Q. What is the Regional Jobs Initiative?
The Regional Jobs Initiative is a private-public partnership initially focused on creating 30,000 net new jobs in the Fresno Metropolitan Statistical Area (i.e. Fresno and Madera Counties) by the end of 2008. In the process of creating 30,000 jobs, which would approximately double the region's normal job growth over the same period, we intend to change the way the region's industries compete in the global marketplace - from a commodity- and cost-driven model to one based more on value. The RJI is a cluster based approach that will strengthen and expand the private sector and diversify the economy. At the conclusion of the RJI, the region will not only benefit from the 30,000 additional jobs but from a "built to last" economy that will be well positioned for even further expansion over the next ten years.
The RJI hopes to also be a catalyst for economic development throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Outreach efforts have already been initiated to help other Valley communities launch efforts similar to the RJI, and the RJI is lending its voice in Sacramento and Washington to help advance initiatives that will improve the economic development of the entire San Joaquin Valley.
Q. Who is paying for the RJI?
The RJI Implementation Plan calls for the launch of a number of new programs and projects, such as centers of excellence for industry clusters, a medical school in the San Joaquin Valley, a metropolitan area network, and an industrial development capital fund to name a few. Funding strategies are being considered separately for each new project or program. There is no single source of funding that will pay to implement all the recommendations outlined in the RJI implementation plan. Funding is expected to come from the private sector, cost savings from improved government efficiencies, and new streams of funding from state and federal government or private foundations. If these sources are insufficient and if elected officials and area voters are willing, new revenues may be required to invest in our future.
To date, the Fresno County Workforce Investment Board, California State University, Fresno, the Fresno Business Council and the City of Fresno have invested funds into the day-to-day coordination of the RJI. Those organizations and many more have made further investments in the form of loaned staff. It's estimated that the value of such staff in 2004 surpassed $1 million. Additionally, the value of private sector volunteers easily exceeded that number.
Q. Is it really possible to create 30,000 net new jobs in just five years?
There is no doubt that the RJI's job creation goal is an ambitious one. However, after staging focus groups involving literally hundreds of business owners in the Central San Joaquin Valley in the summer and fall of 2003, the RJI leadership concluded that achieving the job creation goal was not only possible, but probable if our industries were united and if we successfully aligned our resources across sectors.
There are many, many businesses in the region that are poised for expansion. The RJI is designed to coordinate additional resources such as customized workforce development programs, better access to intellectual and financial capital, streamlined public-sector processes to help ensure the expansion of existing businesses, the launch of new entrepreneurial entities, and the recruitment of businesses to the region.
Q. How was the goal of 30,000 net new jobs established?
The Fresno MSA is projected to grow by 36,000 jobs from 2004-2008 by California's Employment Development Department based on historical performance of the region's economy. The RJI's goal is to create 30,000 additional, or "net new," jobs beyond the normal growth.
30,000 net new jobs are needed to bring the Fresno Metropolitan Statistical Area's (MSA) unemployment rate down to close to the state average. Therefore, the RJI leadership established 30,000 as the target number for new jobs.
Q. What is the history of the RJI?
The RJI resulted from the merger of two civic efforts to improve the overall conditions in the Fresno Region. One effort was led by Mayor Alan Autry's Council of Economic Advisors, who published a report in January 2003, "Meeting the Challenge." The report outlined a series of recommendations and strategies to help the City of Fresno advance despite the declining fiscal situation in Sacramento. One of the recommendations for sustaining the long-term health of the City was to "break the back of chronic, double-digit unemployment once and for all". Peter Weber chaired the "Meeting the Challenge" Task Force.
The other effort was led by the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative (CRI), a partnership between the Fresno Business Council and Fresno State's Office of Community and Economic Development, which was focused on creating "new economy" conditions in the Fresno Region in order to improve the area's per capita income to above the state average. The CRI had organized five task forces focused on the things most important in the new economy: (1) technology infrastructure, (2) land use and transportation planning, (3) preparation of knowledge workers, (4) innovation and entrepreneurship, and (5) effectiveness in the public and non-profit human services systems. The CRI was also active in the development and launch of the region's first industry cluster: water technology. Ken Newby chaired the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative Executive Committee.
Realizing their shared vision and complementary resources, leaders of the Mayor's Council of Economic Advisors and the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative joined forces in January 2003 to develop the Regional Jobs Initiative.
Q. What is an industry cluster?
The phrase "industry cluster" refers to the grouping of related industries that naturally develop in a given geographic region. The "cluster" includes the businesses that export goods and services from or across the region and all the businesses that support those primary, exporting businesses. It also includes industry sectors that need to be in close physical proximity to the markets being served, such as the tourism and logistics and distribution industries.
"Cluster-based" economic development involves targeting the industries that naturally exist in a local economy and focusing available resources on developing the things most needed to grow those industries, such as customized training programs, physical infrastructure requirements, and specialized research programs at local universities.
The RJI uses the term "industry cluster" to refer not only to related industry groupings but also to occupational clusters, such as "information processing", which includes jobs that span a wide range of industries that require information processing capabilities.
Q. What are the RJI's target industry clusters? How were they selected?
The RJI's target industry clusters include advanced logistics and distribution, construction, food processing, health care, information processing, innovative energy, manufacturing, tourism, and water technology.
