The BA represents 6,500 individuals and the members are: El Dorado Builders’ Exchange; El Dorado County Association of Realtors (EDCAR); Chambers of Commerce -- El Dorado County & Shingle Springs/Cameron Park; El Dorado Forum; North State Building Industry Association (NSBIA); Surveyors, Architects, Geologists and Engineers (SAGE).

The El Dorado Business Alliance (BA) was originally formed in 1989. Several years ago it was revived and re-formed by an enthusiastic new Governing Board of Directors representing each of the BA’s member organizations. The board’s first task was to define their mission. That mission is: To develop mutual support on community-wide issues. 

Two key elements were adopted to accomplish the BA mission: 

1. Fund and hire a part-time communications liaison to increase public outreach; 
2. Publish an informative, locally relevant newsletter two times a month.

The BA’s commitment to developing mutual support was the driving force behind the development of the 2004 General Plan (GP). The 2004 General Plan is a compromise effort between many public interests. It is not the lowest-growth plan; it is not the highest growth plan. It protects open space while also allowing for the housing needs of our local police force, fire fighters, seniors, nurses and teachers, hopefully to give them an opportunity to own their own homes. As the supervisors considered which policies would be included in this community-wide plan, representatives from large development organizations to the agricultural community, from local builders and suppliers to science-oriented SAGE (surveyors, architects, geologists and engineers) members, from all three local Chambers of Commerce to real estate firms, all consistently met and developed compromises they could each live with. These compromises were presented to the Board of Supervisors during public hearings as solutions, as each GP element was discussed and adopted. The Supervisors also heard from environmental organizations and they addressed those requests and included many (such as biological corridors) in the 2004 GP. 

It is because of the above efforts that every organization in the Business Alliance and agricultural interests have taken a very strong position in support of the adoption of the 2004 General Plan. It is also why the Business Alliance urges the community to vote “YES on B” !!! It is the community’s plan….it is the best compromise in a county of diverse needs and desires.