MEATing the Moment: Valley Vision Attends 3rd Regenerative Meat Summit
By Grace Kaufman & Ethan Mermell
On November 18th, Trish Kelly, Grace Kaufman, and Ethan Mermell of Valley Vision’s Food and Agriculture team attended the 3rd California Regional Regenerative Meat Event hosted by Roots of Change, UC Davis Institute of the Environment, and IC-FOODS, in collaboration with Mulvaney’s B&L and Cream Co. This event was a celebration of three-years of USDA-funded work to develop high-value regional meat supply chains in Northern California. As the lead for coordination and communication for USDA’s Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Valley Vision has participated in this effort to learn about supply chain and market challenges and opportunities for regenerative ranchers in California and support the project through a variety of ways. This includes facilitating connections with several of our food and agriculture partners who work across the region and throughout the state; sharing information about the resources of the Center and the state-funded California Jobs First Initiative which Valley Vision manages for the region – We Prosper Together; and coordinating on institutional procurement activities led by the University of California and the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
The event kicked off with a panel discussion about the launch of the University of California Market, emphasizing the outcomes of launching system-wide purchasing of regional and regenerative meat for the UC system’s schools and hospitals. Marilyn Biscotti, UC Office of President; Clifford Pollard, Cream Co Meats, and Kathy Webster, TomKat Ranch and Beef2Institution Collaborative spoke on their experiences procuring regenerative meat in University and K-12 school districts. Major barriers include long-term contracts to meet demand of conventional food suppliers, processing and aggregation, as well as market channels for whole animal usage. As an aggregation and distribution hub for ranchers throughout the state, Cream Co Meats provides the “missing middle” in supply chain infrastructure for institutional procurement. Cream Co Meats has purchased 1.3 million pounds of regenerative, West Coast meat from ranchers in the past year, and plans to procure an additional 30 percent annually, serving as an aggregator for resale to institutions. The panel ended with an exciting announcement – starting in 2025, the University of California will purchase 400,000 pounds of regenerative meat from Cream Co Meats.
Following a delicious lunch of local produce and regenerative meat from PT Ranch, Sarah Keiser, Wild Oat Hollow, Jim Kleinschmit, Other Half Processing and Growing GRASS, Nick Anicich, CDFA Farm to School, and Steve Schwartz, Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative, spoke of new market opportunities for regenerative growers. Steve Schwartz’s presentation highlighted new policies such as AB 888 that support on-farm harvesting for cultural practices. Nick shared a list of CDFA’s funding opportunities and encouraged ranchers to get involved in farm to school and institutional procurement. Sarah discussed the market opportunities, and ecosystem services that cows, sheep, and goats provide through fire management grazing. Jim discussed new market opportunities for ranchers, such as regenerative leather products.
IC Foods then presented a demo on their Regional Regenerative Meat Resource Portal which provides a directory of the regional regenerative meat community, such as contact information and resources on markets and opportunities.
The last panel of the event focused on remaining challenges and solutions for regenerative meat. This panel’s speakers, Michael Delbar, CA Rangeland Trust and Loren Poncia, Stemple Creek Ranch discussed marketing and how the community’s awareness of regeneratively grown meat is growing. Challenges discussed included the dwindling amount of processors and the need to increase producer awareness of available grants, as economic feasibility persists as a challenge across the board faced by ranchers. It is important for these businesses to be viable given that regenerative grazing differs from conventional meat production through practices that improve soil structure and build soil organic matter, leading to carbon sequestration.
Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, discussed a broad range of funding opportunities from USDA and new initiatives that support small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers, such as the USDA Regional Food Business Centers- 12 multi-state centers across the country providing new resources to support farmers, ranchers and food producers and more resilient regional food systems. As part of this effort, USDA has hired 40 fellows to support food system transformation, including programs to support regenerative agriculture. Jenny noted that supply chain infrastructure such as processing facilities are a major challenge for small to mid sized ranchers. As part of Valley Vision’s role in the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, we actively share information about upcoming funding opportunities and resources for supply chain infrastructure and new market channels, and the Center’s network of partners provide capacity building support to access these resources. We also include the Regional Regenerative Meat Portal in Center resources.
The event ended with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, who provided an optimistic and forward-looking view of regenerative agriculture in California. Secretary Ross discussed the future of regenerative agriculture, which planted the seed for creative networking discussions that were paired with regenerative meats, including goat from Neuman Family Ranch, and local, seasonal produce prepared by Chef Mulvaney and staff.
