Pictures From GVC's Sacramento Valley Forum

Hundreds of people gathered at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico on October 28th for the Great Valley Center's annual Sacramento Valley Forum. This year's topic Water: More Than a Peripheral Issue covered issues that are currently relevant to water use, conservation and economics.

"If we can bring people and interests from the Sacramento Valley together to start talking about the many complexities of this issues, we can establsih a dialogue for positive change," said David Hosley, President of the Great Valley Center.

Check out pictures from the day here:

GVC's Sacramento Valley Forum in the News

The Chico Enterprise-Record ran two stories on this week's Sacramento Valley Forum. The articles are a great briefing on the issues Tim Quinn and Robert Glennon spoke about during their keynote addresses. Check out the articles here:

→ Author: Water not as plentiful as many think

→ Water crisis called worst in state's history

Indicators Report 'The Economy' 3rd Edition -- In the News

On October 28, 2009 the Great Valley Center released its newest report: The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition). The report is part of the State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series, an ongoing regional initiative tracking conditions in one of California’s fastest growing regions: the 19-county Great Central Valley. The data presented in the report are a snapshot of information providing tools for measuring the community well-being of the Valley. The reports offer data, analysis, and structure which can be used as a benchmark for assessing the progress of the Central Valley, providing valuable comparative information at the county, subregional, regional, and state levels.

The report tracks economic indicators as they relate to population, income and housing; business vitality; agriculture; transportation; commerce and mobility; and federal and nonprofit spending. The report features a centerpiece essay written by Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and member of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, on the future of agriculture and the efforts of the California Ag Vision 2030 to plan for a vibrant agricultural future for the Central Valley and throughout California.

The report is currently available to be downloaded for free at www.greatvalley.org.

Check out coverage on the findings of the report:

→ Industry diversification, job training are keys to recover, Bakersfield Observer

→ Central Valley's slump within a slump, KQED's The California Report

→ New Report details Central Valley recession -- and recovery, Central Valley Business Times

→ Report: Central Valley still struggling, Hanford Sentinel

→ Valley faces unique set of challenges, Merced Sun-Star

→ Nonprofit recommends changes based on study of Central Valley economy, Modesto Bee

→ Report says Valley needs stimulus funds, Stockton Record

→ Report from Great Valley Center paints grim picture, Visalia Times-Delta

The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition) Released

News Release
-For Immediate Release-

Media Contact
Amy Moffat
amy@greatvalley.org
(209) 522-5103

VALLEY CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND STATE IN SIGNIFICANT INDICATORS OF ECONOMIC HEALTH

Findings: Nation and state remain reliant on the agricultural products of the Central Valley, but measurements of the region’s economic vitality fail to advance

Modesto, CA (October 28, 2009) – According to a new report released today, if the Central Valley itself were considered a state, its agricultural value would rank higher than all other states in the country, yet the region’s per capita income would rank a dismal 48th in the country.

These findings are part of the 21 indicators of regional economic vitality compiled by the Great Valley Center in its latest report The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition).

In the report the Great Valley Center unveiled its recommendations for the Central Valley during the economic challenges that continue to disproportionately impact the 19-county Central Valley region stretching from Redding to Bakersfield. Among the five recommendations is the need to improve the quality of the Valley’s workforce through education, and the need to capitalize on the momentum surrounding the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"These challenging economic times have hit the state and nation hard, but regions like the Central Valley that were struggling prior to the economic downturn have been hit even harder by it,” said Amy Moffat, director of research and communications at the Great Valley Center. “What is unclear is how the region will rebound from these challenging times. We know that educational outcomes, as well as the region’s agricultural sector, are closely tied to our economy here in the Central Valley.”

The report also reveals that although the Valley’s unemployment is higher than other areas of the state, the labor force continues to grow, especially since the regions housing costs have remained low. However, job growth is not growing as fast as the labor force, meaning that as the state recovers unemployment could remain a significant problem for the Central Valley.

Positive findings of the report include a decline in traffic congestion; a decline in the percentage of semi-trucks traveling on highways; and a steady increase in air travel passengers. Despite some positive trends in the report, federal spending and nonprofit revenue in the Central Valley remain at a significantly lower rate than national averages.

The report tracks economic indicators as they relate to population, income and housing; business vitality; agriculture; transportation; commerce and mobility; and federal and nonprofit spending. The report features a centerpiece essay written by Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and member of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, on the future of agriculture and the efforts of the California Ag Vision 2030 to plan for a vibrant agricultural future for the Central Valley and throughout California.

The report is currently available to be downloaded for free at www.greatvalley.org.

The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (Third Edition) is sponsored by Citi and Kaiser Permanente, and is part of the State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series, an ongoing regional initiative tracking conditions in one of California’s fastest growing regions: the 19-county Great Central Valley. The data presented in the report are a snapshot of information providing tools for measuring the community well-being of the Valley. The reports offer data, analysis, and structure which can be used as a benchmark for assessing the progress of the Central Valley, providing valuable comparative information at the county, subregional, regional, and state levels.

