McCloud Hoping to Profit From One of It's Homegrown Commodities

The McCloud Community Services District voted unanimously to let the world's largest bottled water company build a plant here that one day could employ up to 240 workers. Nestle Waters North America would begin construction on the bottling plant in 2005 and open the facility in 2006. Initially, the plant would employ 60 workers. The Nestle plant would tap water from one of three natural springs north of town from which the community services district gets its water. The district has 700 connections that serve the majority of McCloud's 1,300 residents, district General Manager Pete Kampa said. Nestle's McCloud plant would bottle the company's Arrowhead Mountain Springs Water, the company's second-biggest seller behind its Poland Springs water. The Arrowhead plant in McCloud is expected to use 800 acre-feet of water a year when it reaches full capacity, but the contract it signed with the district allows Nestle to use as much as 1,600 acre-feet of water annually.

Nestle will invest $60 million to purchase land, equipment and buildings, and that figure will double by the time the factory is fully built, according to David Palais, a geologist and natural resource manager for Nestle. Rich Toreson, president of the community services district, said a lot more work is required before construction can begin on the plant. "We're a long way from finishing this," he said. "There will be a lot more meetings. We still have to go through the environmental process."

The bottling plant is expected to use about 150 acre-feet of water during its first year of operation. An acre-foot of water is enough to supply a family of five for one year. Nestle is not asking for water rights. Rather, it will become a McCloud Community Services District customer. The agreement with Nestle is expected to bring the community services district $300,000 in revenue by its 10th year of operation. In addition, a community enhancement fund would generate another $100,000 by the 10th year, money that would go toward parks, the library, schools and emergency services.

Kampa has noted that two recent projects have put McCloud in a position to accommodate a large-scale bottling plant. One of the sites Nestle is considering for its plant in McCloud is the former California Cedar Products lumber mill, which in April announced it would close its operations, a decision that cost the town 100 jobs. Company officials told the audience Monday that the McCloud plant will be similar to Nestle's Arrowhead bottling plant in Cabazon on the Morongo Indian reservation in Southern California. The 388,000-square-foot Cabazon plant, which opened in December, employs 134 workers on four production lines. The plant has bottled 2.5 million cases of Arrowhead water since it opened. Workers in Cabazon make between $12 and $18 an hour. Nestle dominates a bottled water market that has exploded in recent years.

The company's growth represents 35 percent of industry revenue growth from 1992 to 2001, Nestle officials claim. Based in Greenwich, Conn., Nestle Waters North America commands 33 percent of the bottled water market. The company employs 7,000 and operates five bottling plants in California that employ 720 workers. Nestle reported $2.5 billion in revenue last year, up from $2.1 billion in 2001 and $621 million in 1992.

Construction Boot Camp

The Workforce Connection partnered with the Shasta Builders' Exchange to bring the Construction Boot Camp to Siskiyou County. The funding for this project was through the McConnell Foundation, who has helped support a community effort to train persons for entry-level jobs in the construction industry.

The private independent foundation, whose mission is to help build better communities through philanthropy, has contributed up to $38,000 for a Mobile Construction Boot Camp project to bring the Shasta Builders Exchange Training Center's Construction Boot Camp program to the Siskiyou County area. The money is being used to organize and host two courses in the county.

The first Boot Camp was held June 30th through July 11th in Yreka at the Siskiyou County Fairgrounds. There were 11 students that participated in the two-week program, with Jeff Foley, General Contractor as the instructor. Coursework for program includes a mixture of hands-on training that includes tools and work site safety, plans reading, vehicle maintenance, and introduction to the building trades. Participants also receive certification in First aid/CPR, forklift operation, and traffic flagging.

To qualify for Boot Camp, students must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid California Driver's License, have graduated from high school or earned a GED, and have passed a drug-screening test. The second Boot Camp is scheduled for spring of 2004 in South Siskiyou County.

Preventing Workplace Harassment

On August 27, 2003, the Workforce Connection's Employer Resource Center sponsored another employer seminar titled "Preventing Workplace Harassment". Two sessions were presented in both North and South County. The presenter was Mark Vegh Employee Relations Counsel for TOC. The seminar focused on issues of harassment, including the definition of improper conduct, employer liability, preventing workplace harassment, handling harassment complaints, and investigation.

