Y-S economic development chief dies

Stephen M. Brammer, chief operating officer of the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation, died Tuesday, local officials confirmed.

No cause of death was immediately available for Brammer, 61, who died at his Yuba City home. Brammer had been in his role with the EDC since January 2007, when he was promoted from a previous position there as administrator for the corporation's revolving loan fund for 10 years.

Yuba County Economic Development Coordinator John Fleming said he'd miss Brammer as a friend, and as a strong advocate for attracting jobs and businesses to the region.

"It's a huge loss for his family, and certainly a huge loss to the Yuba-Sutter area as well," Fleming said.

During Brammer's tenure with the EDC, Fleming said, he secured millions of dollars in loans to help new local businesses and worked to attract more in community development block grants to draw businesses and jobs to the region.

Fleming specifically recalled Brammer's work to help bring the Global Hawk aircraft program to Beale Air Force Base.

"I'm sure the EDC will continue along in that vein," Fleming said.

John Nicoletti, president of the corporation's board of directors and a Yuba County supervisor, said EDC employees had the option of going home from work Tuesday, but opted to stay on the job instead.

"The EDC will stay the course, and we'll keep our operations normal and stable," Nicoletti said. "Right now, our focus is on Steve's family's needs and how we can help."

Yuba City Economic Development Manager Darin Gale said he had regular conversations with Brammer.

"You could obviously tell he wanted the region and the economy to improve," Gale said. "And there wasn't a time he didn't mention the veterans' organizations he was involved with."

A graduate of Chaffey College, Brammer also did some undergraduate work at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and had worked at the management level in the banking and consumer finance industries, according to the EDC.

Brad Minton, Brammer's son-in-law, said survivors include Brammer's wife, Janet Jo, two daughters in Yuba City and a daughter in Sacramento. He is also survived by his mother, Joyce Brammer, of Nebraska.

Brammer was active locally in the Boy Scouts and with veterans' groups, Minton said.

"He just loved what he did," Minton said. "His passion for his family was also really strong. He won't be an easy guy to not have around."

Nicoletti said Brammer left behind a very solid organization with capable staff.

The economic downturn of recent years, however, took its toll on the corporation. Earlier this year, Yuba City officials made plans to eventually cut their funding to the EDC, which is a quasi-public, not-for-profit entity based in Yuba City.

As well, the loss of 45 percent of the corporation's revenues in the year's first quarter led directors to lay off two staff members in September, including Steve Carrigan, the vice president of economic development.

Contact Appeal reporter Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com