The document provides an overview of Solano County's changing economy and community through indicators that measure economic and social trends. It finds that while incomes and jobs have grown, housing costs are increasing faster. It also notes the population is becoming more diverse and older. Several key industry clusters are growing faster in Solano County than the rest of the Bay Area and support a more diverse economic base.

2. WHAT IS AN INDEX?
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
The Solano County Index tells a story through
The Solano County Index tells a story through
indicators that measure the strength of our
economy and the health of our community
economy and the health of our community –
highlighting challenges and providing an
analytical foundation for leadership and
analytical foundation for leadership and
decision making.

3. WHAT IS AN INDICATOR?
WHAT IS AN INDICATOR?
Indicators are measurements that tell us how we are doing g
Good indicators do the following:
They are bellwethers that reflect fundamentals of long‐
term regional health;
They reflect the interests and concerns of the community;
They are statistically measurable on a frequent basis; and
They measure outcomes, rather than inputs.

4. WHAT IS AN INDUSTRY CLUSTER?
WHAT IS AN INDUSTRY CLUSTER?
An industry cluster is a geographic
An industry cluster is a geographic
concentration of independent,
internationally competitive firms in related
industries, and includes a significant number
of companies that sell their products and
services outside the region.
i id h i
Healthy, outward‐oriented industry clusters
are a critical prerequisite for a strong
ii l ii f
economy.

5. OUR CHANGING ECONOMY
OUR CHANGING ECONOMY
Our Economy has
Our Economy has
Produced Growing
Revenues, Incomes, Jobs,
, , ,
and Firms
Our incomes have grown.
Our incomes have grown.
Our job growth has been
strong and the number of
strong and the number of
individual business
owners has proliferated.
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6. OUR CHANGING ECONOMY
OUR CHANGING ECONOMY
Our Economy has
y
Diversified and Our
Competitive Advantages
have Grown
have Grown
Leading clusters
represent a growing
share of the Solano
county economy.
These clusters grew
These clusters grew
faster in Solano than in
other Bay Area counties.

7. OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY
OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY
Who We Are
Who We Are
Our population is
becoming much more
becoming much more
diverse.
Our population is
O li i
becoming older—and
younger.

8. OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY
OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY
Who We Are
oee
Our population growth
has slowed.
We are experiencing
rising outmigration, but
continued in‐migration
as well.
Many college educated
M ll d td
people are arriving, but
more are leaving.
more are leaving

9. HOW WE ARE DOING
HOW WE ARE DOING
Incomes are rising, but many households are
co es a e s g, but a y ouse o ds a e
being squeezed by housing costs that are rising
faster.
More of our youth are in better shape, but fewer
are prepared for higher education.
Crime rates have declined over the long term,
but spiked up recently.
Higher home prices have increased property tax
Hi h h i h i d tt
revenues, but prices are now dropping
significantly.
significantly

10. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR
ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY
Connecting Residents
g
to Jobs
We have fewer higher‐
skilled jobs than highly‐
skilled jobs than highly
educated residents.
Many residents must
Many residents must
commute outside the
county to work.
We have been
Wh b
producing more
housing than jobs.
g j

11. OUR CHANGING ECONOMY
OUR CHANGING ECONOMY

12. CHANGE IN PER CAPITA INCOME
CHANGE IN PER CAPITA INCOME
Change in per Capita Income
Change in per Capita Income What does this
What does this
Solano County, Rest of San Francisco Bay Area, California, and United States
mean?
Since 2000 Solano County’s
per capita income has been
per capita income has been
increasing at a faster rate
than in the rest of the Bay
Area, California and the
nation. This means that the
County has experienced a
rise in relative prosperity.
Data Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Dt S B fE iA li
Analysis: CEI
Rest of San Francisco Bay Area includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco,
San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma Counties
* Preliminary per Capita Income estimates for 2007.

13. ANNUAL NUMBER OF JOBS
ANNUAL NUMBER OF JOBS
Annual Number of Jobs
Annual Number of Jobs
What does this
Solano County 1990‐2007
mean?
Solano County s recent job
Solano County’s recent job
growth and prior rebounds
from earlier economic
shocks, such as the closure
of Mare Island, indicates
f ldd
that the County has
demonstrated resiliency.
Data Source: California Employment Development Department
Analysis: CEI

14. CHANGE IN EMPLOYED RESIDENTS
CHANGE IN EMPLOYED RESIDENTS
Change in Employed Residents and Total Industry Jobs
+ 6%
6%
Trends relative to 2000 • Solano County
Trends relative to 2000 • Solano County
Between August
2000 and
August 2008, the
number
of jobs and
employed
ld
residents in the
County
grew over 6%.
grew over 6%
Data Source: California Employment Development Department
Analysis: CEI

15. FIRM SIZE BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
FIRM SIZE BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Firm Size by Number of Employees
y py What does this
What does this
Percent of Total Solano County Firms by Employment Size
mean?
Solano County is
dominated
by micro‐enterprises
that are critical to the
vitality of the economy.
While large firms are
Whil l fi
still important, economic
development efforts
should also focus on the
needs of these
microenterprises.
Data Source: California Employment Development Department
Analysis: CEI
Note: Based on employers who are subject to the Unemployment Insurance provision of the Unemployment
Insurance Code.

16. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Solano County is dominated by micro
Solano County is dominated by micro‐
enterprises that are critical to the vitality of
the economy.
the economy
While large firms are still important,
economic development efforts should also
economic development efforts should also
focus on the needs of these microenterprises

17. PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN INDUSTRY
EMPLOYMENT
Percent Change in Industry Employment and
Individual Business Owners (with no employees)
Solano County
+ 24%
Between 2000
and 2006,
Individual
Individual
Business
Owners with
no employees
l
increased by
24%.
Data Source: California Employment Development Department and U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics
Analysis: CEI

18. INDUSTRY SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
INDUSTRY SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
What does this
What does this
Comparison of Industry Sector Employment
C i fI d t S t E l t
Solano County mean?
Solano County’s economic
diversity has created a
diversity has created a
greater balance of jobs,
which provides increased
stability in times of
economic turbulence.
Data Source: California Employment Development Department
Analysis: CEI

19. INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
Advanced Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Advanced Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Construction
Health and Social Services
l h dS i lS i
Life Sciences
Professional and Environmental Services
Specialized Manufacturing
Specialized Manufacturing
Trade and Logistics

20. SOLANO CLUSTERS OF OPPORTUNITY
2000‐2006
What does this
hd hi
mean?
Solano County’s major
industry clusters are
more specialized and
growing faster than the
same industries in the rest
same industries in the rest
of the Bay Area.
These clusters pay higher
wages and generate
demand for support
d df t
services.
Size of bubble represents employment size in 2006.

21. CLUSTERS OF OPPORTUNITY
SOLANO COUNTY & REST OF BAY AREA, 2000‐2006

22. OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY
OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY

23. AGE DISTRIBUTION
AGE DISTRIBUTION
Age Distribution
Number of People and Percent of Growth
+ 16%
Solano County
From 2000 to
2006 the
2006 th
population
between 18
and 34 years of
age
increased by
increased by
13,000
people (16%).
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2000 and American Community Survey 2006
Analysis: CEI

24. POPULATION BY RACE & ETHNICITY
POPULATION BY RACE & ETHNICITY
Population by Race and Ethnicity
What does this
Number of People and Percent of Growth
Number of People and Percent of Growth
mean?
Solano County
Solano County’s changing
demographics have
implications
i li ti
on the demand
for education, health, and
public services as the
population becomes older,
l ti b ld
younger, and more
diverse. Slower population
growth changes the
underlying drivers of some
d l i di f
elements of the economy,
including housing and
construction, which
historically been driven by
hi t i ll b di b
population growth.

25. POPULATION GROWTH
POPULATION GROWTH
Population Growth
Percent Change over Prior Year
Percent Change over Prior Year
Solano County, Rest of San Francisco Bay Area, and California
+26,800
Solano County’s
y
population grew by
26,800 people between
2000 and 2007.
Although the county has
experienced a steady
slowing in population
growth, the county grew
th th t
0.5% in 2007.
Data Source: California Department of Finance
Analysis: CEI
* Provisional population estimates for 2007
** San Francisco Bay Area includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and
Sonoma Counties.

26. DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MIGRATION
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MIGRATION
Net foreign
g
Domestic and Foreign Migration
g g
Solano County Immigration
Net foreign immigration is
the difference of all legal
foreign immigrants entering
fii i t ti
and leaving the County.
Data Source: California Department of Finance
Analysis: CEI
*Provisional population estimates for 2007

27. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Educational Attainment of People Migrating
Educational Attainment of People Migrating
+1,100
in and out of Solano County
2006 In 2006, more than 1,100
pp
people with bachelor’s
degrees moved into the
County than left.

28. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
Housing Affordability
Percent of Homeowner Households with Housing Costs
Percent of Homeowner Households with Housing Costs
What does this
hd hi
Greater Than 35% of Income
mean?
Solano County, San Francisco Bay Area, and California
With rising housing costs
and foreclosure rates,
Solano County has not
escaped the national and
statewide housing crisis.
statewide housing crisis.

29. RESIDENTIAL FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY
RESIDENTIAL FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY
Residential Foreclosure Activity
Percent Change in Annual Foreclosure Sales
Solano County and California
1,059
1 059
There were 1,059
foreclosure sales in the
first quarter of 2008.
Data Source: DataQuick
Analysis: CEI

30. CHILDHOOD OBESITY
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Percentage of Children Determined to NOT
g
What does this
hd hi
be Overweight or Obese by Body Mass Index
mean?
Solano County
Solano County has made
some progress in reducing
childhood obesity which
can be a cause of a
number of significant and
number of significant and
costly health problems in
later years.
Data Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, California Health Interview Survey
Analysis: CEI
Note: For adolescents,“Overweight or obese” includes the respondents who have a BMI in the 95th percentile
with
respect to their age and gender.
Child population‐under the age of 12 including infants.

31. HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE
HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE
High School Dropout Rate
High School Dropout Rate
Solano County 2007
What does this
mean?
?
Solano County’s high
school dropout rates are
rising at a time when
rising at a time when
the economy demands
higher skills from the
local workforce.
Data Source:California Department of Education, Solano County School Districts
Analysis: CEI
Note:This is the first year that dropout counts are derived from student‐level data.

32. FELONY OFFENSES
FELONY OFFENSES
Felony Offenses Rate per 100,000 people
y p , pp
Solano County and California
What does this
mean?
After years of progress,
crime rates have recently
spiked in Solano County.
Related to rising dropout
Related to rising dropo t
rates, gang violence and
other socioeconomic
issues, juvenile felonies
are rising dramatically.
Data Source: California Department of Justice
Analysis: CEI
Note: Felony offenses include violent, property, and drug offenses

33. FELONY OFFENSES
FELONY OFFENSES
Felony Offenses Percent Change over Prior Year
y g
Solano County and California
+70%
70%
Juvenile violent offenses
increased by 70%
between
2005 and 2006.
Data Source: California Department Justice
Analysis: CEI
Note: Felony offenses include violent, property, and drug offenses

34. CITY REVENUES
CITY REVENUES
Growth in City Revenues since 1998 What does this
Solano County
mean?
While city revenues from
property taxes have risen
in the County, revenues
from sales and other
taxes are more susceptible
taxes are more susceptible
to business cycles.
Data Source: California State Controller’s Office
Analysis: CEI

35. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
OUR ECONOMY & COMMUNITY

36. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Comparison of Educational Attainment of
p
Population to Required Level of Education for Occupations
What does this
Solano County 2006
mean?
Solano County has the
Sl C t h th
opportunity to create
higher‐skilled jobs for its
residents, especially
within
its cluster industries.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey;O*NET; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational
Employment Statistics
Analysis: CEI
y
* Some College includes: Less than 1 year of college; Some college, 1 or more years, no degree; Associates degree;
Professional certification

37. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Educational Attainment
Some College
Solano County, California, and United States, 2006
Education
In 2006, residents with
I 2006 id t ith
some college or more
made up a larger
percentage
of the population in
Solano County (59%) than
in California (57%) or the
U.S. (54%).
U S (54%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey
Analysis: CEI
* Some College includes: Less than 1 year of college; Some college, 1 or more years, no degree; Associates degree;
g y g; g, y , g; g;
Professional certification

38. OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
Comparison of Occupational Distribution by Wage Level
What does this
Solano County, San Francisco and East Bay Area, and California
2007 mean?
Solano County needs
Sl C t d
to expand its middle and
high‐wage job
opportunities
for its residents
by growing its cluster
industries and continuing
to diversify its economy.
to diversify its economy
Data Source: Occupational Employment Statistics
Analysis: CEI
San Francisco and East Bay Area includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties.
y , , , ,

39. RATIO OF JOBS TO HOUSING UNITS
RATIO OF JOBS TO HOUSING UNITS
What does this
What does this
Ratio of Jobs to Housing Units
R ti f J b t H i U it
Solano County and the Rest of the Bay Area mean?
Creating higher paying jobs
in Solano County will
in Solano County will
reduce the need for
residents
to commute to jobs
outside the County and
thereby reduce commuting
stress, allow more family
time, and slow the growth
time and slow the growth
in carbon emissions.
Data Source:California Employment Development Department; U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey
Analysis: CEI
* Rest of Bay Area includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma Counties.

40. COMMUTE FLOWS
COMMUTE FLOWS
Solano County Residents' Commute Flows
Share of Population that Works Outside of the County • 2006
75,000
Almost 75,000 Solano
County residents
County residents
commuted outside of the
county for work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey
S US C B 2006 A i C it S
Analysis: CEI
Note : 74,986 Solano County Residents commute outside of the county for work.

41. COMMUTE FLOWS
COMMUTE FLOWS
Solano County Residents Commute Flows
Solano County Residents' Commute Flows
Educational Attainment of Population that
Works Outside of the County • 2006
Educated Commuters
Twenty‐seven percent of
residents who commuted
out of Solano County
out of Solano County
for work had at least a
bachelor’s degree.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey
S US C B 2006 A i C it S
Analysis: CEI
* Some College includes: Less than 1 year of college; Some college, 1 or more years, no degree; Associates degree;
Professional certification

42. COMMUTE FLOWS
COMMUTE FLOWS
Solano County Employees Commute Flows
Solano County Employees' Commute Flows
Share of Workers that Live Outside of the County • 2006
30,000
In 2006, over 30,000
people commuted to
people commuted to
Solano County for work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey
Analysis: CEI
Note: 30,676 Solano County Employees commute into the county for work.

43. COMMUTE FLOWS
COMMUTE FLOWS
Solano County Employees' Commute Flows
y py
Educational Attainment of Workers that Live Outside of
the County • 2006
1,400
1 400
More than 1,400
people
with a graduate or
ith dt
professional degree
commuted to Solano
County for work.
County for work
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey
Analysis: CEI
* Some College includes: Less than 1 year of college; Some college, 1 or more years, no degree; Associates degree;
Professional certification