Feedback was great and employer comments included, "a very scary but enlightening subject", "keep offering these seminars locally" and "information received was timely in today's ever-changing workplace". The next seminar is scheduled for October on "Creating A Drug-Free Workplace" to be presented by Gary Longmore of Onarheim Services.

Hot Partnerships

Recently, a red hot opportunity for collaboration between the City of Weed, California Department of Forestry, United States Forest Service, College of the Siskiyous, and Siskiyou Training and Employment Program presented itself with the Emergency Response Enhancement Project. The project is funded through California's Employment Development Department's 25 Per Cent Workforce Investment Act. The funding is earmarked to provide quality hands-on training and equipment for individuals planning career in the Fire/Emergency Response occupations.

Through STEP's assistance, students who qualify as Dislocated Workers, are receiving funding necessary to attend the EMT/Paramedic and Fire Science Technology programs at College of the Siskiyous. At the completion of training the individuals will have the opportunity to earn certifications and/or Associate Degrees leading to employment in Fire/Emergency response occupations. Currently 22 students have taken advantage of this opportunity with more to come as the Fire Academy II and Paramedic programs are set to begin the first of November.

Weed Community Center is a Dream in the Making

The City of Weed is working on making the dream of a brand new community center a reality. A series of fundraisers have been put onto benefit the project, with the latest being a Golf Tournament. The whole idea of the community center is the brainstorm of a local philanthropist, Mr. Kenneth Ford, the founder of Roseburg Forest Products. The Ford Family Foundation has given the project a $1.5 million Challenge Grant, and the Community Center Board has been working to raise matching funds to bring the community project to fruition.

The proposed Weed Community Center will benefit all segments of the community. Mike Michelon, who is on the Community Center Board stated, ". . . it entails two phases. Phase one is a large community center that will house multiple uses. It'll have a great big reception area and a dining area that will seat approximately 450-500 people, and it will have smaller rooms that can be used for arthritis outreach and diabetes outreach--things that are a benefit to the whole community no matter what the age."

In September, the Workforce Connection re-opened its satellite office in Tulelake. The office in Tulelake is located in the Tulelake Partnership Building and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. A majority of the services that are offered in the Weed and Yreka Community Employment Centers are also available in Tulelake. The Career Resource Technicians from the Weed and Yreka offices are providing staffing on a rotating schedule. A special thank you goes out to the Tulelake Partnership for making their facility available to us.

Happy Retirement

The Workforce Connection Employer Services team had to say "goodbye" to one of our partners in July. Jeanette Martin, Employment Program Representative (EDD) retired to pursue the easy life. Jeanette started working for EDD in October of 1975, and after 28 years, decided it was time to relax. When I asked Jeanette what she was going to do with all her free time, she said that she would like to do some traveling with her husband Don, and spend some time working on her house. The Workforce Connection staff gave Jeanette a little going away party, complete with food, gifts, and lots of laugher. We all wish her the best, and want her to know that we truly miss her.

Siskiyou County Mourns the Loss of Charlie Byrd

Siskiyou County has experienced a major loss this past month with the news of the death of Charlie Byrd, former Siskiyou County Sheriff-Coroner. Newspapers statewide noted his passing, but his death was taken most to heart in his hometown of Weed. Siskiyou County Supervisor Bill Hoy, a friend for many years beginning when they were boys in Weed, said Byrd did many known and unknown things for the county and individuals. Charlie was as some put it larger than life. He had the tribute of being the first elected black sheriff in the state of California. His accomplishments and dedication have been praised by many who knew him and worked with him. Charlie will be missed by all, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Rural Elders (Adult Day Health Care Facility)
Cal Cedar – ongoing (July-September)

• October 20 – Staff Appreciation Week


• October 28 – Creating a Drug Free Workplace


• November 7 – Employer Roundtable (First Friday Lunch)


• November 12 – Payroll Reporting Requirements


• December 9 – Legislative Update