To learn more about Roots Of Change and the regenerative meat project, visit: https://www.rootsofchange.org/projects/transformation-of-californias-meat-processing-capacity/
To learn more about the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, visit www.swfoodbiz.org and sign up for the newsletter here: http://bit.ly/SWRFBC-Newsletter
Community Innovator, We Prosper Together, Shares Strategies Primed to Increase Economic Growth in the Capital Region
The Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy charts a bold path to a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future
SACRAMENTO, CA — October 28, 2024 — We Prosper Together unveiled its Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy, a community-driven framework providing the blueprint for a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy for the Capital Region. This strategic plan—the result of a two-year-long collaboration—identifies key priorities that will shape future investments, including those supported by We Prosper Together through California’s Regional Investment Initiative.
“The completion of We Prosper Together’s Regional Plan is another step towards building an equitable and sustainable regional economy,” said Evan Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Valley Vision. “Shaped by economic research and input from communities across our region, this economic framework will create more quality jobs by helping to move innovative ideas to fruition, bring projects to life, and accelerate the region toward a future where all families can thrive.”
The Regional Plan outlines actionable strategies to achieve more high-quality jobs, lower barriers to access, and foster more equitable outcomes for local families. The plan identifies two primary strategies:
- Target Sector Strategies: Strategies focusing on investments in four high-growth sectors with the greatest potential for quality job creation. These sectors include Business Services, Precision Manufacturing, Working Lands, and Research & Development.
- Economic Mobility Strategies: Approaches connecting disinvested communities with existing high-quality job opportunities ensuring future economic growth results in equitable outcomes for the region’s residents. These approaches include workforce development, outreach and awareness, transportation, childcare, and housing.
Developed through robust community feedback, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and comprehensive research conducted by Brookings Institute-affiliated Cities GPS, the Regional Plan takes into account the distinct needs, strengths, and opportunities across the region to create a collective vision for the future.
“The Regional Plan not only exemplifies the strength and opportunity of cross-regional collaboration but also sets us up to make targeted investments that can transform our region,” said James Corless, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. “Only by coming together can we create a local economy that works for everyone and ensures all have access to the resources they need to prosper.”
The Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy serves as a unifying roadmap cultivating a resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy empowering all local residents. The Regional Plan builds upon July 2023’s Capital Region Economic Assessment, a holistic assessment of the Capital Region’s economic, climate, and public health as part of the California Jobs First program. The Regional Plan concludes a two-year planning phase that included establishing We Prosper Together’s Collaborative, extensive community engagement, and the development of a shared regional strategy. We Prosper Together will now transition from planning to implementation, leveraging existing strategies and subregional efforts to drive progress.
The full Regional Plan can be found at https://www.weprospertogether.org/our-regional-plan.
The Global Shapers Sacramento Hub Aims to Erase Millions of Dollars in Medical Debt Through “Shred the Debt” Campaign
This Youth-led Effort Aims to Eliminate Medical Debt for Thousands of Residents in the Greater Sacramento Region for Pennies on the Dollar
Sacramento, California November 4th – Today, The Global Shapers Sacramento Hub announces the launch of Shred the Debt, a project aimed at erasing medical debt across the Greater Sacramento Region. Through this initiative, the Global Shapers Sacramento Hub aims to purchase and eliminate millions of dollars in medical debt, focusing on those disproportionately burdened by medical debt.
“Our goal is to alleviate some of the financial stress that medical debt imposes on our neighbors,” said Gustavo Garcia, Curator of the Global Shapers Sacramento Hub. “Through Shred the Debt, we’re not just erasing numbers on a balance sheet—we’re giving people a fresh start and lifting a heavy burden that affects health, families, and futures. We have an ambitious goal to buy a medical debt portfolio worth $3.7 million, and are confident that our region will come together to tackle this.”
Shred the Debt is made possible through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, which specializes in purchasing medical debt at a fraction of its original cost. Through this partnership, a donation of just $1 has the power to erase over $200 of medical debt, amplifying the impact of each contribution.
The Global Shapers Sacramento Hub will be collecting donations through the middle of February, and will match the first $500 donated – eliminating over $100,000 worth of medical debt for our neighbors, families, and communities in the Greater Sacramento Region. For more information, and to sponsor our efforts, please contact David Sievers at sacramento@globalshapers.org.
For more information on how our project works or to make a donation, please visit our donation page.
Valley Vision has been fiscal agent for the Global Shapers – Sacramento Hub for several years. Through this formal partnership, the Sacramento Hub has access to a high-performing and trusted local nonprofit that manages its finances and records, keeping things running smoothly. For Valley Vision, the Global Shapers bring a unique connection to the global community not found in other young leaders groups, which further boosts VV’s toolset in advancing the livability of the Sacramento region.
