Microsoft Word - 04-JM.docx


Vol. 1, No. 1, August 2012, pp. 43-44   
 
 
 
 
Presidential Perspectives, Engaging a Region to Transform Its Future 
 
John D. Welty, President 
California State University, Fresno 
 
 
 
 
 

Presidential Perspectives, Engaging a Region to Transform Its Future 
 

On July 11, 2011, Fresno California was designated as one of the six initial 
communities for the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) initiative, a new and 
customized pilot project by the Obama administration to strengthen local capacity and spur  
economic growth in local communities. A team of federal administrators representing the 
Environmental Protection Agency (PA), the Economic Development Agency (EDA), the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Minority Business Development 
Agency (MBDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL) will work with local governments, the private sector, and other 
institutions to leverage federal dollars and support the work being done at the local level to 
encourage community development. Federal administrators will be on site and housed at 
Fresno City Hall. By integrating government investments and partnering with local 
communities, SC2 channels the resources of the federal government to help empower cities 
with established planning and strong leadership as they develop and implement their vision for 
economic growth. This designation culminates years of work by region leaders to align 
resources and build a network to transform a region. 

Fresno began its path to good planning and strong leadership with the establishment of 
Fresno State’s Futures Institute in 1991.  Co-founded by the President of California State 
University, Fresno, John Welty, the Fresno Business Council (FBC) brought together key 
leaders within the  private sector who were committed to transformation of the community. 
Fresno was experiencing a continuing rise in crime, low per capita income and high 
unemployment, a fragmented and often combative community, and a vacuum of steward 
leadership.  The University adopted a vision statement stating  “We will become New 
California’s premier engaged university, nationally recognized for our teaching, learning, 
transformational scholarship, and dynamic leadership which engages faculty, students, staff, 
and community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration benefiting the region and 
society as a whole.” 

The FBC sought to improve underlying conditions in key domains defined by many as 
the three E’s – economy, environment and equity. In Fresno, these were defined as four Spheres:  
Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Human Development, and the Whole, 
where the reality of interdependence and steward leadership guides the thinking. The focus was 



     J. Welty 44 

on shifting the economy from a primarily low cost, single industry model to a more diversified set 
of industries driving innovation. Since 1991, Fresno State has been the leading partner with the 
FBC, in creating and implementing the Fresno Regional Jobs Initiative (RJI) and the 
California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (Partnership), each of which rely on 
stewardship building and collaboration. 

Established in 2003, the RJI leads the continued implementation of the innovative 
regional economic development. Administered by the Office of Community and Economic 
Development (OCED), this comprehensive strategy involves industry, government, education, 
training, and community leaders creating strategic initiatives that leverage regional assets for 
fundamental change. RJI is a partnership between private businesses and public/non-profit 
agencies centered around 12 industry clusters. RJI was credited with bringing sectors together 
to assist in the generation of over 17,000 jobs. 

The C a l i f o r n i a  Partnership was created by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005 to 
address the many issues and obstacles facing eight counties, 62 cities, and 4 million residents 
within the 27,000 square mile San Joaquin Valley.   OCED is the Partnership Secretariat. The 
Partnership convenes experts and leaders committed to sustainable economic development, 
environmental stewardship and human advocacy. OCED and t h e  C a l i f o r n i a  Partnership 
received, coordinated or assisted in securing $5.5 billion in State and Federal funding for 
the Valley; established the Central California Workforce Collaborative; created two 501©(3) 
organizations (the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization and the San Joaquin Valley 
Housing Collaborative);  established the Central  Valley  Higher  Education  Consortium;  
and completed  the San  Joaquin  Valley Blueprint, a guide for future Valley to the year 2050, 
including 12 Smart Growth Principles. 

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, said it best - “This federal effort recognizes the 
value of the strategic planning that we’ve already begun to revitalize in our economy and 
our city. We’ve made significant progress in our efforts, but there is still much more to be 
done”