economic foundation for the 21st century, showing once again that what benefits the environment can also benefit the economy.” Loans to qualifying applicants will range from $50,000 to a maximum of $5 million and may be used to expand or retool existing facilities for the manufacturing of eligible energy efficiency or renewable energy products, components, systems and technologies. Loan funds are also available to successful applicants for projects generating either new production or expanded production of biomethane gas from biomass that is direct-injected into natural gas transmission lines. “What these clean energy entrepreneurs require is affordable capital – private and public funding that keeps jobs and manufacturing in California and strengthens the state’s economy,” said California Energy Commission Chairman Karen Douglas. “These low interest loans will help manufacturers to produce their renewable or energy-efficient products, benefiting Californians and recouping some of our state’s lost manufacturing jobs.” |
CA i-HUB Initiative- ROUND II GUIDELINES RELEASED
From Michael Gonzalez at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development:
The CA i-HUB initiative is designed to promote collaboration, create employment opportunities, shorten the commercialization process
and attract funding for technology. Our new colleague, Katy McKenzie, is the Assistant Deputy Director for Innovation at our office and will be the primary contact for the CA iHub Initiative. For more information about the program as well as the guidelines for Round II, please see the attached pdf files or visit our website at business.ca.gov.
*****Round II offers two application deadlines. Applications can be submitted on either May 20 or July 22!*****
Please send any questions about this initiative to katy.mckenzie@gov.ca.gov.
Dispatches From The Front 