From official newsletter

Support Employee-Owned Businesses in October

Oct 01, 2026, 11:06 PM • The Office of Supervisor Betty Duong

Summary

Supervisor Betty Duong highlights the Board of Supervisors' upcoming proclamation of October as Employee Ownership Month in Santa Clara County, supporting a proposal to create a plan that aids employee-owned businesses in accessing county contracts. The newsletter also promotes the Women's Leadership and Policy Summit on October 10, which offers workshops, career resources, and networking opportunities. Residents are urged to prepare for the anticipated El Niño storms by signing up for the county's emergency alert system and making evacuation plans. Additionally, the Fall Garden Fair at Martial Cottle Park on October 3 offers free gardening talks and activities, fostering community engagement.

Key positions and references

Key positions

Support employee-owned businesses and cooperatives
Propose county plan to assist worker-owned businesses in contracting
Encourage emergency preparedness for El Niño
Promote community engagement through local events

Agenda items and issues mentioned

Board of Supervisors vote on employee ownership proposal
County contracting and procurement processes for worker-owned businesses

Meetings and events mentioned

Board of Supervisors meeting on October 6
Women’s Leadership and Policy Summit on October 10
Fall Garden Fair at Martial Cottle Park on October 3

Full newsletter

Formatted for readability from newsletter text.

View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/f6e644ce0fd2/test-9761470?e=b9aeea3094) Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/connect-us/get-district-2-newsletter) . Thursday, October 1, 2026 In This Edition: * Support Local Worker-Owned Businesses During October (#worker) * Highlights of the Women's Leadership and Policy Summit on October 10 (#Summit) * Prepare for El Niño Now (#prepare) * Fall Garden Fair at Martial Cottle Park October 3 (#garden) * Betty in the Community (#community)

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On October 6th, the Board of Supervisors will proclaim October as "Employee Ownership Month" in Santa Clara County.

Employee-owned businesses or cooperatives are owned and democratically governed by their workers, with profits shared based on labor contribution. The National League of Cities and Democracy at Work Institute identify worker ownership as an economic and workforce development strategy that can create quality jobs for people who face barriers to the mainstream labor market, build worker wealth, and retain locally owned businesses in the community limiting gentrification.

I have proposed that the County of Santa Clara create a plan to help these businesses and cooperatives thrive in our community, including helping them participate in the County's contracting and procurement processes. Co-sponsored by Supervisor Ellenberg, the Board of Supervisors will vote on our proposal on Tuesday. You can view the meeting agenda and find a link to watch it online here (https://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=17606) .

We already have several successful employee-owned businesses in our county, including A Slice of New York, META: Mujeres Empresarias Tomando Accion and Quelites. I truly believe that encouraging this model of business ownership is a win-win for both the workers and our community as a whole.

In community,

https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026 The Women’s Leadership and Policy Summit (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026) is just one week away! Most workshops are now at full capacity, and we’ve officially reached the event’s maximum capacity. Our 1,500 attendees can look forward to an energizing day filled with inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, career opportunities, and community resources. The Summit also features a robust Career Hub offering headshots, résumé reviewers, and participating employers. Attendees will also enjoy special experiences like the Flora Haven and Sutter Health “Give Her Her Flowers” Flower Station. Plus, attendees can get a free leadership book, “Applied Wisdom” by James Morgan,” while supplies last! I can't wait to see you there! Click here (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026) to learn more.

California has declared a State of Emergency because of the El Niño weather pattern that is expected to bring heavy storm activity to the state, including Santa Clara County, in the coming months.

El Niño is a weather pattern that happens every few years. Normally, the wind blows warm water across the ocean from South America to Asia. Cold water then comes up from the deep. But during El Niño, this changes, the wind is not strong enough to blow the warm water away from South America. The different water temperature changes the weather we see. El Niño can last many months. It does not happen on a regular schedule.

Residents should start preparing now for a wet winter with flooding and power outages likely occurring in our county.

The single best step to take is sign up for AlertSCC.org, the County’s emergency alert system. It sends important messages fast to help keep people safe. You can sign up for free and without a password here (https://oem.santaclaracounty.gov/sign-up-for-alerts) .

Other preparation steps to take now include making an evacuation plan and building an emergency kit. You can find complete tips for both of these as well as many other emergency preparedness steps at preparescc.org.

The Fall Garden Fair at Martial Cottle Park is on Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Run by the University of California Master Gardener program, the fair includes free gardening talks, a plant sale, gardening advice from the Master Gardener Help Desk, fun children's activities, and more!

Admission is free but parking is $6. You can find more information here (https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/fall-garden-fair) . https://www.svcf.org/scholarships/find-scholarships Click HERE to Find Scholarships (https://www.svcf.org/scholarships/find-scholarships) https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=4DvjD0Jhlk-bjXgX1cJhOdGmU7oDTnROq0qCM7asve5UNlBYQ084WVhXRjRHUjhHTE9ONzdQM09PRiQlQCNjPTEkJUAjdD1n https://esa.santaclaracounty.gov/fall-2026-career-community-resource-expo Community Connection with blue sky and flowers

Happy Latino Heritage Month! From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate the rich cultures, histories, traditions, and contributions of Latino communities throughout Santa Clara County and across the country. Join us in celebrating the people and stories that make up our diverse Latino communities, supporting local Latino-owned businesses, and honoring the generations who have helped build the Santa Clara County we call home. Veggielution As fall settles in, join Veggielution for First Saturday featuring fresh produce, cooking classes, youth garden activities, workshops, wellness resources, and more.

Come connect with local partners, discover resources that support community health, and spend the morning together at the farm.

October 3, 9 AM – 1 PM | 647 S. King Rd. | Free admission + parking http://www.sjplf.org/authorevent26

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