In Southern California, there’s a phenomenon called ‘June gloom,’ when the marine layer moves in, leaving skies grey and dreary. We’re lucky enough to avoid June gloom here, literally and figuratively. The recent spate of good news reinforces my belief that the future looks bright in Folsom.

Healthcare Scholars Initiative

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Folsom’s workforce strengths are mainly due to our educational programs and partnerships. I’m happy to hear about the new partnership between Sutter Health and Los Rios Community College Districtto accelerate students into rewarding healthcare careers.

Through the NextGen Scholars initiative, Sutter Health is committed to creating educational and career opportunities in healthcare for high school students from Title 1 schools and diverse backgrounds. With an ambitious goal of training 5,000 youth by 2030, Sutter Health is investing $1.7 million in Folsom Lake College as the pilot site.

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NexGen Scholars will soon expand to other schools within the Los Rios Community College District and across Sutter Health’s Northern California and Central Coast footprint.

It’s a tremendous step towards a brighter future for our communities.

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PowerSchool to go private in acquisition

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In a move designed to deliver more growth and innovation, Folsom’s own PowerSchool is being acquired by Bain Capital for $5.6 billion. The buyout will allow PowerSchool to reach its potential away from the pressure of public markets and share prices.

Having seen PowerSchool’s impressive growth trajectory over the last few years, I’m eager to see where this move takes them.

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Intel investment news

It was recently announced that Intel Corporation is adding data center infrastructure and equipment to its Folsom campus. The investment will add emulation capability within the data centers, allowing Intel to test prototype chips before manufacturing.

The construction, estimated at $10.5 million, is terrific news for Folsom.

Folsom Pro Rodeo, July 3-5th

I focused on this last month for a good reason. The Folsom Pro Rodeo is a popular and beloved regional tradition and my favorite way to celebrate July 4th. If you still need to pick up your tickets, you better hurry. A few ticket options have sold out, and if past years are any indication, the other tickets will be gone in the next week or two. Get Folsom Pro Rodeo tickets here. 

TEDxFolsom is around the corner

Tickets are available for this year’s TEDxFolsom at the Harris Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 22, from 9 to 4. This year’s speaker lineup promises to inspire, entertain, and educate. The theme, REIMAGINE, is a powerful reminder about the realm of new possibilities and invites you to think beyond conventional boundaries and constraints.

Joe Gagliardi is the CEO of Choose Folsom and the Folsom Chamber of Commerce and a monthly featured contributor to Folsom Times.