Valley Vision Helps Showcase Sacramento As Co-Host of California Economic Summit
Valley Vision helped co-host this year’s California Economic Summit, organized by California Forward and held for the first time in Sacramento since 2016. Held October 8-10, 2024, the latest iteration of the annual Summit proved to be an incredible showcase for the Sacramento region’s leadership on inclusive economic development, workforce, innovation, and more.
Valley Vision organized a set of regional tours on the first day of the Summit, which gave participants an on-the-ground perspective of how local communities are tackling some of our biggest economic and environmental challenges. By showcasing everything from sustainable food systems to novel workforce training programs, these tours highlighted the solutions that are helping to build a more resilient, inclusive future for California. See below for photos highlighting the tours:
The welcome reception followed the tours, and served as a kickoff for both the California Economic Summit and the Growth Factory’s GFX Summit. In addition to showcasing our region’s topline facility for advancing clean mobility, attendees could taste several gourmet foods created with plant-based, lab grown meat alternatives. Innovative!
The main days of the Summit (October 9 and 10) featured plenary sessions, action-packed workshops, networking events, and more. See below for a few highlights:
Finally, the Summit ended with a “handoff” from Valley Vision’s Evan Schmidt to leaders in Stockton, California, which is hosting next year’s Summit the week of October 20th, 2025. We wish Stockton the best and look forward to learning how they are building a vibrant economy. Subscribe to California Forward’s email newsletter for more updates! Thank you to California Forward, its staff, and partners for a fantastic showcase of Sacramento.
Adrian Rehn is a Senior Project Manager overseeing air quality and environmental projects as well as Valley Vision’s communications.
Valley Vision Takes On Longstanding Regional Climate Collaborative
We are thrilled to announce that the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRC) has officially transitioned from CivicWell to Valley Vision. CRC was established in 2014 to improve collaboration and coordination between government, business, and community as it relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Valley Vision joined the Collaborative in 2015 and has had leadership roles in the Collaborative since.
This transition marks a new and exciting chapter for CRC, as Valley Vision is already working to advance climate resilience and collaboration in the greater Sacramento region through several programs such as the Cleaner Air Partnership and We Prosper Together, a California Jobs First Initiative.
As CRC’s new home, Valley Vision will continue to facilitate regional conversations to improve coordination and take action on climate adaptation and mitigation. The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative has long been a crucial platform for bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups, to address climate challenges facing the region, such as warming air and water temperatures, risk of wildfire, more extreme heat waves, variable precipitation and seasonal shifts, and loss of ecosystem habitat, to name a few. Now, with Valley Vision’s leadership, we are positioned to build on these efforts and bring even greater capacity to support regional resilience and collaboration.
We invite Valley Vision’s partners to learn more about the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative and consider joining the Collaborative as a member. Whether you are a business leader, government agency, academic institution, or community organization, your participation will help strengthen our collective ability to build a climate-resilient future for all.
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
To kick off this new chapter, we’re excited to host/cohost a series of events designed to engage our community and provide opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration.
November 20th, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Biomass Workshop, Folsom Community Center
- Join for an in-depth workshop focused on the role of biomass in climate resilience. This event is in collaboration with the Cleaner Air Partnership, the Los Rios Community College District, and CRC. With over 100 attendees expected, this workshop will establish a shared understanding of biomass utilization, explore the future of forest management and agricultural careers in our region, and mobilize leaders and decision-makers for action. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with regional experts, researchers, and policymakers. Registration link.
December 12, 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM – CRC Members-Only Meeting, Sierra 2 Center – 2791 24th Street, Sacramento CA 95818 (Room 10)
- This meeting, exclusively for CRC members, will feature presentations on the state of climate adaptation in the Capital Region. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions, identify collaboration opportunities, and explore how CRC can better support members’ efforts in addressing climate challenges. If you are already a member, this is your chance to help shape the future of climate action in the region. If not, consider joining to be part of this important conversation! Registration link
Join the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative
There has never been a more critical time to take action on climate resilience. CRC is a diverse and growing collaborative, and with Valley Vision’s leadership, we are ready to take CRC’s impact to the next level. We invite you to join us as a member and be part of the solution as we work together to create a more climate-resilient Capital Region.
To learn more about membership opportunities, visit https://climatereadiness.info/about-us/join-the-collaborative or contact Grace.Kaufman@valleyvision.org.
