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Panel is Briefed on the Economic Condition of the San Joaquin Valley

Traditionally agricultural regions trail the state in family income, educational achievement, health care access, employment and job stability. Inasmuch as ETP plans to continue aggressive outreach activities in high unemployment areas, at the June 22, 2007, Panel Meeting, Edward Kawahara, Ph.D., Special Consultant for the California Economic Strategy Panel, Tony Oliveira, a Kings County Supervisor and member of the CalPERS Board of Directors, Ashley Swearengin, Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development, CA State University, Fresno, and Secretariat for Governor Schwarzenegger's California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, and Yolanda Benson, Deputy Secretary for the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BT&H), convened as a "Panel Before the Panel" to provide a briefing on the economic condition of the San Joaquin Valley.

Dr. Kawahara provided extensive economic data on recent and projected job growth in the Valley, as well as the types of industries expected to develop between now and year 2015. Mr. Oliveira spoke to the high unemployment rates versus the low educational achievements in the Valley, while Ms. Swearengin discussed the Partnership's role in the Governor's efforts to revitalize the region. Ms. Benson concluded the briefing by detailing BT&H's goal to stimulate the region's economy through the creation of links between private industry, local and state governments, and investment infrastructure that will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses to develop, grow and flourish in the region.

Although over the past 5 years the Employment Training Panel has funded 83 contracts worth over $16 million in the Valley to train more than 14,000 workers, the participants shared common concerns regarding the Valley's continued higher than average unemployment rates. All agreed that workforce development and job training are key elements in revitalizing the Valley, and that ETP is viewed as a major partner in this effort.

For more information regarding the "Panel Before the Panel" Report on the Economic Condition of the San Joaquin Valley, contact Charles Lundberg, ETP's Economic Development Director at 916-327-5261 or clundberg@etp.ca.gov.

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