Silicon Valleys innovation engine is driving a recovery that leads the nation, but the persistent public sector fiscal crisis and other factors are slowing widespread economic gains, according to the 2012 Silicon Valley Index released today by Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The comprehensive yearly study on the economic strength and overall health of Silicon Valley indicates the region that was the last to succumb to the recession now appears to be the first to emerge, paced by tech sector growth that is spawning new companies and creating jobs. Yet these narrow gains, the drag on public finance and housing and the constraints of Proposition 13 are keeping most residents from benefiting.

Though encouraging, we dont see the report as a cause for celebration,” said Russell Hancock, CEO of Joint Venture, “Small businesses are clearly not out of the rough. The public sector is still in the throes of a fiscal crisis and median household income continues to fall as the gap between those succeeding and those struggling grows wider and wider. Its as if were becoming two valleys.

This years Special Analysis examines Proposition 13 and reveals yet another challenge facing our region, said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and President of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. When Proposition 13 was approved, median home prices were growing faster than most other government revenue sources. Todays new normal is characterized by reduced home prices and drops in assessed value, which means we must either adjust to fewer public services, find new sources of revenue or a combination of both. We need to ask ourselves if it is time to consider a new approach.

The 2012 Index reports the latest data and trends in economic development, workforce, housing, education, public health, land use, environment, governance, arts and culture and other sectors throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and portions of Alameda and Santa Cruz Counties. An accompanying Special Analysis section of the report each year takes a closer look at a particularly significant topic.

The Index is published in conjunction with the annual State of the Valley conference, a town hall-style gathering of regional leaders, elected officials and citizens in a daylong discussion of Silicon Valleys opportunities and challenges. The 2012 conference takes place Friday, February 10, at the McEnery San Jose Convention Center.

Other highlights of the 2012 Index and Special Analysis include:

Jobs Silicon Valley added more than 42,000 jobs in 2011. Unemployment in the region fell 1.4 percent over the previous year to 8.3 percent in December 2011. This is lower than California at 10.9 percent and on par with the U.S. rate.

Innovation Engine Patent registrations leapt by 30 percent over 2009 with 13,311 new patents registered in 2010, largely in computers, data processing and information storage. Silicon Valley accounted for 49 percent of total registrations statewide and 12 percent nationally, a one percent drop over the prior year. Venture capital investment in clean technology nearly doubled over the prior year and was strongest in energy generation, efficiency and storage. Silicon Valley had 12 IPOs in 2011, one more than in 2010, 46 percent of Californias offerings and 12 percent of the nationwide figure.

Public Sector Fiscal Crisis City revenues in 2009/2010 fell eleven percent from the year prior, the second straight year of declining revenue since 2003/2004. From 2009 to 2010, total debt funding increased by 43 percent with $ 2.5 billion in 2010. This growth was mostly due to increased debt funding in education, transportation infrastructure and housing.

Housing Residential foreclosures fell 16 percent from the first half of 2008 to the first half of 2011 in the region and declined 24 percent in California. Only five percent of new housing in Silicon Valley was classified as affordable, a 14-year low. Total new residential development expanded by 165 percent in the last year.

Income Silicon Valleys per capita income in 2011 expanded by four percent to reach $ 66,000. Per capita income in California and the nation increased just two percent over 2010. However, most residents continued to suffer earnings losses in 2010 as the regions median income continued to slide for the second year in a row. Median incomes dropped three percent in the region, seven percent statewide and two percent nationally.

Talent Flows, Diversity Science and engineering talent expanded by four percent in Silicon Valley and by eight percent in the U.S. Half the population speaks a language other than English in the home. Asian speakers make up the large shares, but speakers of European languages are on the rise.

Published annually since 1995, the Silicon Valley Index findings are reported in five major sections: People (talent flows, diversity); Economy (innovation, employment, income); Society (preparing for economic success, early education, arts and culture, health, safety); and Place (environment, land use, housing, commercial space). Governance was not included this year because it is the focus of the Special Analysis.

Joint Venture added the Community Foundation as its partner on the Index in 2008 and expanded the data to include all of San Mateo County. The Silicon Valley Index and Special Analysis may be downloaded from the Joint Venture website at http://www.jointventure.org and the Community Foundation website at http://www.siliconvalleycf.org.