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About Great Valley Center: Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a private, non-profit organization that supports organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. For more information visit www.greatvalley.org.

About Citi: Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

About Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. They are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, their mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of their members and the communities they serve. For more information, go to: www.kp.org.

Video: IDEAL Class of 2009 Reflects on Their Experience

Applications Sought For Park and Public Land Managers Executive Leadership Seminar

International leaders in park, protected area and cultural resource management from governments and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for an Executive Leadership Seminar being offered by UC Merced, the National Park Service, the Institute at the Golden Gate, the Great Valley Center and the National Parks Conservation Association’s Center for Park Management.

The 11-day intensive management seminar on leadership, innovation and organization renewal runs April 27 through May 7, 2010. Participants will have the opportunity to meet industry leaders and innovative thinkers with expertise in leadership and park management, and will be able to form a network of global public land management leaders.

The seminar has been made possible by generous gifts from NPCA’s Center for Park Management, Toyota USA Foundation and The Yosemite Fund.

→ Read the entire press release here

→ More about the program: http://parkleadership.ucmerced.edu.

→ Program contact: Angelina Ceja, angelina@greatvalley.org or (209) 522-5103

News Advisory

Conference Call Media Briefing on new report “The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (3rd Edition)”

The Great Valley Center will hold a conference call Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM to discuss the findings and recommendations of the soon to be released report "The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (3rd Edition)"

Media Contact:
Amy Moffat
Great Valley Center
(209) 522-5103
amy@greatvalley.org

About the State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy: Indicators highlighted in the report include: unemployment, foreclosure rates, growth in the labor force, agricultural land converted to urban development, and work commute times for county residents. The report presents a unique comparison of the data for the Valley to other regions in the state and national averages. During the media briefing, the Great Valley Center will unveil the findings of the report and the recommendations for the region based on these findings.

With a total of almost two dozen indicators, the report is a comprehensive revisit of data first tracked by the Great Valley Center in 1999 as part of the State of the Great Central Valley Indicators Series, an ongoing regional initiative tracking conditions in the 19-county Great Central Valley. The Great Valley Center produces an annual indicator report in the five-part State of the Great Central Valley series. The data presented are a snapshot of information providing tools for measuring the community well-being of the Valley. The reports offer data, analysis, and structure which can be used as a benchmark for assessing the progress of the Central Valley. The report is sponsored by Citi and Kaiser Permanente.

Those who RSVP prior to the call will receive an embargo copy of the report. The report is embargoed until 12:01 am, Saturday, October 24, 2009. Participants must RSVP to amy@greatvalley.org to receive call in information.

What: Media briefing via conference call to reveal the findings and recommendations of new Great Valley Center Report “The State of the Great Central Valley: The Economy (3rd Edition)”

When: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 10:00 - 10:45 A.M.

Who: Great Valley Center Director of Research and Communications, and report author Amy Moffat will talk about the report findings, recommendations and answer questions

Participants must RSVP prior to the call to Amy Moffat amy@greatvalley.org to receive an embargo copy of the report and call in information.

Valley Futures Forum: November 19

Smart Growth and the Pesky Realities of Building in California
with John Anderson

November 19, 2009
5:00 - 6:45 pm

Great Valley Center
201 Needham St.
Modesto, CA

Fee for the Forum: $10 (payable at the door)
For more information e-mail nuplanner@gmail.com

About John Anderson:
John is a builder, developer, planner, and urbanist. He has worked for the past ten years as the director of planning and design for New Urban Builders in Chico and Redding, where the firm has demonstrated that sustainable neighborhoods can be built by California production builders. He is the principal author of the TND Code a form-based zoning code adopted by the City of Chico as part of the entitlement of Meriam Park, a 200-acre LEED-ND Pilot Project in southeast Chico. John is a principal with Anderson|Kim Architecture + Urban Design in Chico.

About the Valley Futures Forum (VFF):
The VFF is a dynamic conversation on development issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The forum takes place at 5:00pm on the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

The VFF is presented by:
American Planning Association, Central Section; Building Industry Association of Central California; Congress for the New Urbanism, NorCal Chapter; Great Valley Center; Local Government Commission; Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

→ Download a flyer here

→ Visit the New Urban Builders website here to learn about the sustainable developments John has designed

Great Valley Leadership Institute, Class X

In the fast-changing Central Valley, our leaders need to make wise decision about our communities, resources and infrastructure. The Great Valley Leadership Institute (GVLI) equips elected officials with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration they need to guide the Valley to the best possible future.

GVLI is a 4 1/2 day program that allows elected officials the opportunity to spend time with expert faculty on topics such as community building, effective negotiations, thinking ethically, creating coalitions, and working with the media. This year's Institute took place earlier this month at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, CA. 18 members of school boards, city councils and county boards of supervisors participated.