Investments Towards Equity: Supporting Device Access and Digital Literacy with Leataata Floyd Elementary School
Valley Vision, joined by community partners, announced a $50,000 digital equity grant award from AT&T that is being used for support device distribution and training. The AT&T Neighborhood Transformation Grant is supporting digital literacy and access to new computers for unserved and underserved residents of two public housing projects in the city of Sacramento, Marina Vista and Alder Grove.
Additionally, the grant is supporting the development of a Community Resource Center, with access to devices for families and a laptop lending program, to be managed by Leataata Floyd Elementary School. The Community Resource Center will feature digital literacy training provided by community partners.
As part of the grant, Valley Vision acquired 133 new laptop devices through partnership a with Human I-T. The next step for the project, led by Leataata Floyd Elementary and supported by Valley Vision and the Sacramento Housing and Development Agency, includes conducting a community needs survey, launching the Resource Center, and hosting the laptop distribution event.
Supporting Leataata Floyd Elementary School
The AT&T grant builds upon the investment of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), to implement the School2Home project, initiated in 2015, at Leataata Floyd Elementary School, with the support of Valley Vision.
As the first elementary school in the state to join the program, School2Home helped to provide the infrastructure and support services needed to increase both student achievement and family success, including chromebooks for every student to use in school and at home; enhanced teacher professional development and training on integration of technology into instruction; increased parent engagement; and student Tech Expert Development. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for affordable high speed internet access at home, along with more devices for families.
Community Partners
Valley Vision is thankful for the support of our partners from the Office of Representative Doris Matsui, city of Sacramento Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, and the Food Literacy Center, in celebrating the launch of the AT&T project grant award.
Event recap – Leading With Equity: Tribal Food Sovereignty & Inclusive Engagement
On July 17th, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center hosted an informative webinar titled “Leading With Equity: Tribal Food Sovereignty & Inclusive Engagement.” This event featured Center partners, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and Local First Arizona. Speakers Kimber Lanning and Rafael F. Tapia, Jr., of Local First Arizona, and Thea Rittenhouse of CDFA, discussed equity-centered initiatives and strategies to bolster food sovereignty for Tribal Nations and other underinvested communities. The webinar is part of the Center’s quarterly webinar series, where Center partners share best practices and innovative projects on essential topics related to business development and capacity assistance for local producers, farmers, and ranchers.
Over 60 participants from across the nation attended the webinar, including representatives from other USDA Regional Food Business Centers. Attendees were actively engaged throughout the webinar and speakers were able to address dozens of questions throughout the session.
One of the key takeaways from the webinar was the emphasis on food security, traditional food practices, sovereignty, and self-determination. Speakers discussed best practices for incorporating Indigenous knowledge and highlighted the unintended consequences of policies and funding that do not consider Tribal interests or approaches. They suggested pathways to build communication, develop partnerships, and establish trust. Additionally, the speakers addressed the critical infrastructure needed for Tribal communities, such as new wells, aggregating and distributing facilities, food-to-market distribution, and technical assistance, including business and market development skills.
The next webinar will take place on October 16th and will focus on farm-to-school partnerships.
About Valley Vision and the Southwest Regional Food Business Center
Valley Vision leads coordination, communication, and network development efforts for the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. The quarterly webinar series is part of Valley Vision’s efforts to share best practices and to foster a collaborative network among Center partners and other participants.
The Southwest Regional Food Business Center, representing Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, is one of twelve USDA Regional Food Business Centers nationwide developed in 2023 to provide coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and initiatives, as well as navigate federal, state and local funding and resources. With an extensive network of partners from academic, government, and community-based organizations, the Southwest RFBC is dedicated to prioritizing historically underrepresented communities and small to mid-tier businesses.
For more information about the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center and its initiatives, visit www.swfoodbiz.org. To stay updated on future webinars and events, be sure to subscribe to the Center’s newsletter: http://bit.ly/SWRFBC-Newsletter.
USDA disclosures and guidance can be found at https://bit.ly/USDAdisclosures.
Visit the Center’s socials here.
Transforming Food Systems Across the Southwest Region
At the beginning of May, leadership of the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center convened in Reno, Nevada, providing the opportunity to further advance the Center’s mission, objectives, and programmatic activities, as well as share insights and best practices across emerging opportunities for food system transformation.
During the two-day convening, hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), leadership representing the Southwest Region (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah) discussed the unique assets, needs, and activities within each state, and solidified the Center’s workplan. Day one featured collaborative working sessions oriented towards internal Center values, capacity, and timeline, as well as a tour hosted by the UNR Desert Farming Initiative (DFI), showcasing climate-smart crops and farming practices, local food-to-market successes, and active research initiatives.
USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Senior Advisor, Kate Fitzgerald, joined Day 2 for an interactive brainstorming session regarding opportunities for collaboration between the USDA and the 12 Regional Food Business Centers nationally. Leadership from each state also provided teach-ins across emerging opportunities, such as equity in technical assistance, market access structures such as institutional procurement and food hubs, and microloan funding development.
This gathering provided Center Leadership with solutions, insight, and connections to drive the Center forward in its mission to transform the region’s food system through investment in small and mid-sized food and farm businesses by providing coordination, technical assistance, and capacity-building for the Southwest Region.
About the Center:
The Southwest Regional Food Business Center is a five-year $35 million program funded by the USDA Regional Food Business Centers Program, connecting Food and Agriculture Initiatives across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. As part of the network of USDA Regional Food Business Centers, the Southwest Center is a hub for the region’s small and mid-tier food and farm businesses and local and regional food sector development initiatives.
In collaboration with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), Valley Vision supports the Center as part of the Center Management Team, leading communications, partnership development and programmatic operations.
Subscribe to the Center’s Quarterly Newsletter here.
Visit the Center’s socials here.
Advocating to Secure Unprecedented Federal Resources (Cap-to-Cap 2024)
Right now is a critical time to engage with the federal government.
Once-in-a-generation resources are available for the “big play” investments that our region needs to grow and thrive. Valley Vision has a long history of participating in the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Capitol-to-Capitol program, which serves as our region’s premier federal advocacy opportunity each year. This program provides opportunities to meet with the Sacramento Region’s federal legislators and encourages participants to meet with federal agencies, many of whom oversee competitive funding programs.
This year’s 52nd annual“Cap-to-Cap” was the largest on record, with 425 leaders participating. Valley Vision staff led and supported many of the topic-based teams and, in keeping with tradition, have documented their experiences below.
Clean Air & Climate by Adrian Rehn
The Cleaner Air Partnership, which Valley Vision staffs, staffs two of the thirteen policy-focused “teams” focused on (1) air quality and (2) wildfire. This year, our teams elevated funding for a comprehensive suite of air quality strategies as part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, climate projects of regional significance, and technical but extremely important policy fixes like letting air districts “write off” smoke from preventative prescribed fire instead of getting dinged by U.S. EPA. We are in the process of following up on these important “Asks” and look forward to continued engagement throughout the year as we continue to work toward cleaner air for all.
Workforce Development & Education by Renee John
During my third in-person year at Cap to Cap, I co-led the team representing workforce and education. Our team advocated for the reauthorization and modernization of key acts including WIOA, the National Apprenticeship Act (NAA) and the Preparing and Resourcing Our Students and Teachers Act (PROSPECT), as well as expansion of Pell Grant eligibility and Perkins grant funds for vocational and technical education. Our team was co-led by Xanthi Soriano from SCOE and Ejiro Okoro from United Way California Capital Region, and included over 40 individuals from workforce and education institutions including preK-12, higher education, nonprofits, and elected officials.
This year, as in prior years, myself and team members had the opportunity to speak with folks shaping legislation that governs our ability to invest effectively in upskilling our region’s workforce. WIOA has been passed out of the House of Representatives and is currently in the Senate for markup. The Senate HELP Committee is currently creating its own version of the bill. While workforce legislation is generally bipartisan, different opinions on key provisions are common. Our goal was to share stories from the field to illustrate how vital federal funding is to our workforce and education efforts, highlight the key investments California is making, and encourage the federal government to work with haste to streamline and invest effectively in initiatives to ensure our businesses have the talent they need with the ability to pay living wages.
Impacting federal legislation can seem far removed from the daily work we all do. However, my experience has been that folks in Washington D.C. are interested to hear what is working well and what could be improved from partners implementing programs in their cities and regions.
Economic Development by Evan Schmidt
The Economic Development team took the opportunity at Cap-to-Cap to share and advocate for our key regional economic growth priorities and drew connections from the California Jobs First (formerly CERF) regional We Prosper Together initiative. Investing in and advancing the California Mobility Center and clean mobility innovations; advancing job creation and infrastructure around precision manufacturing; supporting our agricultural and life sciences assets including Aggie Square and ag innovation coming out of UC Davis and beyond; and supporting the supply chain and economic activity surrounding our region’s working lands were key priorities carried by the team.
We were able to meet with our regional representatives as well as key federal contacts at the National Science Foundation, Economic Development Administration, Small Business Administration, and US Department of Commerce, CHIPS for America. These meetings create opportunities for our region to identify investment opportunities with key federal contacts, communicate our region’s value proposition and needs, and build cohesion among regional stakeholders.