ABOUT JOINT VENTURE SILICON VALLEY

Joint Venture Silicon Valley was established in 1993. A non-profit organization, the group convenes the regions leaders across every major sector government, business, academia, labor, and community organizations. The organization provides data and analysis on our regions challenges, and leads initiatives to address those challenges. Joint Venture is funded by cities and counties, local companies, colleges and universities, labor and workforce institutions, and foundations. For more information, visit http://www.jointventure.org.

ABOUT SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a catalyst and leader for innovative solutions to our regions most challenging problems. Serving all of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the community foundation has more than $ 2 billion in assets under management and 1,500 philanthropic funds. The community foundation provides grants through donor advised and corporate funds in addition to its own endowment funds. The community foundation serves as a regional center for philanthropy, providing donors simple and effective ways to give locally and around the world. Find out more at http://www.siliconvalleycf.org

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More Business Press Releases

The Heart Link Network? aims to benefit female business owners and female entrepreneurs in Oceanside, CA and surrounding areas by launching a networking chapter that was created specifically for women in business.

The Heart Link Network? was founded by Dawn Billings, entitlement and personality expert, and author of over 20 books. In 2008, Dawn was selected as one of the nations 80 emerging women leaders by Oprah magazine and The White House Project. In addition to her role as CEO of The Heart Link Network?, Dawn is also an executive coach and highly sought-after speaker.

The Heart Link Network? Oceanside, CA chapter leader, Maryanne Harrison-Kutsch, is a health and weight loss coach with Xyngular and a Comfort Consultant with Jockey Person to Person clothing for women. Maryanne is dedicated to helping female business professionals connect, create meaningful relationships, grow and succeed.

People ask me, ‘What makes The Heart Link Womens Network? unique?’ First, The Heart Link Network? is built on the female endocrine system and is designed to help women raise their serotonin levels and release bonding hormones. Second, each attendee has 3 full minutes to showcase their business, products and services to like-minded women who want to help. Third, The Heart Link Network? is intimate and warm. Our gatherings are the perfect environment for women to create meaningful relationships, expand their circle of influence within their communities, and gain support and encouragement toward their success. The Heart Link Womens Network? offers many great marketing benefits to the attendees and our leaders. The Heart Link Network? is an all access pass to meeting women you most want to get to know. If you are a female business professional you need to attend The Heart Link Womens Network?. – Dawn Billings, Founder of The Heart Link Network?.

The Heart Link Womens Network? is intimate, fun, and welcoming to all women. Professional women showcase their business for 3 full minutes during the meeting, and also have time to socialize and connect with one another.

The Heart Link Network? is committed to the success and connection of women, and is one of the largest networking organizations for females. No membership is required. The meeting fee is a nominal $ 25.00 and includes a light meal, reserved business-exclusive seat at the meeting, 3 minute showcase, and a roster.

Women may go to the website http://www.92057.theheartlinknetwork.com to connect with Maryanne to check their business’ availability and to register for the next gathering.

To see a full list of women networking locations, or to submit an application to lead a chapter of The Heart Link Network?, visit http://www.womens-networking.com

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Pier 33 of St. Joseph, Michigan, has recently appointed Engaged! to provide comprehensive social media consulting and management services.

With the rapid growth of social media, it takes a special set of skills, systems, strategy and creative insights to ensure were reaching the people we need to reach said Pier 33 General Manager Tighe Curran, and Engaged! can help us do that.

Pier 33 is a full-service marina and boat dealership, located in St. Joseph, Michigan, serving nearby core markets like Chicago, IL, Grand Rapids, MI and South Bend, IN. While already reaching thousands via outlets such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, Pier 33 is seeking to deliver consistent, relevant information to its customer and prospective customer base.

Pier 33 is a dealer for new boats from Chaparral, Scout and Pursuit and each builder has introduced new models for the 2012 model year. Communicating with boaters around our region in ways that are convenient, informative and entertaining for them is very important to us says Curran. Whether we have a new boat to announce, a special marina event, a fresh used boat, dock or storage specials or other interesting news for Michigan, Indiana and Illinois boaters, there is no better way to get the word out than through these channels.

Engaged! CEO Josh Chiles has already worked closely with Pier 33 to enhance Pier 33s on-line social presence. According to Chiles, Engaged! is the easiest way to manage your business’s social media, email and mobile communications online.

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Yumiwi introduces LinkDots, their new gaming title for iPhone, iPad and Android.

