The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is an unprecedented public-private partnership sharply focused on improving the region’s economic vitality and quality of live for the 3.9 million residents who call the San Joaquin Valley home.  Founded in June 2005 by Governor Schwarzenegger with Executive Order S-05-05, the Partnership is an effort to address the unique challenges facing the Valley as well as the region’s importance to California. Though the Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, the economic well-being of Valley residents has trailed behind state and national averages; its poor air quality has repeatedly failed to meet EPA standards.  Despite these challenges, the Valley historically was neglected by both state and federal leaders, receiving substantially less per capita funding than the averages for California and the United States.
The creation of the Partnership was designed to address the region’s challenges while establishing a solid framework for the future. Included in Executive Order S-05-05 was a request by Governor Schwarzenegger for the new Partnership to submit a Strategic Action Proposal that provided recommendations to improve the economic condition of the Valley.  Partnership activities are led by a diverse Board of Directors.  All Partnership Board Members are appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  Directors serve without compensation. Directors include members of the Governor’s cabinet, representatives of local government and business leaders from a wide range of industries from each county in the San Joaquin Valley.