Valley Vision was also pleased to host a session for all delegates with our partners at the Brookings Institution to share data resources that have been compiled and analyzed for our region in the last nine months as part of the We Prosper Together initiative. Brookings researchers reinforced the importance of our key industry sectors and shared analytics about our region’s economic and innovation landscape. Explore the data and read the Executive Summary here.
Food and Agriculture by Grace Kaufman
How can we leverage funding across multiple departments in USDA to provide more resources for infrastructure that supports small and mid-size food businesses? How can we improve food and nutrition insecurity while also supporting the region’s local farms and restaurants? Those were some of the questions the food and agriculture team asked our representatives and federal agencies during the 2024 Cap-to-Cap program.
The food and agriculture team met with staff from three separate USDA departments. These meetings helped the team better understand and connect USDA opportunities to support the Sacramento Region’s food and farm businesses. This was particularly helpful for Valley Vision, as we support coordination and communication for the new USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, one of a network of 12 Centers across the country that provides resources and technical assistance to underinvested farmers and food producers.
This year was my second year attending the program, and I look forward to attending next year to advocate for the Sacramento Region and the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. In the meantime, Valley Vision will continue to work with partners to build a food and agriculture system that is resilient, innovative, sustainable, and equitable.
Food and Agriculture and Economic Development by Trish Kelly
I co-lead the Food and Agriculture team and support the Economic Development team. Our priorities centered on the passage of the 2023 Farm Bill as well as overall food system resiliency. These two areas encompass such important issues as hunger and nutrition security, food is medicine, agricultural viability, institutional procurement (farm to school and farm to hospital), broadband connectivity, and food economy projects. The region is well positioned as an innovation leader in all these areas and we focus on telling our story and raising awareness of the region nationally, as well as on specific asks, such as removing barriers to healthy food access and fully funding the Farm Bill (which is passed every 5 years, but has been rolled over to 2024).
Our team includes a great cross-section of our food and agriculture ecosystem – nonprofits including food banks, farmers, local governments including elected officials (mayors, council members and supervisors), chefs both from restaurants and UC Davis Health, UC Davis main campus, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), and businesses.
This is my tenth year participating in Cap-to-Cap and I have seen its strength and impact grow over this time. We’re really built this team from a small and mighty core to a diverse and energized group of leaders, backed up by supporters at home. I look forward to this trip every year as the opportunity to meet with staff and leaders in Congress, including not only our delegation but the staff at key food and ag committees, at the federal agencies, and with organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, national food policy and advocacy organizations and the Brookings Institution.
Two key highlights for me were meetings with Kelliann Blazek, the White House Agriculture and Rural Policy Advisor, and Congressman Jim McGovern, on the White House Challenge for Hunger, Nutrition and Health, and food is medicine legislation. They are inspiring leaders working to end hunger and improve health. But overall, our meetings with our local congressional leaders, USDA, EDA and SBA (the latter two through economic development) were so valuable in learning about new resources, better understanding the opportunities and challenges of the current legislative term, and gaining support for the region.
We’re proud to be part of the largest delegation that comes to DC on a community-focused mission. Since our trip, we have already had a follow-up on a few key priorities, and we feel our team has returned strengthened and committed to carrying the good work forward for the region. We appreciate the opportunity through Cap-to-Cap to engage with local leaders and champions in DC, which carries over into our work at home. We encourage anyone who wants to engage in these issues to stay in touch!
Navigating the Waves: Insights from the Water Careers Event
The Energy, Construction, and Utilities (ECU) Advisory event offered a view of water-related career opportunities within the region, delivering valuable perspectives for program development in the field. The event highlighted the opportunities and the challenges of an imminent skill shortage.
Ramzi Mahmood, Director of the Office of Water Programs (OWP) at Sacramento State, and Patrice McElroy, Deputy Administrative Officer from Valley Water, were keynote speakers and shared impactful presentations on the landscape of workforce development in the region, the Labor Market Data presented by the Center of Excellence showed signs of growth, with estimates of an increase from 7,150 positions in 2022 to an anticipated 8,003 by 2027, marking a notable 12% expansion in the region.