Set aside some time to visit the “mental gym.” Improve in important areas such as:

-Rapid learning

-Speed

-Focus

-Memory

-Logical Thinking

-Creativity

The aim of the game is to place your dots on the board, in a way to create as many links as possible within them. Make as many figures as possible to score more points and win the game.

LinkDots is a great new type of game that features strategic, fast-paced gameplay for groups or solo play, they have a near-perfect app on their hands.”

-Dancemonkey

The mind will never rest on such an addictive deployment of shapes and strategies, while blocking the opponent’s efforts to win. LinkDots allows up to 4 players at once and up to 10 different backgrounds to choose from. Just pick opponents, friends or machines on the same board. Connecting dots has never been so fun.

“Ive played several rounds of LinkDots on the iPhone and Im really enjoying it!

You must strike the perfect balance between playing offensively and defensively.”

-TiPb

It is not tic tac toe, connect four or Minesweeper, the old time classic games that have granted such great moments. LinkDots goes further than that. Earn points depending on the complexity of the figures. Publish scores in social networks, Openfeint and challenge friends.

LinkDots has no age. It is stimulating logical and fun for everyone. A mental challenge, perfect for any place and time, play alone or with other players, excitement guaranteed.

Pricing and Availability:

LinkDots 1.1 for iPhone and iPad is only $ 0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Games category and through the Android Market in the puzzle and games for mind category.

LinkDots:

http://www.linkdotsapp.com

Purchase and Download:

LinkDots 1.1 for iPhone:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/linkdots/id469911041?mt=8

LinkDotsXL 1.1 for iPad

http://itunes.apple.com/ru/app/linkdotsxl/id472613694?mt=8

LinkDots 1.0 for Android:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.linkdotpro

Yumiwi SL is a company established in 2009 that has developed online digital projects, social networking and other online applications for business use. It is now starting as a developer of mobile applications. Copyright (C) 2011 Yumiwi SL. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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More Business Press Releases

Targray Technology International announces that it has been appointed as the global distributor of Giga Solar Materials Corp.s new Back Surface Aluminum Paste. With the signing of this long-term agreementwhich spans across Europe, North America and IndiaTargray now offers a back side aluminum paste that provides a uniform, high quality back surface field (BSF) for mono and multi-crystalline silicon solar cells.

New low bowing aluminum pastes are necessary to enable cell manufacturers to save costs and move to thinner silicon wafers while maintaining low cell breakage rates, said Patrick Boutard, Product Manager at Targray. Cell manufacturers are under constant pressure for efficiency gains to drive down their cost per watt. We have seen repeatedly that Giga Solars new aluminum paste is the right material to enable these efficiencies and were very excited to bring this excellent product to market.

Giga Solars back side aluminum paste provides an excellent back surface field for mono and multi-crystalline silicon solar cells. The paste is designed for excellent efficiency, low bowing, high material compatibility, better adhesion strength and wide process window.

Targrays strong footprint across Europe, North America, and India makes them the ideal partner for Giga Solar, said Cafer Huang, President, Giga Solar Materials Corp. They have a world-renowned reputation for the cost-effective, best-in-class PV materials they supply to solar cell manufacturer markets, and consequently they were the natural choice for the launch of our new aluminum paste in these very important markets.

About Giga Solar Materials Corp.

GSMC is an R&D-focused, product quality, and image-oriented company. GSMC is the largest aluminum paste supplier in Taiwan, with more than 80% of its market share. In addition, GSMC holds 30% market share in China, as well as globally, and ranks within the top 3 aluminum paste suppliers worldwide. When it comes to business model innovation, GSMC, unlike any others, positions itself as a Design-in house of paste formulation and a Customer service-oriented supplier with integrated manufacturing processes. From the customized formulation of pastes, on-site customer service, to the investments of testing instruments and manufacturing equipment for downstream customers, GSMC differentiates itself with a unique offering that surpasses major international competitors. For more information about GSMC, contact the company at 1F, No.3, Kung Yeh First Rd., Hsinchu Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C., tel::+886-3-5985510, fax:+886-3-5972591, email: sales(at)gigasolar(dot)com(dot)tw or visit the website at http://www.gigasolar.com.tw


