Partnership awards $2.5 million in Seed Grants — $5 million sought to fund other proposals

On March 29 the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board awarded 15 Seed Grants – totaling $2.5 million – to advance the work of the Partnership in turning around the region and improving the economy and quality of life for Valley residents.

“We are pleased with the innovation and level of collaboration that these Seed Grants represent, and we are confident they will jumpstart major work in the region, and bring us closer to achieving the Partnership’s objectives,” said Sunne Wright McPeak, Seed Grant review committee chair and Partnership board member.

A total of 34 proposals – representing $7.5 million worth of projects – were submitted to the Partnership’s Seed Grant Review Committee. The Partnership will pursue other funding sources for the proposals that did not receive a grant and for those that received partial funding.

Governor Schwarzenegger and the state Legislature set aside $2.5 million for the Seed Grants. The Partnership received 106 concept proposals for the Seed Grants, and the board invited 36 organizations to submit full applications, of which 35 organizations submitted.

“We are disappointed we could not fund all of the proposals because they show great promise and value for our Valley,” said Connie Conway, Partnership Board chair. “We are committed to working with federal, state and foundation partners to find other funding sources and opportunities.”

The board awarded Seed Grants for the following projects:

• Advanced Communications Services
• San Joaquin Valley eHealth Network Project, UC Merced, School of Natural Science ($225,000)
• Air Quality
• Air Quality Education in Environmental Justice Areas, The Maddy Institute ($225,000) Economic Development
• Central California Marketing and Cluster Development, CA Central Valley Economic Develop. Corp. ($225,000)
• Building Angel Investment & Entrepreneurship, Golden Capital Network/Pacific Community Ventures ($225,000)
• San Joaquin Valley Tourism, Central Valley Tourism Association ($75,000 challenge grant)
• Energy
• Growing Clean Energy Capacity in the SJV, Kings River Conservation District ($125,000)
• Health and Human Services
• Methamphetamine Recovery, Central California Social Welfare Evaluation, Research & Training Center ($125,000)
• SJV Health Enterprise Zone Project, Central Valley Health Policy Institute ($125,000)
• Higher Education and Workforce Development
• Developing a College-Counseling Access Center, Central Valley Higher Education Consortium ($200,000)
• K-12 Education
• English Learner Leadership & Mentoring Academy, Fresno County Office of Education ($250,000)
• Land Use, Ag & Housing
• Farmland Conservation Model Program, Fresno COG, American Farmland Trust ($200,000)
• Integrating Land and Water Solutions in Tulare Lake Basin, Tulare Basin Wildlife Partners ($125,000)
• Transportation
• Metro Rural Loop Corridor Preservation Feasibility Study, City of Fresno Planning & Development Dept. ($125,000)
• Water
• SJV Regional Water Plans Integration & Recycled Water Usage, California Water Institute ($150,000)
• Sowing Seeds for Community Health, Self-Help Enterprises ($100,000)

Seed Grants taking root: UC Merced medical school gets a boost

Starting a telemedicine network became a reality for University of California, Merced (UC Merced) when it was awarded a $225,000 Seed Grant. Telemedicine – videoconferencing between patient and doctor – improves access to health care in the underserved region and provides a fundamental building block for a medical school in the Valley.

“We are extremely grateful to Gov. Schwarzenegger, the Legislature and the Partnership board members for investing in the San Joaquin Valley,” said UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang. “The Valley represents California’s future and through this unique collaborative project, UC Merced is taking action now to ensure the health and well being of this great state and our rapidly growing and exceptionally diverse region for years to come.”

Four Valley eHealth Centers, along with a network hub at UC Merced, will be established as a result of the “San Joaquin Valley eHealth Network Project” Each eHealth Center will be equipped to provide patient services by videoconference with the patient’s health care providers. The centers also will be used to provide training for physicians, medical students and allied health professionals throughout the region.

The following organizations have expressed interest in partnering with UC Merced to develop the eHealth Center Network: University of California, Davis; University of California, San Francisco, Fresno Medical Education Program; Central Valley Health Network; California Emerging Technology Fund; California Telemedicine and eHealth Center; AT&T; Great Valley Center; and United Cerebral Palsy of San Joaquin, Calaveras and Amador counties.

Partnership Supports education bill to create flexibility in improving student performance

The Partnership Board voted on March 29 to support AB1403, introduced by Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) to establish the San Joaquin Valley School District Improvement Pilot Program – a five-year pilot for the eight counties in the region.

“Quality public education is critical to the growth of the San Joaquin Valley,” Arambula said at the March 29 Partnership board meeting. “Too many of our children are not graduating, or, if so, they are not coming out prepared for college.”

AB 1403 encourages school districts and the respective county superintendent to develop a district improvement plan that allows for greater flexibility in redirecting resources to implement educational strategies that will improve the academic achievement of low-performing students.