However, amidst this positive outlook of job growth, tackling the worker shortage was a predominant theme. Mahmood spoke on the forthcoming wave of retirements over the next 5-10 years, compounded by a nationwide hiring squeeze, presenting challenges in filling critical positions. The keynote stressed the inadequacy of relying solely on chance to attract students to water-related careers. Instead, Mahmood advocated for a comprehensive strategy encompassing early education, specialized training programs, hands-on experiences, recognized certifications, and pathways to successful career attainment. The employer panel echoed similar sentiments. Specifically, Samantha Blackwood from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) explained that one in ten DWR employees are currently eligible for retirement, and in five years the numbers will jump to 20 percent, or one in five, and in 10 years roughly one of three DWR employees are eligible for retirement.
In response to this anticipated shortage, panelists advocated for strategic investments in internships and grant programs. Additionally, training institutions and employer agencies can collaborate to provide practical experience and financial support to prospective employment candidates, laying the groundwork for a skilled future workforce.
As the dynamics of the regional water job market evolve, a focus on planning, education, and investment becomes imperative. Insights gathered from events like this advisory serve as an opportunity to share strategies and networks to navigate this shifting industry landscape. Additional information including the full event recording and presentation materials can be found here.
Air Quality and “Exceptional Events” – A Primer
For more than 35 years, the Cleaner Air Partnership (CAP) has been the Sacramento region’s most prominent voice focused on advancing partnerships between local government, industry, and environmental groups to improve air quality. Key to our mission is the identification of win-win-win opportunities for collaboration between these sectors.
Some of our coalition “wins” have included successful advocacy for legislation in 1997 to require the Bay Area to implement NOx reduction in their smog check program (which was disproportionately impacting our region), establishing a permanent CARB Board seat for a Sacramento region representative in 2012, and the designation of South Sacramento-Florin as a first-round AB 617 environmental justice community in 2018.
Public education is particularly important as we think about issues that impact public health – simplifying complex air quality topics is a core Cleaner Air Partnership activity as part of our quarterly Luncheons, Technical Advisory Committee meetings, and related efforts.
Last month, our region’s largest public radio station, Capital Public Radio, published several pieces related to the “exceptional events rule” utilized by air quality regulators across the nation:
- Insight: Loophole Lets Air Regulators Wipe Pollution From Records
- What is the exceptional events rule? The loophole letting US regulators wipe air pollution from the record
- Revealed: how a little-known pollution rule keeps the air dirty for millions of Americans
The best definition of “exceptional events” comes from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD): “Exceptional events are unusual or naturally occurring events that can affect air quality but are not reasonably controllable using techniques that tribal, state or local air agencies may implement in order to attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Exceptional events may include wildfires, high wind dust events, fireworks, prescribed fires, stratospheric ozone intrusions, and volcanic and seismic activities.”
All of the news articles question the value of the exceptional events rule to public health, purporting that the rule “wipes air pollution from the record.” Put simply, this is inaccurate information that mixes up different air agency activities, resulting in a false characterization of what the rule actually does. These processes are described below:
- Activity #1: Air Quality Management: At its core, air quality management in the United States means implementation of the Clean Air Act, “the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources.” The Act sets policy interventions such as emission standards for anticipated and controllable sources of pollution. By definition, an “exceptional” event is unanticipated and not amenable to policy controls.
- Activity #2: Federal Air Quality Monitoring: The purpose of air agencies conducting Federal air quality monitoring is to track the progress of regulatory actions and pollution reduction measures taken by federal, state, or local authorities for emission sources under their control (such as permitted facilities). However, “exceptional events” are outside the control of air agencies. For example, when there’s a wildfire in Paradise that creates toxic air pollution in Sacramento, there isn’t a policy mechanism at the local government level to do anything about it beyond exposure reduction. To say that pollution from wildfires is being “erased from regulatory consideration” isn’t accurate, considering the jurisdictional ownership over the issue.
- Activity #3: Data Management: All Federal air quality monitoring data, whether it is collected during an exceptional event or not, is always available to the public and is never deleted. It is critical that the air monitoring results, which are collected and reported by air agencies on an hourly basis, are made available in a transparent and easily accessible manner.
- Activity #4: Public Health Communications: Air agencies are also tasked with communicating air quality conditions to the public, via tools like our local Spare The Air. These important tools help communities decide how and when to protect themselves from exposure to any air pollution throughout their day. Contrary to the reporting cited above, air quality data from exceptional events *is* indeed included in all public health-related communications from air agencies, including Spare The Air, and public health agency records.
As you can see, it’s important to understand the role of federal, state, and local air agencies under the Clean Air Act. Data is not gathered for one single purpose, as agencies have multiple obligations to serve the public. While the exceptional events rule is rather technical, it is important for media outlets to understand the nuances of the issue before broadcasting misleading information to the public.