About Targray Technology International, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Targray Technology is a leading worldwide supplier of solar silicon and advanced materials and consumables to the Solar Industry. Targray offers a full-line of Photovoltaic materials and focused solutions which enable solar cell and module manufacturers to maximize their cell and module quality and reliability, while significantly lowering their manufacturing cost per watt. The Company works with several global partners to bring to market materials including Polysilicon, Solar Wafers and Cells, Broken Solar Cells, Silver Paste, Sputtering Targets, Silicone Sealants, Adhesives and Potting Agents, Tabbing Ribbon, Encapsulant, Aluminum paste, Junction boxes and more. Targray is a global company with operations and customers in over 50 countries throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. For more information about Targray, contact the company at 18105 Trans-Canada, Kirkland, Qc, Canada, H9J 3Z4, tel: (514) 695-8095, fax: (514) 695-0593, email: info(at)targray(dot)com, or visit the company website at http://www.targray.com.

Targray Media Contact:????????????????

Derbhla Dunne

Marketing Communications Manager

t. +1-514-695-8095

f. +1-514-695-0593

marketing(at)targray(dot)com

###

Targray Technology International announces that it has been appointed as the global distributor of Giga Solar Materials Corp.s new Back Surface Aluminum Paste. With the signing of this long-term agreementwhich spans across Europe, North America and IndiaTargray now offers a back side aluminum paste that provides a uniform, high quality back surface field (BSF) for mono and multi-crystalline silicon solar cells.

New low bowing aluminum pastes are necessary to enable cell manufacturers to save costs and move to thinner silicon wafers while maintaining low cell breakage rates, said Patrick Boutard, Product Manager at Targray. Cell manufacturers are under constant pressure for efficiency gains to drive down their cost per watt. We have seen repeatedly that Giga Solars new aluminum paste is the right material to enable these efficiencies and were very excited to bring this excellent product to market.

Giga Solars back side aluminum paste provides an excellent back surface field for mono and multi-crystalline silicon solar cells. The paste is designed for excellent efficiency, low bowing, high material compatibility, better adhesion strength and wide process window.

Targrays strong footprint across Europe, North America, and India makes them the ideal partner for Giga Solar, said Cafer Huang, President, Giga Solar Materials Corp. They have a world-renowned reputation for the cost-effective, best-in-class PV materials they supply to solar cell manufacturer markets, and consequently they were the natural choice for the launch of our new aluminum paste in these very important markets.

About Giga Solar Materials Corp.

GSMC is an R&D-focused, product quality, and image-oriented company. GSMC is the largest aluminum paste supplier in Taiwan, with more than 80% of its market share. In addition, GSMC holds 30% market share in China, as well as globally, and ranks within the top 3 aluminum paste suppliers worldwide. When it comes to business model innovation, GSMC, unlike any others, positions itself as a Design-in house of paste formulation and a Customer service-oriented supplier with integrated manufacturing processes. From the customized formulation of pastes, on-site customer service, to the investments of testing instruments and manufacturing equipment for downstream customers, GSMC differentiates itself with a unique offering that surpasses major international competitors. For more information about GSMC, contact the company at 1F, No.3, Kung Yeh First Rd., Hsinchu Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C., tel::+886-3-5985510, fax:+886-3-5972591, email: sales(at)gigasolar(dot)com(dot)tw or visit the website at http://www.gigasolar.com.tw


About Targray Technology International, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Targray Technology is a leading worldwide supplier of solar silicon and advanced materials and consumables to the Solar Industry. Targray offers a full-line of Photovoltaic materials and focused solutions which enable solar cell and module manufacturers to maximize their cell and module quality and reliability, while significantly lowering their manufacturing cost per watt. The Company works with several global partners to bring to market materials including Polysilicon, Solar Wafers and Cells, Broken Solar Cells, Silver Paste, Sputtering Targets, Silicone Sealants, Adhesives and Potting Agents, Tabbing Ribbon, Encapsulant, Aluminum paste, Junction boxes and more. Targray is a global company with operations and customers in over 50 countries throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. For more information about Targray, contact the company at 18105 Trans-Canada, Kirkland, Qc, Canada, H9J 3Z4, tel: (514) 695-8095, fax: (514) 695-0593, email: info(at)targray(dot)com, or visit the company website at http://www.targray.com.

Targray Media Contact:????????????????

Derbhla Dunne

Marketing Communications Manager

t. +1-514-695-8095

f. +1-514-695-0593

marketing(at)targray(dot)com

###

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