Rebranded, Region Builders Announces Expanded Political Activities at Annual Event

October 11, 2015 |

At their annual BBQ in the Vineyards fundraising event on Friday night, Region Builders formally announced that the advocacy group will be expanding their scope of political activity and changing their name. 

The sixth annual event, which was held at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg and drew over 750 guests, is the groups signature fundraiser according to the group's founder and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Woods. The event stared modestly six years ago according to Woods when it was held as backyard event with 75 guests. 

"This event has grown every year," Woods said as he thanked the event participants for their support. 

Woods also formally announced the group is changing its name to Region Business. This change, Woods explained, came after a broad array of non-construction and real estate businesses asked to join the political advocacy group.

In addition to their original focus on construction and real estate, the group will now have advocacy groups for agriculture, manufacturers, restaurants and retailers. Each group will have its own board, board chair, and political action committee.

Among the public officials with Elk Grove connections in attendance were Elk Grove City Council Member Steve Ly, Elk Grove Unified School District Trustee Nancy Chaires, Elk Grove Planning Commissioner Kevin Spease, and Phoebe Austin, assistant to Elk Grove City Council Member Darren Suen. Other notable political figures in attendance were Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy and former California Assembly Member Roger Dickinson. 

Locally, Region Business has held fundraising events for Ly and Suen and was the driving force in Elk Grove's adoption of the permit simplicity program.