“In partnership with regulatory agencies, environmental health organizations and the public, we have been steadily improving the region’s air quality over the past five decades,” said Jennifer Finton, CEO of Breathe California Sacramento Region. “Exceptional events are merely a designation to account for unforeseen concentrated increases in air pollutants. During these exceptional events and throughout the year, the public can take steps to protect their lung health by following the guidance provided by local health departments and air districts. Individuals can play a critical role in minimizing climate change’s effects on these exceptional events by using active and clean transportation modes, among other behavior changes.”
In a world without the exceptional events rule, our region would have a lot of problems: (1) legally-binding air quality attainment (whether we meet specific air quality goals set by the Clean Air Act) by air agencies would not be possible, (2) As a consequence, we would lose out on funding for transportation and land use projects, and (3) air agencies would not be able to actually do anything to address the sources of the exceptional events, because they lack the regulatory authority.
”The exceptional events rule is a critical tool in understanding the progress the region is making in continuing to reduce emissions from our local sources,” said Erik White, Director of the Placer County Air Pollution Control District. “Without it, we would not be able to craft effective local strategies to continue reducing emissions, especially for our most vulnerable citizens.”
The Cleaner Air Partnership is committed to simplifying and successfully communicating these complex topics to our communities. As with the “exceptional events rule,” we will continue to ensure that accurate information about air quality is disseminated as a resource for the public. To keep up with the Cleaner Air Partnership, sign up for our “Cleaner Air News” email newsletter here (select ‘Clean Economy’).
Building the Full Stack: Stackable Credentials in ICT
Valley Vision held a regional Information and Communication Technologies careers advisory on October 12. The event showcased strong demand across all occupations and the need for a collaborative and concerted effort to address the expansive gap. According to data shared by the Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, the ICT industry is set to have a projected 6% job growth over the next five years, accounting for 2,741 annual job openings in the Greater Sacramento six county region. With the median annual wage across the industry at $102,497, it presents a significant opportunity to align community members and priority populations to these lucrative pathways.
Diversity and inclusion were a hallmark of the event. With a current significant gap of 1,371 skilled workers required to meet the demand for ICT careers, the data from Center of Excellence illustrated an underrepresentation of significant portions of our populace. For instance, despite constituting 28% of the total workforce in the Greater Sacramento region, Hispanics and Latinos account for only 15% of the ICT workforce. Moreover, the disparity is pronounced in gender representation, with 71% of ICT workers identifying as male. This significant underrepresentation highlights an untapped potential within communities. By actively engaging and recruiting from underrepresented groups, the industry can not only create a more diverse and inclusive workforce but also benefit from a broader talent pool that better reflects the overall demographics of the region.
Employer representatives shared how ICT positions have become essential in a wide range of companies. The employer panel included representatives from Placer County, Microsoft Philanthropies, City of Roseville, and Swinerton, a national construction company. The discussion covered several key themes, including the most sought-after skills, the importance of recruiting from underrepresented communities, and the goal of providing more internships. In sharing insights about their respective organizations, the panelists showcased their commitment to fostering inclusivity and expanding opportunities for individuals by working more closely with the community colleges.
One specific example showcased specific alignment between a college and employer partner. Swinerton gave details on a partnership with Sierra Community College that demonstrated collaboration between industry and CTE programs. Sierra College created a series of courses matched to the ICT needs of Swinerton construction help desk positions. The college also worked with Swinerton to update job descriptions with matching course numbers in their listed qualifications. This alignment allows students to not only have the opportunity to participate in an internship but also makes explicit the relevance of their education to immediate employment.
The advisory showcased various pathways available for individuals to develop entry-level, ICT-related skills. The Sacramento Public Library shared information on free Adult Education Career Development classes in basic digital literacy and career readiness, including free certifications from Coursera and Gale, in cyber security and data analysis. Byte Back, a community based organization whose mission is to close the digital divide by providing under-resourced communities an equitable pathway into the digital economy, detailed their free 360 Digital Navigators program designed to help people gain technical digital skills. Their community-2-community approach supports digital navigators with the skills, resources, and knowledge necessary to assist fellow community members with gaining internet access and navigating everyday digital tasks imperative to work, health, education, and life. These two programs are examples of accessible building blocks in under-resourced communities that can be essential components of developing inclusive ICT career pathways.
All participants emphasized the need for continuous education and training in the field and illustrated how stackable skills and certifications, from community organizations to community colleges and industry partners, can collaborate to meet the current and projected demand. Additionally, continuous learning enables workers to stay updated with the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven workplace. Employer and workforce system partners working in collaboration can design effective pathways from neighborhoods to these promising careers.