At the district’s request, a county superintendent could recommend the state board waive a statute or regulation that obstructs the district’s ability to implement those educational strategies. AB 1403 mirrors existing school district accountability standards, varying only by shifting the responsibility for making recommendations regarding corrective action from the state superintendent to the county superintendent.

“This could be the bill that not just Fresno County, but California, looks back on as the first step that turned it around,” said Alan Autry, mayor of Fresno and Partnership board member.

A letter in support of the legislation was sent to Assemblyman Gene Mullin, chair of the Committee on Education, which has primary jurisdiction over the bill.

Legislative Update:
Partnership, Valley state and federal delegation staff align efforts

The Partnership held a Valley state delegation-capitol strategy staff session on March 22 with a number of work group consultants and senior legislative staffers. We thank staffers for participating and discussing the ways in which we both can better integrate our work on behalf of Valley constituents.

The Federal Interagency Task Force for the San Joaquin Valley and the Partnership hosted a Valley, state and federal delegation staff meeting on Friday, March 23. This was the first meeting partnering with the Interagency Task Force to provide updates to both federal and state legislative staff, and engage them on ways that can best support one another. The group decided the meetings should be on a monthly basis, rotate locations around the Valley, and include all legislative staffers interested in attending.

For more information, contact Katie Stevens at kstevens@csufresno.edu.

Meet the Board:
Bigelow is 'dialed' in to needs of San Joaquin Valley

Madera County Board of Supervisor Frank Bigelow keeps his family traditions alive by raising champion cattle and sheep, leading the Ponderosa Telephone Company, and volunteering as a firefighter.

“For me, it’s about putting back into our communities; I have always been taught to give back and believe that others should also do this for the betterment of our communities,” Bigelow said.

Bigelow was appointed to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board in January 2007. He is a lifelong Madera County resident where his ancestors settled in the late 1800s.

His great-great grandfather Harmon started the Ponderosa Telephone Company with two wires strung along trees so that his wife, Leota, could talk to her friend a half-mile away. When the U.S. Forest Service asked him to take over its phones in 1908, the Ponderosa Telephone Company was officially born.

Bigelow understands the value of collaboration – he currently serves as president of the California State Association of Counties and has spearheaded collaboration with other counties to address the water interests of the San Joaquin River.

“The world isn’t perfect, but we can reach a reasonable conclusion with reasonable information – maybe we can break down some barriers and get some meaningful work done,” he said.

In the Spotlight:
Sen. Feinstein goes to bat for Valley's clean air

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) went to bat for the Central Valley on March 13, utilizing her assignment as chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment. She called for a hearing and questioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its commitment to bringing the Valley into clean air attainment.

Sen. Feinstein directed her requests to administrator Stephen Johnson and acting assistant administrator Bill Behrum concerning EPA’s FY08 budget request that limits allocation of funds to help this region reduce a major source of pollutants contributed by mobile sources, highlighting the Valley’s geography illustrating its unique challenges.

“The federal government [needs] to be a better partner on clean diesel programs. While EPA is moving forward with regulations to reduce further diesel emissions, we have to deal with the 11 million diesel engines that are polluting our air today. So this is a challenge that could cost billions of dollars,” Feinstein said.

“It's not fair for the states to have to pick up the tab on this, so I hope the federal government can step up to the plate and provide more funding.”

At the end of her inquiry, the senator received confirmation from Administrator Johnson that EPA will work with her on targeting a portion of the Clean Diesel Grant funding towards those non-attainment areas that are the “most needy.”

You can watch the hearing or read the transcript at the following link: http://www.sjvpartnership.org/announcements/FeinsteinEPAhearing.html

Sen. Feinstein is serving her third term. She has assumed the chairmanship of the Rules and Administration Committee and serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. She also is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and currently serves as the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Interior Department and Related Agencies. Feinstein is a member of the Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Defense; Energy & Water; and Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

Dates to know

April 23

Air Quality Work Group
10 a.m. to noon
CSUF Foundation Board Room
4910 N. Chestnut Ave., Fresno
Contact: Mark Keppler, mkeppler@csufresno.edu

April 23

Education Forum featuring U.S. Secretary of Education's Regional
Representative Christopher Wright
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
West Hills Community College District, Lemmore
Tri-College Conference Center
555 College Ave., Lemoore
Contact: Manjit Atwal, manjitm@csufresno.edu

April 25

Federal Interagency Task Force/Partnership Joint Meeting
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
UC Merced, Kolligian Library
Chancellor's Conference Room, #232
Contact: Rollie Smith, rollie.smith@hud.gov

May 4

Partnership Board Meeting
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kern Community College District Office, Room 101A
2100 Chester Ave., Bakersfield
Contact: Ashley Swearengin, ashleys@csufresno.edu

May 18

Higher Education and Workforce Development Work Group Meeting
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location TBD
Contact: Manjit Atwal, manjitm@csufresno.edu