AREA BUSINESS OWNERS who want Solano County as a client can attend a free seminar Thursday in Fairfield, to learn how to do business with the government body.

Charles Rieger, Solano College Small Business Development Center interim director, said that during the one-day course, called “Doing Business with Solano County,” Diane Luna will teach area company representatives about the county’s formal and informal bidding processes.

Luna is Solano County’s manager of the Central Services Division, and she’ll explain what the county buys, how to sell to the county, how to register as a vendor and how to get paid by the county.

Those attending will hear a panel discussion by those who are buyers from the county, he said.

In addition, Robert Lane, the SBDC’s government procurement specialist, will teach a mini-workshop on preparing to do business with government agencies, Rieger said.

“Selling to federal, state, and local governments is an excellent way for small business to diversify their customer base,” he said.

“During the economic downturn, spending by federal, state, and local governments helped counterbalance the decline in the private sector.

“Government entities have funds to spend and are eager to do business with small businesses,” Rieger said.

Those interested may register for the Doing Business with Solano County class by calling the Solano College Small Business Development Center, 707-864-3382, or by visiting the website www.solanosbdc.org.

The class will be from 1-5 p.m. Thursday in the multipurpose rooms, 1600-1620, at the Solano County Government Center, 675 West Texas St., Fairfield.

Pacifica Pizza adds ‘Pastabilities’ menu

Jeff Cromer, who owns Pacifica Pizza, 915 First St., has expanded his business to include “Pastabilities” menu items.

Through a recent teaming with Pastabilities chef Renato, Cromer has added gourmet, fresh pasta and sauces for delivery and catering as an alternative to what he called “standard fast food market” fare.

Cromer said the new alliance will let his restaurant offer delivery of a variety of hot meals.

Pacifica Pizza is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, and may be reached by calling 707-746-1790.

Raley’s to provide fresh food to needy

In recognition of June as National Fruits and Vegetables Month, Raley’s Supermarket’s Food for Families is launching a pilot program to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in Northern California and Nevada food banks, Rachel Smith, Raley’s spokesperson, said.

“Food For Families has raised more than $31 million and donated more than 21 million pounds of dry groceries to food banks in our communities since the program began as a holiday food drive in 1986,” she said.

The program was started by Raley’s co-chairman and owner, Joyce Raley Teel, and chief executive officer emeritus, Charles Collings.

Raley’s absorbs all administrative costs of the program, with 100 percent of donated food distributed by local food banks directly to help feed the hungry, Smith said.

Food for Families forms partnerships with area food banks, and Raley’s is making more fresh produce as well as dry goods available to their clients. “This new program allows food banks to choose what they need in their community,” Smith said.

This week, Raley’s started the company’s Fresh Summer Donation campaign that continues through July 31, and Smith said the company is hoping to increase donations of fresh produce to local food banks.

Putah Creek Council offers green jobs internships

Putah Creek Council has unpaid summer internships available for Benicians 16 and older. Karin Petrites, education coordinator, said.

Interns in the program will learn from, and work closely with, experts in the fields of habitat restoration, native plant landscaping, outdoor recreation management, native plant propagation and nursery management.

They’ll learn about native plant identification, propagation and other nursery operations. They also will be taught how to run, maintain and repair drip irrigation, how to care for field-planted native vegetation, build and maintain trails and manage public recreation sites.

They must provide their own transportation, be physically fit and able to lift 25 pounds, be able to walk and stand on uneven ground and be willing to work outdoors without air conditioning from June through September.

They may set their own schedule by participating in any of the three components, nursery on Tuesdays and greenbelt and Lake Solano on Wednesdays.

Interns who successfully complete their internship receive a letter of recommendation from Putah Creek Council, which can be an asset for college and job applications.

The 2014 Summer Intern schedule is June through September, with the hours 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the plant nursery in South Davis, and 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, alternating weekly between helping to care for plants along the North Davis Riparian Greenbelt and working on habitat improvement projects and trail building at Lake Solano.

Interns will work under the supervision of Putah Creek Council staff. Those interested may apply by email at sara@putahcreekcouncil.org or by calling 530-795-3006.

The Benicia Herald’s weekly Benicia Business Beat column is an opportunity for local businesses and companies to tell our readers about such news as moves, grand openings, awards, promotion of employees, staff changes and changes in goods and services.

Submissions need to answer the questions who, what, when, where, why and how, preferably in the body of an email, and provide contact information.

Deadline is 3 p.m. Friday for news items that will appear in the next Tuesday edition’s Benicia Business Beat. Please email news releases and accompanying high-resolution photographs and logos to beniciaherald@gmail.com, and put “Attn. Business Beat” in the subject line, as well as the name of the business.

The Benicia Herald also appreciates area companies’ advertising patronage. For advertising services, call 707-745-0733 or email adsbenicia@yahoo.com.