Engaging Your Region John D. Welty President California State University, Fresno October 2009

Overview of Presentation  The University as a Regional Change Agent  San Joaquin Valley: The Regional Context  Evolution of Fresno State’s Role as a Regional Change Agent  University-Led Collaboratives and Partnerships  Lessons Learned

The University as a “Regional Change Agent”  Commonly accepted university roles:  Pursuit and preservation of knowledge  Academic training and intellectual development  Workforce preparation  Community service  Technology development, commercialization and regional economic driver…  But “regional change agent”? What?!

California’s San Joaquin Valley

If the San Joaquin Valley was a State, it would have….  A population greater than 23 states  A land area greater than 10 states  More revenue from agriculture than every other state  More world-class national parks than every other state  A higher population growth rate than all but 3 states

….but it would also have:  The highest rate of unemployment;  The highest percentage of people living below the poverty line;  The lowest per capita income;  The worst air quality;  The poorest access to health care; and  A federal direct expenditure rate that is 30% lower than the rest of the U.S. ($4,736 per capita in the Valley vs. $6,814 U.S. average; Congressional Research Service)

What is to be done about this situation?  High unemployment  High poverty  Lowest per capita income  Worst air quality  Poorest access to health care  History of neglect from state and federal government

Evolution of Fresno State’s Role as a “Regional Change Agent”  University commitment to improving the region by President Welty – 1993  Established economic reporting institute, “Central California Futures Institute”  Impact of the “new economy” – shift to “action oriented” community partnerships  Partnership with the water technology industry – launch of first university-based “industry cluster” in April 2001  University partnership with the Fresno Business Council in September 2000 to drive “new economy” initiatives

Fresno Region Community Values  Stewardship  Boundary crossing and collaboration  Commitment to outcomes  “Art of the Possible” Thinking  Fact-based decision making  Truth telling  Power parity  Commitment to resolving conflict  Asset-based approach  Conflict of interest

Evolution of Fresno State’s Role as a “Regional Change Agent”  “Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative” launched September 2001 to “Improve the region’s competitiveness in the knowledge-based economy”  CRI task forces: Innovative Culture, Preparation of Knowledge Workers, Technology Infrastructure, Human Investment, Collaborative Land Use and Transportation Planning  January 2004 – Launch of the Regional Jobs Initiative – Based on Industry Clusters  January 2005 – Report on Fresno Unified School District  September 2005 – Launch of the Governor’s Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley

Additional University-Led Collaboratives  Economic Development/Industry Partnerships  Innovation and entrepreneurship center  Water tech center  Food processing center (in development)  Advanced manufacturing center (in development)  Supply chain management center (in development)  Construction industry “center of excellence” (in development)  Numerous agri-business centers  General small business support programs

Economic Development Sphere Responsibility Matrix - - Circa 2000 Participating Organization Innovation & Entrepreneurship Business Retention & Expansion Business Attraction Regional Outreach Regional Branding EDCXXX CVBI X Chamber(s) XXX City of Fresno XX City of Clovis XX Fresno County XXX Madera County XXX Rural Cities & Organizations X X = Original Participant Provided by: Fresno Business Council – Ken Newby

Economic Development Sphere Responsibility Matrix Participating Organization Industry Cluster Enhancement Innovation & Entrepreneurship Business Retention & Expansion Business Attraction Capital Formation Regional Outreach Regional Branding EDCXLead Co-LeadX FBC X Industry Cluster Leaders Co-LeadXX Lyles Center XCo-LeadXXX CVBI + WET Incubators XCo-LeadXXXX OCED-CSUF Co-LeadXX Chamber(s) XXXX City of Fresno XX City of Clovis XXX Fresno County XXCo-LeadX Madera County XXXX Rural Cities & Organizations XXXX WIB XXXX Educational Institutions XXXXX Central Valley Fund XXX PCV XXX BDog Fund, etc. X SJV Partnership XXXX ED Peer Group XXX X = Original Participant Red = New Participant or Function Provided by: Fresno Business Council – Ken Newby

Economic Development Sphere Responsibility Matrix – Proposed Participating Organization Industry Cluster Enhancement Innovation & Entrepreneurship Business Retention & Expansion Business Attraction Capital Formation Regional Outreach Regional Branding Inter-Sphere Coordination EDCXXLead XCo-Lead X FBC XCo-Lead Industry Cluster Leaders Co-LeadXXXX Lyles Center XCo-LeadXX XX CVBI + WET & Rural Incubators XCo-LeadXX XX OCED-CSUF Co-LeadXXX Chamber(s) XXXXCo-LeadX City of Fresno XXXX City of Clovis XXXX Fresno County XXXCo-LeadXX Madera County XXXXXX Rural Cities & Organizations XXXXXX WIB XXXXX Educational Institutions XXXXXX Central Valley Fund XXXX PCV XXX BDog Fund, etc. XX SJV Partnership XXXXX ED Peer Group XXXCo-Lead X = Original Participant Red = New participant or Function Green = Proposed new role or Function Provided by: Fresno Business Council – Ken Newby

Additional University-Led Collaboratives  Health and Human Services – Health Policy Institute  Education – Central Valley Education Leadership Institute (CVELI) and nearly a dozen additional programs  Arts and Culture – Cultural Heritage Institute and numerous performing arts programs  Public Policy and Civic Leadership – Maddy Institute  Community Service and Civic Engagement - Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning

Lessons Learned  Data - Gather data to describe your region, use of consultants  Strategic Plan – Commit to engagement (University)  Money – Use an entrepreneurial, boot-strap approach (focus on serving the region first, building the institution second) -- Public Support  Politics – Avoid the “political fray” with the Community Values of the Fresno Region  Leadership – Starts at the top  Organization – Include the right combination of executive staff and faculty involvement  Coordination – Work on improving campus coordination continuously through efforts like Making Place Matter and a strategic planning process  Work – Is messy  Persistence – Is necessary  Thought Leaders – Need to articulate direction  Building Trust Relationships – Is important  Quality, Stable Leadership – Is important for major institutions

Contact John D. Welty (559)