Highlights

• California Small Business Board Meeting-December 3, 2008 (pdf)
• Governor Announces Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Governor's Global Climate Summit
• Governor Announces California as First State to Partner in CeBIT 2009
• BayBridge 360
• California Seat Belt Usage Reaches New Record High
• State Launches "Community Stabilization Home Loan Program"
• Governor Schwarzenegger Highlights Economic Benefits of Proposition 1C
• Governor Signs Legislation to Expedite Funding for Transportation and Housing Projects
• CTC Approves Landmark $3 Billion Goods Movement Program

News and Press Releases - 2008

Border Governors Conference Council of Economic Advisors Holds Inaugural Meeting at 2008 Conference

Economic Development Worktable Convenes/Discusses Economic Potential of the Border Region

Today the 2008 Border Governors Conference Economic Development Worktable held a meeting where representatives from all the participating Border States exchanged valuable information about continuing to grow the third largest economic region in the world.

Prior to today's gathering the Economic Development Worktable, chaired by California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Dale E. Bonner, urged the creation of a Council of Economic Advisors who held their first formal meeting earlier this week at the Conference.

"California is honored to host the first meeting of the Council of Economic Advisors," Bonner said. "This Council will help to guide economic development in a region that is vitally important to the success of the state and nation's economy."

The Council's role is to advise the Border Governors Conference on strengthening the region's competitive economic advantage and it will build upon the study of competitiveness and areas of opportunity highlighted in last year's Joint Declaration.

Each Governor participating in the Conference appointed a representative to the Council for a three year term. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed George P. Shultz, who currently serves as Chairman of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors, to the Border Governors Conference Council of Economic Advisors.

"Effective solutions require joint efforts such as this Border Governors Conference," said Shultz. "Many of the challenges facing our region transcend state and international borders. It is only by working together that we can leverage the true economic impact of this region."

The Council, which will meet at the annual conference to advise the Conference on spurring economic development and growth within the U.S.-Mexico border region, will ultimately work collaboratively with a university in both the U.S. and Mexico to publish an annual report reflecting their findings and recommendations.

"We hope and expect the Council's work will underscore the urgency of California's historic efforts to rebuild and expand the state's infrastructure needed to accommodate increased international trade with Mexico and other countries around the world," Secretary Bonner said.

California, Arizona, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, New Mexico, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Texas make up the 10 Border States that participate in the Border Governors Conference. Copied below is the list of each state's representative on the Council of Economic Advisors.

• California: Secretary George Shultz, Chairman of the California Governor's Council of Economic Advisors
• Arizona: Joaquin Ruiz, Dean, College of Science, University of Arizona
• Baja California: Roberto Reyes, Undersecretary of Business Development
• Chihuahua: Alberto Salomon-Beyer, CEO, Impamerica
• Coahuila: Jorge Alanis Canales, Secretary of Economic Development
• Nuevo Leon: Alejandro Paez Aragon, Secretary of Economic Development
• New Mexico: Dr. Kelly O'Donnell, Superintendent of Regulation and Licensing
• Sonora: Luis Felipe Zelner, Co-founder, President and CEO of the Offshore Group
• Tamaulipas: Raul Rodriguez, Senior Economic Advisor
• Texas: David Cabrales, General Council, Office of the Governor