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Contra Costa Supervisors Say Top Priority Is Job Creation

MARTINEZ (KCBS) - It's clear Contra Costa County cannot rely on the state to come through with enough money to stimulate job growth on a wide scale, supervisors said Wednesday.

Most jobs lost over the last decade are unlikely to return, said Supervisor Mary Piepho, requiring aggressive, forward-looking efforts to promote job growth in the county.

"We need to change the way we do business. A priority for us needs to identifying and retraining for jobs that will come back and working to draw employers to our area," she said.

KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:

The Board of Supervisors devoted its Wednesday meeting to looking at ways of lowering an 11.2 percent unemployment rate that's hit the east and west sides of the county hardest.

The solar industry and alternative energy companies in particular hold great promise for replacing lost positions, said Supervisor Gayle Uilkema.

"We can look to the green business sector as one small example to accomplish this goal," Uilkema said.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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