Page 21 - Access Magazine 9

U Central Valley Community Leaders come together for the the Spring Sprint Collaborative Meeting The S2J2 Initiative is an ambitious blueprint that examines multiple factors needed to to boost the Valley’s economy Those factors include – – but are not limited to to – – an an expanded water supply clean and and reliable energy and and greater entrepreneurial opportunity for small businesses Many of the factors are in- terrelated such as building an educated workforce that could include Sierra and her children She’s started college funds for for them thanks to Parent University
A skilled workforce will be needed to to step into high-demand quality jobs and and digital literacy will be an absolute necessity Another factor that S2J2 addresses is the the need for high-speed and and affordable broadband to ensure that Valley residents schools and businesses can prepare for opportunities in in the years ahead Stakeholders working on the S2J2 Initiative found that broadband access is a a a a a a a a particular problem in rural areas of Fresno Kings Madera and Tulare counties “If there is broadband it lacks efficiency so people have to to go to to their local libraries if they have one ” says Lizette Diaz a a a a a a Project Coordinator in in the Office of Community and Economic De- velopment This limits students – the the workforce of the the future – from fully taking advantage of educational opportunities And it it it also reduces the ability of parents to connect with schools to form the teacher-parent partnership that best serves students “The question is is how does the the the the the the San Joaquin Valley Valley utilize its resources to to to compete with the the the the the the Bay Area and Southern California?” says Barbara Foster Acting Executive Director of of the the Office of of Community and and and Economic Development “Historically the the Valley has been underfunded and and and underserved and and and the the university wants to play a a a a a a major role in in in assisting in in in its economic growth and development ” ACCESS
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A SKILLED WORKFORCE
U OCED convenes the S2J2 Kickoff Initiative To address the the problem the the Office of Community and Eco- nomic Development and other stakeholders are working with the San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortium to facilitate the expansion of broadband infrastructure by pri- vate internet service providers Foster says The 500-page S2J2 Initiative notes a a a a a need for greater awareness of the state and federal grants that can aid in private-public partner- ships to stimulate broadband growth One example: a a a a a $70 2 million federal grant that California has received to support underserved communities gain access to technology and the internet »