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About Sierra San Joaquin Jobs
Funded by the State of California, Sierra San Joaquin Jobs is a four-county initiative (Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings) working together to create a Regional Investment Plan. The plan will outline our vision, develop key strategies for target sectors, and identify necessary investments and policy changes needed to realize our vision while centering equity, good jobs, and environmental stewardship. Once the Regional Economic Development and Investment Plan is finalized, our region will be eligible for state funds to help implement priority projects.
The Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative represents all aspects of inclusive economic and community development in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. The coalition is as diverse as the region, yet we share the same vision:
To foster an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy that creates quality jobs and provides equitable economic access to all across the Sierra San Joaquin region.
Convening Team
Regional Convener
The Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) serves as both the regional convener and fiscal agent of the S2J2 Initiative planning process and provides support to local conveners and partners. CVCF also convenes the Regional Table.
Local Convener
Madera County
United Way of Fresno and Madera Counties convenes the Madera County Local Table
Kings/Tulare Counties
The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County convenes the Kings/Tulare Local Table
Fresno County
The Office of Community and Economic Development, Fresno State convenes the Fresno County Local Table (Rural)
Fresno DRIVE Initiative
The Central Valley Community Foundation convenes the Fresno DRIVE Local Table (Urban)
Partners
The Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative is supported by more than one hundred partners representing the education / workforce sector, including all workforce investment boards and community colleges; organized labor and worker organizations; business groups, including all four county economic development corporations; tribal entities; environmental organizations; local city and county governments; Fresno DRIVE initiative leaders; and numerous community-based organization partners. These partners make up our ‘Local Tables’ and ‘Regional Table’.
Governance Structure
Recognizing the geographic size, diversity, and complexity of the region and the need to balance power among stakeholders and across multiple jurisdictions, S2J2 offers a collaborative governance structure and decision-making process that allows for maximum input and inclusion at the local level. It then provides that local tables will collectively build the region’s four-county inclusive economic development plan, described below:
Seven Stakeholder Groups
Labor/Worker Centered Organizations
Employers, Business Associations, and Economic Development Organizations
Education, Workforce Development and Training
Local Governments
Tribal Entities
Environment and Environmental Justice
CBOs and Community Voices
Each Local Table has
seven Stakeholder Groups
Each
Local Table
Each Stakeholder Group has five Representatives
A total of 35 representatives participate in each Local Table
Four Local Tables
Four Local Tables organized an independent, inclusive processes to identify local needs and priorities, oversee community engagement, and support the collaborative governance structure.
Madera County
Local Table
Fresno County
Local Table
Kings / Tulare
Local Table
Fresno DRIVE Local Table
In the first year, the S2J2 Initiative focused on the Local Tables and their community engagement, research, and development of local priorities and strategies for creating an inclusive and sustainable economy.
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Once those local priorities were identified, representatives from each of the Local Tables formed the Regional Table.
Local Table
Local Table
Local Table
Local Table
The Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Regional Table
The Regional Table is made up of seven representatives from each of the local tables, for a total of 28 members.
Timeline
– Phase 1 –
Planning Phase
The Sierra San Joaquin region received $5 million to establish an inclusive regional economic development process, fueled by research, to inform economic development strategies and create regional economic development plans.
– Phase 2 –
Catalyst Program
The Sierra San Joaquin region was awarded $14 million to sustain inclusive regional economic development processes and bridge the gap between Planning Phase and Implementation Phase.
– Phase 3 –
Implementation
The California Jobs First Initiative will invest up to $268 million to regions across the state for ready-to-go projects that align with Regional Economic Development Plans, through rolling competitive grants between Winter 2024 through Fall 2026.
Economic Development Pilot Project
The Economic Development Pilot Projects Phase is not directly tied to the Planning and Implementation Phases. The Pilot invested in ready-to-go projects that align with regional investment initiative objectives to serve as demonstration projects for the Implementation Phase. In the Central San Joaquin Valley region, United Way of Fresno and Madera Counties was awarded $10 million for their Economic Development Pilot Project. To learn more about their project, please visit their website.
Tribal Funding Opportunity
The Tribal Funding Opportunity allocates up to $25 million to support Tribal-led economic development planning and project implementation between Fall 2024–Fall 2026. To learn more about the Tribal Funding Opportunity, please visit their website.
Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative Timeline
2022
2023
2024
Budget
Planning Phase
The S2J2 Initiative received $5 million to establish an inclusive regional economic development process, fueled by research, to inform economic development strategies and create the regional economic development and investment plan between January 2023 through September 2024.
Stakeholder Engagement
$2,550,000
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Participant stipends for stakeholders to help cover the cost of their time to participate and ensure their support of focused and consistent communication to the broader stakeholder groups they represent
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Local Convener funding to convene Fresno County, Madera County, and Kings/Tulare County Local Tables and support a community driven process
Transparent Meetings & Processes
$400,000
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Facilitation services that support Principles of Community Engagement such as community engagement “first and throughout” the planning process
-
Funding to support active engagement at meetings by providing materials in various languages, providing interpreters, transportation assistance, meals, meeting space, and any other materials or trainings as determined by stakeholders
Equitable Engagement & Research
$1,550,000
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Grassroot organization-led equitable resident engagement
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Research support for baseline assessment (economic development, labor market analysis, public health, climate and environmental analysis, economic frameworks, industry clusters, and state policy) and strategy development
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Technical expertise throughout planning process for the convener team and for Community Engagement Partners
Grant Administration
-
Funding for grant administration and compliance
$500,000
Catalyst Program
The S2J2 Initiative was awarded $14 million to sustain inclusive regional economic development processes and bridge the gap between Planning Phase and Implementation Phase between May 2024 through September 2026.
*Pending final approval by State funder.
Regional Convener
$2,000,000
-
Participant stipends for stakeholders
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Local Convener funding to support a community driven process
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Research
-
Community Engagement
-
Tribal Liaison
Regional Workgroups
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Expertise and regional planning support across S2J2’s priority industry clusters, essential infrastructure, and community investment focus areas
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Catalog and develop industry cluster projects
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Identify and apply for various funding sources
$4,500,000
Catalyst Projects
$6,000,000
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Local and regional Catalyst projects that align with S2J2’s regional principles and priority industry clusters, essential infrastructure, and community investment focus areas
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Technical assistance/project administration support
Grant Administration
-
Funding for grant administration and compliance
$1,500,000
Engagement
Ensuring an inclusive process that centers disinvested community and nontraditional voices is key to the S2J2 process. With input gathered at local kick-off meetings, focused stakeholder outreach, and hundreds of follow-up discussions with community leaders, the S2J2 initiative built its Collaborative Governance Structure and overall Outreach and Engagement plan.
The plan includes its own “Principles of Community Engagement” such as:
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Community engagement “first and throughout” the planning process
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Resourcing trusted community partners to lead resident engagement
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Adopting the International Association for Public Participation’s “Transformative Community Engagement” framework pictured below
