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?
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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
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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
X = Original Participant
Participating
Organization
Economic Development Sphere
Responsibility Matrix - - Circa 2000
Innovation &
Entrepreneurship
Business
Retention &
Expansion
EDC
CVBI
Business
Attraction
Regional
Outreach
Regional
Branding
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chamber(s)
X
City of Fresno
X
X
City of Clovis
X
X
Fresno County
X
X
X
Madera County
X
X
X
Rural Cities &
Organizations
Provided by: Fresno Business Council –
Ken Newby
X
X = Original Participant
Red = New Participant or
Function
Participating
Organization
Industry
Cluster
Enhancement
EDC
X
FBC
X
Industry Cluster
Leaders
Economic Development Sphere
Responsibility Matrix - 2007
Innovation &
Entrepreneurship
Co-Lead
X
Lyles Center
X
Co-Lead
CVBI + WET
Incubators
X
Co-Lead
OCED-CSUF
Co-Lead
X
Business
Retention &
Expansion
Business
Attraction
Lead
Lead
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Fresno County
X
Madera County
Rural Cities &
Organizations
Educational
Institutions
X
X
Central Valley
Fund
PCV
X
X
X
X
Co-Lead
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
BDog Fund, etc.
X
SJV Partnership
X
ED Peer Group
X
X
X
City of Fresno
X
Co-Lead
X
X
WIB
Regional
Branding
X
X
X
Regional
Outreach
X
Chamber(s)
City of Clovis
Capital
Formation
Provided by: Fresno Business
Council – Ken Newby
X
X
X
X
X
X = Original Participant
Red = New participant or Function
Green = Proposed new role or
Function
Participating
Organization
Economic Development Sphere
Responsibility Matrix – Proposed
Provided by: Fresno Business
Council – Ken Newby
Industry
Cluster
Enhancement
Innovation &
Entrepreneurship
Business
Retention &
Expansion
Business
Attraction
Capital
Formation
Regional
Outreach
Regional
Branding
Inter-Sphere
Coordination
EDC
X
X
Lead
Lead
X
Co-Lead
Co-Lead
X
FBC
X
Industry Cluster
Leaders
Co-Lead
Co-Lead
X
X
X
Lyles Center
X
Co-Lead
X
X
Co-Lead
X
X
CVBI + WET &
Rural Incubators
X
Co-Lead
X
X
Co-Lead
X
X
OCED-CSUF
Co-Lead
X
Chamber(s)
X
X
X
City of Fresno
X
X
X
X
City of Clovis
X
X
X
X
Fresno County
X
X
X
Co-Lead
X
X
Madera County
X
X
X
X
X
X
Rural Cities &
Organizations
X
X
X
X
X
X
WIB
X
X
X
X
X
Educational
Institutions
X
X
X
X
X
Central Valley
Fund
X
X
X
PCV
X
X
BDog Fund, etc.
X
SJV Partnership
X
ED Peer Group
X
X
X
X
X
X
Co-Lead
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Co-Lead
Key Elements of a Prosperous &
Healthy Community
Economic Development:
•Industry Clusters
•Innovation
•Entrepreneurship
•Workforce Enhancement
•Govt. Processes
•Public Policy
•Bus. Retention & Attraction
•Regional Branding
Provided by: Fresno Business
Council – Ken Newby
Infrastructure Development:
(Hard & Soft infrastructure)
•Land Use
•Transportation – People & Goods
•Air Quality/Water
•Industrial Parks
•Sewer/Wastewater
•Green Spaces/Parks/Trails
•Workforce Housing
•Cultural Arts
Key Elements of a Prosperous &
Healthy Community
Economic Development:
•Industry Clusters
•Innovation
•Entrepreneurship
•Workforce Enhancement
•Govt. Processes
•Public Policy
•Bus. Retention & Attraction
•Regional Branding
Infrastructure Development:
(Hard & Soft Infrastructure)
•Land Use
•Transportation – People & Goods
•Air Quality/Water
•Industrial Parks
•Sewer/Wastewater
•Green Spaces/Parks/Trails
•Workforce Housing
•Cultural Arts
Human Development:
•Health/Welfare/Safety
•Education: Traditional/Vocational
•Multi-Dimensional Literacy
•Workforce Development
•Remediation of poverty Issues
•Access to Good Jobs &
a Positive Physical
Environment
Provided by: Fresno Business
Council – Ken Newby
Key Elements of a Prosperous &
Healthy Community
Coordinated
Leadership
Economic Development:
•Industry Clusters
•Innovation
•Entrepreneurship
•Workforce Enhancement
•Govt. Processes
•Public Policy
•Bus. Retention & Attraction
•Regional Branding
Effective
Political
Sector
Provided by: Fresno Business
Council – Ken Newby
Infrastructure Development:
(Hard & Soft Infrastructure)
•Land Use
•Transportation – People & Goods
•Air Quality/Water
•Industrial Parks
•Sewer/Wastewater
•Green Space/Parks/Trails
•Workforce Housing
•Cultural Arts
Human Development:
•Health/Welfare/Safety
Engaged
•Education: Traditional/Vocational
Institutions,
•Multi-Faceted Literacy
Citizens &
•Workforce Readiness
•Leadership Development
Philanthropy
•Remediation of poverty Issues
•Access to Good Jobs &
a Positive Physical
Environment
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
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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
johnw@csufresno.edu
www.FresnoRJI.org
(559) 278-2324