From official newsletter

Women's Leadership and Policy Summit This Saturday, October 10

Oct 08, 2026, 11:06 PM • The Office of Supervisor Betty Duong

Summary

Santa Clara County is actively preparing for the November 3 General Election, with over 1 million ballots mailed and multiple in-person voting options available starting October 24. Voter registration remains open through October 19, with conditional registration available through Election Day. Supervisor Betty Duong secured unanimous Board approval for a proposal to support employee-owned businesses and cooperatives by leveraging county procurement, workforce development, and infrastructure access, with a report due in January 2027. October is proclaimed Employee Ownership Month to highlight cooperative economic opportunities. Additionally, the 9th Annual Women’s Leadership & Policy Summit will convene 1,500 attendees at San José State University on October 10, featuring workshops, career resources, and community engagement.

Key positions and references

Key positions

Support for employee-owned businesses and cooperatives
Encouragement of voter registration and participation
Promotion of cooperative development in workforce initiatives
Proclamation of October as Employee Ownership Month

Agenda items and issues mentioned

Proposal to support innovative employee-owned businesses
County contracting and procurement process for cooperatives
2025 Worker Cooperative Business Census findings
Employee Ownership Month proclamation

Meetings and events mentioned

November 3, 2026 General Election
Board of Supervisors meeting approving cooperative support proposal
9th Annual Women’s Leadership & Policy Summit on October 10
Early voting and vote center openings starting October 24

Full newsletter

Formatted for readability from newsletter text.

View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/9570e915eba6/test-9761582?e=b9aeea3094) Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/connect-us/get-district-2-newsletter) . Thursday, October 8, 2026 In This Edition: * B (#election) allots Mailed and Vote Centers Open for November Election (#election) * Proposal to Support Innovative Employee‑Owned Businesses Receives Board Support (#employee) * The Women's Leadership and Policy Summit i (#Summit) s this Saturda (#Summit) y * Betty in the Community (#Summit)

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters has mailed out more than 1 million ballots to registered voters in the county for the November 3 General Election. In-person early voting is available now at the Registrar of Voters office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, in San Jose between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. More locations for in-person voting will open on October 24.

If you have not registered to vote, or if your information has changed since the last election, such as a change of name or address, you can re-register through October 19 here (https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/register-vote/how-register-vote) . After October 19, Conditional Voter Registration will be available at the Registrar's Office and at all Vote Centers through Election Day, allowing residents to register and vote at the same time.

Completed ballots can be returned by mail, dropped off at an Official Ballot Drop Box, in person at the ROV Office, or any Vote Center starting October 24. Find the nearest Drop Box at: sccvote.org/dropbox. Visit the ROV’s election webpage for more information: https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/elections/november-3-2026-general-election

The Registrar of Voters also need election workers to help residents navigate the voting process and support the essential work that keeps elections secure and accessible. These short-term, paid positions offer competitive hourly rates, hands-on training, and a meaningful way to serve your community. You can find more information about being an election worker and apply here (https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/get-involved/work-vote-center) .

For more information about voter registration or elections, please contact the ROV at 408-299-VOTE (8683) or visit www.sccvote.org (http://www.sccvote.org/) .

I encourage all Santa Clara County residents who are eligible to register and vote in the November 3 election. Our community and our democracy only remain strong if we all participate.

In community,

https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/county-supervisor-betty-duong-proposal-support-innovative-employee-owned-businesses-receives-board My proposal, co-sponsored by County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/county-supervisor-betty-duong-proposal-support-innovative-employee-owned-businesses-receives-board) directing Administration to assess and develop a plan to strengthen economic opportunities for employee-owned businesses and cooperatives in the county, including through the County of Santa Clara contracting and procurement process, was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors. To watch the meeting, click HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvlGXxKpOhk) .

Worker-owned cooperatives are an engine of economic mobility for historically marginalized communities that can create quality jobs for people who face barriers to the mainstream labor market, build worker wealth, and retain locally owned businesses. The 2025 State of the Sector estimates approximately 1,300 worker cooperatives and democratic workplaces employing 16,000 workers nationally and reports 34 percent growth since 2020. California has one of the country’s largest concentrations of worker cooperatives and democratic workplaces with multiple successful examples in Santa Clara County including A Slice of New York, META: Mujeres Empresarias Tomando Accion, and Quelites.