Doug Henton of Collaborative Economics was retained to help analyze the region's economy and identify industries where comparative advantages either already existed or could be developed in order to meet the job creation goal. Henton, along with the RJI leadership, reviewed historical and projected industry data and conducted a series of industry focus groups involving hundreds of business owners from the Fresno Area in order to determine areas of economic opportunity in the region, which resulted in the list of target industry clusters.
Q. What is the geographic focus of the RJI?
The RJI is focused on supporting a group of industry clusters. By their nature, industry clusters are not based on geographic or political jurisdictions but on industry concentration. In some cases, the industry cluster is present primarily in the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area. In other cases, the industry cluster is Valley-wide and beyond. For purposes of expediency, the public bodies that were initially convened to support the RJI were the City of Fresno, City of Clovis and County of Fresno. However, the intent from the outset was that once the basic organizational process had been accomplished the sphere of the RJI would expand as appropriate. Indeed, since its launch, the RJI has begun to collaborate with a number of other cities in Fresno County and is partnering with other counties in the San Joaquin Valley to address issues and realize opportunities important to the region as a whole.
Q. Does the RJI have a Code of Conduct?
Yes, RJI leadership believes it's essential that anyone participating in the RJI place the interests of the community above their own and that there is a contract for communication and behavior to which all agree. That contract is stated as the Community Values of the Fresno Region.
Q. How is the RJI different from past efforts to create jobs in Fresno?
- The RJI is comprehensive and multi-sector.
It focuses on all elements of "regional competitiveness," including technology and physical infrastructure, governmental customer service, workforce development, increasing resources that support innovation, and the region's overall livability.
- The RJI is action oriented.
The RJI involves a 5-year commitment to implementation from public and private sector leaders. This is not a "strategic plan" awaiting implementation leadership. It is an implementation plan that included 40 specific initiatives when it was launched in January 2004, and which has now morphed into even more initiatives.
- The RJI is focused on "growing our own."
The RJI has focused first on providing a favorable environment for the expansion of businesses that are already in the region and on supporting new business start ups. Leaders of the RJI believe that recruitment of new businesses to the region will naturally result from the same favorable environment which promotes the growth and expansion of existing businesses and the launch of new ventures.
Q. How do I get involved?
- Attend an Industry Cluster Meeting.
If you are a business owner or business manager in one of the RJI's target industries (advanced logistics, construction, food processing, health care, information processing, innovative energy, manufacturing, tourism, or water technology), the best way to get involved is to attend the next industry cluster meeting. Meeting dates and information are available on the RJI calendar, and invitations are open to any industry member.
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Participate on a Task Force.
If you have expertise in any of the RJI task force areas (communication, physical infrastructure, technology infrastructure, livability, innovation, workforce development, or customer service), please e-mail us at inforji@fresnorji.org with
your contact information, area of interest, and a brief description of your expertise. Please note that participation on task forces may be restricted due to the sensitive nature of the task force areas. For example, some task forces have requested that vendors not be direct participants in order to avoid conflicts of interest, etc. Task force participation is determined by the RJI co-chairs and the RJI task force chairs.
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Attend RJI Updates.
Every six months, community meetings are held to update the public on progress and challenges to date. There is no charge to attend the community meetings, which are held at the Fresno Convention Center. If you would like to receive notice of the next RJI Community Meeting, please send your name, physical mailing address and e-mail address to inforji@fresnorji.org.
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Invest in Core Leadership.
In order to accelerate and scale the many initiatives that are transforming our community, we need to invest in more entrepreneurial steward leaders, those people with the skills, passion and commitment to cast a vision and inspire the best in all of us. If you would like to invest financial resources, make out a check to One by One Leadership with "RJI donation" in the memo field, and mail it to 1727 "L" Street,
Fresno, CA 93721. This is a 501-c-3 organization, and you may claim it as a charitable contribution for tax purposes.
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Get Engaged in Civic Life.
It is time for our region to take charge of its own destiny. To that end, our region is undergoing a fundamental transformation as an increasing number of organizations and individuals find ways to work together to tackle historically insolvable problems. There are many opportunities to help with the Regional Jobs Initiative or the many projects of the Collaborative Regional Initiative.
There are also numerous nonprofits and schools seeking assistance. To review opportunities for engagement check out www.volunteerfresno.org.
Q. How is the RJI organized?
The RJI is an at-will collaborative of a number of institutions, non-profits, private citizens and elected leaders in Fresno County. It is not a legal entity and has no formal jurisdiction or authority. However, two bodies have been formed to provide the leadership, support and accountability needed for successful implementation: the RJI Leadership Council and the RJI Implementation Task Force. The Leadership Council, which comprises elected leaders and heads of partner institutions, provides oversight and guidance. The Implementation Task Force, which comprises of the industry cluster leaders, community task force leaders, and representatives from partner agencies, is responsible for ongoing support and monitoring of the initiative.
The RJI leadership team that coordinates the activities of the Leadership Council and Implementation Task Force comprises Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson, Clovis Mayor Lynne Ashbeck, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, and two private sector leaders - Peter Weber and Ken Newby. Day-to-day operations are coordinated by Ashley Swearengin, Director of Fresno State's Office of Community and Economic Development. The Fresno Business Council, the City of Fresno, the Economic Development Corporation Serving Fresno County, the Fresno County Workforce Investment Board, and the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce are major stakeholders and contribute substantial staff time to the initiative.
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