Here's what participants of GVLI Class X had to say about their experience:

"Eye opening experience that will help me find the best in me and stimulate me to dig deep and find all that I have to offer."

"Empowered me and has given me increased awareness of the need to create change and accomplish my purpose for being an elected."

"The dynamic scholars and GVLI staff are an exceptional asset to this program. Thank you for making such a difference in my life."

GVLI was underwritten by the California State Association of Counties, League of California Cities, Comcast, and Southern California Edison.

Check out the pictures from this year's class below:

Register Today For GVC's Sacramento Valley Forum

News Release
-For Immediate Release-

Media Contact
Amy Moffat
amy@greatvalley.org
(209) 522-5103

REGIONAL FORUM WILL EXPLORE CURRENT WATER ISSUES IN SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND BEYOND

Great Valley Center will host 10th Annual Sacramento Valley Forum in Chico on October 28, 2009

Modesto, CA (September 22, 2009) - Robert Glennon, nationally-known author of the book Unquenchable, will speak about America's water crisis and what we can do about it at the 10th annual Sacramento Valley Forum, October 28 in Chico.

The Forum, titled Water, More than a Peripheral Issue is presented by the Great Valley Center and takes place at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Business and community leaders, governmental officials, farmers, environmentalists and individuals who have an interest in the future of the region will convene to learn about and discuss issues currently relevant to water use, conservation and economics in the 10-county Sacramento Valley Region and beyond.

“The Sacramento Valley’s water supply nourishes our region and the rest of the state and we cannot conserve our way out of this problem,” said David Hosley, President of the Great Valley Center. “If we can bring people and interests from the Sacramento Valley together today to start talking about the many complexities of this issue, we can establish a dialogue for positive change.”

In addition to Glennon, Tim Quinn, Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) opens the program with background on how we got to where we are today. Panel sessions will discuss Sacramento River flows, risks and management; current research on the affects of climate change, precipitation and conveyance; infrastructure innovations that make greater conservation possible; and the economics of water, recreation and tourism in the Sacramento River Valley.

The complete program for the day and online registration are now available at www.greatvalley.org/svforum. The cost for the one-day event is $50 through October 1; $60 after.

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About the Great Valley Center
The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California's Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. www.greatvalley.org

Steve Newvine: A legacy that endures

The following opinion piece was printed in the Merced Sun-Star October 13, 2009:

Carol Tomlinson-Keasey will be remembered for her tenaciousness, her intense focus on mission, and her passion for UC Merced.

I first met her in 2004 at a reception for UC Merced held at a community room in Grizzlies Stadium in Fresno.

The school would open in another year; I believe the purpose of the reception was to introduce the reality of a new institution of higher learning to the Fresno business community. She was gracious, full of pride, and intent on telling the story of the effort to start UC Merced. I was impressed.

Having moved to California that year from upstate New York, I had no idea about the scope of the work she and other Valley leaders had invested to build the campus.

I would soon learn of the many years she and others would endure to make the campus a reality.

In 2006, I made it my first priority to schedule a meeting with Dr. Tomlinson-Keasey once I settled in as CEO of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce.

We had a productive visit with me sharing my thoughts about the future of our community, while she shared her deep pride for what the community did to get the campus built.

That intense focus was there, although this time I encountered another characteristic that I would come to remember about her: grace.

She would announce her retirement shortly after that visit.

No doubt, she had already made up her mind long before I met with her at the campus office. We understood her explanation that it was time for a new leader to take the new campus to the next step.

Many knew of her struggle with cancer and we believed she had won the battle. We wished her well in retirement.

All my memories of Carol can be summed up in one special day in May 2006.

That first commencement at UC Merced was a wonderful day for the community and especially for Dr. Tomlinson-Keasey. With only a handful of students graduating, the ceremony was held in a small auditorium on campus.

But the sense of pride could have filled the entire Central Valley.

The students, our true trailblazers, were smiling in their caps and gowns. The faculty, administration, and other staff were gleaming with satisfaction.

But who would forget Dr. Tomlinson-Keasey; she had the biggest smile, the most touching speech, and that sense of grace. Her work was done.

She would walk away knowing her accomplishments personified the work, stress and emotions of an entire community. She would leave knowing that her legacy rested with those graduates, and the many who continue to follow them.

And she left behind an institution that will endure for many generations.

Steve Newvine is the former CEO of the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce and now works for a California public utility. He lives in Merced.

→ Read this opinion piece online
→ Visit UC Merced's website

October Media Advisory Available Now

The Great Valley Center's October 2009 media advisory is now available. This monthly resource for members of the media and others in the community features information on what's happening with the Great Valley Center and throughout the Central Valley during the month.

October's advisory includes briefs on:

* Regional story ideas
* GVC and regional events during the month
* Reports, Publications, and Resources Available

→Download the October 2009 Media Advisory