At a time when the current federal administration continues to unjustly and illegally attack the rights and place in society of women and immigrants, worker-owned cooperatives provide an avenue of economic independence and mobility for these communities. The 2025 Worker Cooperative Business Census identifies 64% of worker owners as women, 37% as Latina or Latino, and 30% as immigrants.

The proposal directs County staff to report back to the Board in January 2027 with a plan to support and encourage worker-owned cooperatives in Santa Clara County, including but not limited to, leveraging County procurement as a market; integrating cooperative education and technical assistance into workforce development initiatives that advance public health and prevent violence; providing access to shared infrastructure, including commercial kitchens and meeting or training space; and exploring future permanent infrastructure and increased access to capital for cooperative incubation.

During the same meeting, my colleagues and I on the Board of Supervisors also proclaimed October as “Employee Ownership Month” in Santa Clara County.

Cooperative development can complement County workforce development priorities in sectors such as public health, childcare and early learning, in-home supportive services, and food systems by creating pathways for workers not only to access employment, but to build leadership, exercise greater economic agency, and share in ownership.

https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026 https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026 https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026 https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026

This Saturday, October 10, we’ll welcome 1,500 attendees to San José State University for the 9th Annual Women’s Leadership & Policy Summit (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026) .

We’ve officially reached maximum capacity and workshops are full. Attendees can look forward to an exciting day of inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, career opportunities, community resources, and opportunities to connect with leaders and policy makers from across our region.

Our Career Hub will offer professional headshots, résumé support, and resources for job seekers. Attendees can also enjoy special experiences throughout the day, including the Sutter Health “Give Her Her Flowers” Flower Station with Flora Haven.

https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026

For those joining us, please plan ahead. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., with programming taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San José State University Student Union Ballroom. Free event parking is available on the fourth and fifth levels of the North Garage, with accessible parking available at the North Garage and Parking Lot 4.

We can’t wait to bring 1,500 people together for a powerful day of leadership, learning, connection, and community. See you Saturday!

Click HERE for more information (https://d2.santaclaracounty.gov/news-and-events/womens-leadership-and-policy-summit-2026) https://www.svcf.org/scholarships/find-scholarships Click HERE to Find Scholarships (https://www.svcf.org/scholarships/find-scholarships) https://esa.santaclaracounty.gov/fall-2026-career-community-resource-expo Community Connection with blue sky and flowers

Happy Latino Heritage Month! From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate the rich cultures, histories, traditions, and contributions of Latino communities throughout Santa Clara County and across the country. Join us in celebrating the people and stories that make up our diverse Latino communities, supporting local Latino-owned businesses, and honoring the generations who have helped build the Santa Clara County we call home. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The County of Santa Clara proudly recognizes the important contributions of workers with disabilities and reaffirms our commitment to building inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive. To learn more about the County's Office of Disability Affairs and our initiatives, visit: https://desj.santaclaracounty.gov/oda (https://desj.santaclaracounty.gov/oda?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAcGRvZgFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeEEeAhuvgn-RcBTTt1exi_98LYoZ2UUMAxQEIwqkFIXTddbhYSbuCmQcPZ58_aem_jmSrPvfPN5W6sQ-m5-iqdg)

Our mailing address is: County of Santa Clara 70 West Hedding Street 10th Floor San Jose, CA 95110-1705 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can ** update your preferences (https://santaclaracounty.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=5298f1b9b18178d5ea7749434&id=c76f7fb5f5&e=b9aeea3094&c=1a417c0f62) or ** unsubscribe from this list (https://santaclaracounty.us2.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=5298f1b9b18178d5ea7749434&id=c76f7fb5f5&t=b&e=b9aeea3094&c=1a417c0f62) . Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp https://login.mailchimp.com/signup/email-referral/?aid=5298f1b9b18178d5ea7749434