It was a pleasure meeting with the Modesto Police Department Clergy Council this afternoon to discuss their concerns and their visions for the community. I look forward to partnering with them to support and empower our students and future leaders, and am excited to get to know their congregations.
In June, Assemblymember Gray honored Blaker Brewery as the Assembly District 21 Small Business of the Year. Blaker Brewery opened a new brewery and taproom in South Ceres at the end of 2017, and held their grand opening in January of 2018. Blaker promises fresh craft beers made from largely locally grown ingredients, down to the wheat, hops, and lactose. Their beers are made with many ingredients grown by the Lucas family and other local farmers, with the goal of remaining as locally-sourced as possible. Founder Tom Lucas, whose family has deep agricultural roots in the Valley dating back to 1938, started homebrewing in 2012. The brewery’s name also honors their history and references the first piece of land the Lucas family bought, which was on Blaker Road. Their slogan, “Cultivate your craft,” reflects their focus on producing a high-quality product that their family believes in. As a family business, they can be counted on to support the community and look for new ways to introduce their product across the region.
Asm. Adam Gray, right, receiving FBA award from legislative advocate Dennis Albiani at FBA’s Annual Meeting of Members
The Family Business Association of California, the only organization advocating exclusively for California’s thousands of family businesses, has awarded its first Outstanding Legislator Award to Assembly Member Adam C. Gray, D-Merced, for his record on legislation crucial to family businesses during the recently concluded session.
The award was presented at FBA’s Annual Meeting of Members this month in Sacramento.
“Gray is a member of the influential New Democrats caucus – lawmakers who are committed to a pragmatic approach that promotes the interests of hard-working Californians alienated by the extreme partisanship of both the left and the right,” said FBA Executive Director Robert Rivinius.
“He had a 100 percent voting record on FBA’s key bills this session and played an influential role in advancing business-friendly bills and amending or blocking bills that would have harmed family businesses. That’s not surprising since he comes from a family business background.”
