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Home My WebLink About[External]EDC Board Meeting Recap1 Candice Alvarez From:Connie Stopher <connie@socalwinecountryedc.com> Sent:Thursday, December 4, 2025 2:56 PM To:aaron.adams@temeculaca.gov; Adam Eventov; Andrea Mares; Shaw, Ann M; Pathe, Anna; Figueroa, Anne; aricken@tvusd.us; Armando G. Villa; bcornejo@evmwd.net; betsy.lowrey@temeculaca.gov; brian.deis@leusd.k12.ca.us; Brooke Nunn; Michael Cano; Colleen Donovan; Cheryl Fuchigami-Bost; charles.walker@temeculaca.gov; Christina Henry; Christine Damko; cjohnson@rhlaw.com; ckavic@stormbaseball.com; contact@primemediaconsulting.com; Cristina Bailey; daniel@menifeevalleychamber.com; Darlene Wetton; David Matza; Morris, Deborah A; Donald Hitzeman; Diane Strand; dighoops@gmail.com; dirissy@gmail.com; dirissy@srcar.org; Dean Lesicko; erica.sepulveda@pkckuebler.com; erin@hamannco.com; Rodas, Evelyn; george@srcar.org; Godfrey Gibbison; Gina Gonzalez; Gregory Prudhomme - Gregory J. Prudhomme CPA's; gracel@prowestconstructors.com; hanna.basler@nhcare.org; Heather Holmes; Jacquelynn Schott; Jeff Bott; Jeremy Goldman; Jenni Huter; Jonathan Jean-Marie; Janice Mrkonjic; joe@consolidatedcontracting.com; Jonathon Montanez; Jason Simpson; Tang, Jason; justin@srcar.org; Katie Luna; Kayla Charters; Kiki Manti Engel; kim@lakeelsinorechamber.com; Kim Gerrish; Wright, Kimberly; laurynliu@easycycle.online; Mary Cervantes; Matthew Hyatt; mhigham@costanalysts.com; Michael DeMarie; miked@prowestconstructors.com; nmaneja@legacybankca.com; raedean.olmo@uhsinc.com; rchristopher@evmwd.net; rorlauski@msjc.edu; Ross; Roxanne Roundtree; Sammy R Totah; Susan Bellamy; sean@sdshomes.com; shantel@sdshomes.com; shaun.bowen@brookfieldpropertiesdevelopment.com; smedina@tvusd.us; Stethem, Stephanie; stacy.buchanan717@gmail.com; stewart.cortez@kp.org; Backus, Valerie; vincentcheng@easycycle.online; J R; neal.cordell@abbott.com Cc:Phil Derner Subject:[External]EDC Board Meeting Recap Attachments:December 2025 Board Meeting.pdf; Derner_French_Valley_Presentation.pdf Message from external sender. Use Caution. Good afternoon, It was so good to see many of you this morning. I wanted to provide a quick recap. First, we voted to approve Neal Cordell with Abbot to take over Ann Shaw's seat. I'd like to thank Ann for her many years of service to the EDC and the board as both a Board Director and a member of the Executive Committee. We are excited to welcome Neal to the board. I also took the opportunity to provide a recap of the EDC's work over 2025...it's hard to believe it is almost 2026. Those achievements included our accreditation, increased international business attraction, media mentions, and more. You can see a full list in my slides that are attached. One that I want to be sure to mention is our new members. We have had several this year, and just this morning, welcomed Signarama of Temecula to the EDC. All that we do is because of members like you. I also recapped the feedback we received from the FAM tour. Those comments are also listed on my slide. As well as thank this year's sponsors: The Toll Roads, JDS Studio, Consolidated Contracting, SoCal Gas, Stryder Transportation, Carter Estate, and A Grape Escape. 2 We were excited to welcome Phil Derner from the Business Aviation Association. He shared a lot of great information about the economic value of the French Valle Airport and how we can maximize that for our region. His slides are also attached. Thank you, Phil, for joining us! Next month, our meeting is on January 8th (the second Thursday). We will be holding an important discussion and vote that impacts our future growth and trajectory as an organization...so please be sure to be there if you can. You should have also received the meeting invites for the rest of 2026. If not, please let me know. I also sent out invoice notices for any open invoices. While our fiscal year starts in July, I know many of you are on different calendars, so for those with still open invoices, those should have come your way. With that, I want to thank all of you for your support this year, remind you to shop local when you can, and wish you all a happy holiday season. Cheers to an even better 2026! Connie -- Connie Stopher, CEcD CEO P-951-557-8040 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. www.socalwinecountryedc.com My working hours may not coincide with yours. Please do not feel obliged to respond outside of your normal working hours. December, 2025 Board Meeting Fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and prosperity within the Southern California Wine Country Region ACCREDIDATION 2025 Recap We became only the 2 EDO in the state of California to be recognized as an AEDO by the IEDC, earning international recognition nd EasyCycle Online, SDS Homes, Caisteal Builders, Azusa Pacific, Mission Hope, Hamann Companies, Legacy Bank, Temecula Valley Community Events, ProWest Constructors, and Signarama NEW MEMBERS REGIONAL BRAND After years of working to identify a unifying brand, build consensus, and create an identity, we launched Southern California Wine Country EDC. Update included a new website INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH WE’VE EXPANDED OUR REACH WHAT’S NEXT? WE’RE ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRIES & INTEREST Adding new events, and trade missions to our roster More trade missions and more targeted outreach to regions with interest in investing in Southern California Wine Country With active projects from Ukraine, Tunisia, Taiwan, India, Germany, the Philippines, Iraq, and more GRANT AWARDS 2025 Recap With awards from IEGO and UCR, we have been awarded $85,000 in grants Both local and international media garnered, enabling us to share what makes this region an ideal place to do business INCREASED MEDIA REACH 4TH ANNUAL FAM TOUR We held our 4 FAM tour with much success. We came in under budget, with record sponsorship th 2025 FAM TOUR FEEDBACK WHAT CAN OUR REGION DO TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE? “I think overall the region needs to continue to aggressively outreach and tell the story of how it differs from the common perceptions of california's business climate” “I would definitely differentiate your community with the tag line, "The most Un-California city in California". “keep focus on marketing and developing your infrastructure. Find ways to promote your available labor and the labor that could work in the region instead of migrating outside of the region for work. Keep reducing your permitting times whenever possible. there was a place like this in California.” WHAT INDUSTRIES SHOULD WE FOCUS ON? “Defense, aerospace, medtech, food & bev” “Aerospace and defense” “Small aerospace and other advanced manufacturing (depending on labor data)” DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? “I thought you did a fantastic job putting this together, and I can tell you have a good handle on the communities' attributes. Enjoyed meeting with the leadership (elected and otherwise) of all of the jurisdictions.” “None - excellent visit!” “No, you did a wonderful job, and the communities showed fantastic.” 2025 FAM TOUR THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS January 8 Board Meetingth February 10-13 Next Move Conference March 23-15 Site Selectors Guild Conference Upcoming Events THANK YOU Connie Stopher, CEO Connie@socalwinecountryedc.com 951-557-8040 Thank you to our annual sponsors and platinum members French Valley Airport An Economic Engine for Temecula Valley Who’s this Phil Derner guy? Aviation Writer, Speaker Democrats look here: (MSNBC, CNN) Republicans look here: (FoxNews, OAN) National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) WHAT I DO… NBAA: •Gov Affairs •Advocacy •Workforce development LOCAL: •Menifee Resident •MVCC Board (2026) •MVCC Leg Rep •Menifee Measure DD Advisory Committee What I’m selling you… (nothing) Airports in the US •5,000 “public use” airports (3,300 w/Fed funding) •90% have no airline service •Major airports are packed, cluttered: can’t support other aviation needs This is where general aviation comes in. FAMILY FEUD: Name an example of general aviation. Aerial Firefighting Tourism Business Aviation Flight Training Medical Response Infrastructure Insp. Recreation Air Tour Skydiving Humanitarian Aid Why Business Aviation? •Flying when and where the airlines can’t and won’t: lifeline for 1,000s of underserved communities •Time saver •Privacy and productivity •Ad hoc response (COVID-19, Gov Shutdown, etc.) •Safe and secure transport of cargo •Supports small biz, too… BizAv By The Numbers… •57% of bizav companies have <500 employees •Supports 1.3 million jobs •ONE aircraft can generate $2.5mil in eco benefit for airport and community •15,000 humanitarian missions annually •23% higher revenue •$108bil in labor income •High paying jobs; blue & white collar French Valley Airport Overview •Local population: 1.1 million •Riverside County-managed •140,000 annual operations •Flight training, aircraft maintenance, corporate aviation •Air traffic control tower coming soon •Existing footprint, no expansion planned CASE STUDIES Napa & Sonoma Airports •Total Population: 620,000 •Napa County Airport: 140,000 operations (comparable to French Valley) •Sonoma County Airport: 82,000 ops, plus airline Beautiful, isn’t it? Danza Del Sol Napa and Sonoma Operations Breakdown Owners Weddings, Tourism Conferences Airports enabled tourism. …it didn’t follow it. Pullman, WA Pullman, Washington •Small population •Two things: WSU & SEL •SEL: Global company, $2 billion annually Back to French Valley… •Temecula Valley opportunity: Demand (Biz and Tourism) and Size •No expansion! Efficient use of existing airfield •Tourism & wedding industries benefit directly from aviation access •Tech, biotech, and engineering firms demand strong aviation infrastructure •We already have Business Aviation ecosystem! How To Strengthen French Valley Airport •Add the airport to your pitches for tourism and to attract business •Support the County on land-use compatibility and necessary funding •Strong community voice! •The airport is as essential to growth as I-15: if we choose to use it •Legislative voice: WA SB 5801 Thank you! CONTACT: Phil Derner phildernerjr@gmail.com 212-300-5238