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Governor’s Office marks Manufacturing Awareness and Appreciation Month with recognition of Valley events

Above. Secretary Karen Ross (center), California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Secretary Alexis Podesta (left), California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (holding frame), and supporters (from left) Robert Sanger, California Manufacturers and Technology Association; Gene Russell, Manex; Tammy Cronin, Valley Vision; Dorothy Rothrock, California Manufacturers and Technology Association; Dan Ripke and Michael Suplita, Chico State Center for Economic Development; and Ismael Herrera, Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development.

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November 1, 2017

FRESNO- Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, ended a month-long set of manufacturing events in the San Joaquin Valley and was recognized by the Office of Governor Jerry Brown as Manufacturing Awareness and Appreciation Month. In honor of this declaration, the governor hosted a photo op with Secretary Karen Ross, Department of Food and Agriculture, and Secretary Alexis Podesta, Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, who presented the proclamation to manufacturing representatives and supporters.

“The manufacturing sector is crucial to the California economy, and I thank them for their contributions,” as stated in Governor Brown’s proclamation.

Manufacturing Month kicked off on Tuesday, October 3, with numerous local manufacturers opening their facilities for guided tours to high school students interested in manufacturing careers, and was followed by the official Manufacturing Day on Friday, October 6.

On October 18, Fresno County Office of Education hosted the Career Tech Expo in Fresno, providing students and parents insights on the many career options available in industry sectors. Thousands attended the Expo which included hundreds of businesses and exhibitors.

Friday, October 20, marked the groundbreaking for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Career Technical Education Charter. Set to open summer 2018, the high school will welcome a freshman class of 125 in a program that links education directly to industry career opportunities.

On Thursday, October 26, the Office of Community and Economic Development co-hosted the inaugural South Valley Industrial Summit in Tulare, Calif. The Summit provided the opportunity to recognize the achievements by industry-led, community-supported partnerships that reinforce economic growth in the South San Joaquin Valley. More than 200 people attended the event which included breakout sessions with discussions on a wide range of topics. Representatives from Faraday Future, the electric vehicle startup company which recently opened a Hanford facility, and electric bus manufacturer GreenPower Bus gave keynotes.

 

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Business and industry exhibitors were available for participants to get more information.   Faraday Future representatives give keynote at the Summit.
     
To learn more about the Summit, go to: http://centralvalleymfg.com/home/south-san-joaquin-valley-industrial-summit/

 
 
 

Large rural manufacturers may score higher on innovation than urban

October 24, 2017

Daily Yonder
By Bryce Oates and Tim Marema

Rural areas may be as innovative as urban ones in some instances. The finding contradicts conventional wisdom that urban areas have a lock on innovation.

Large manufacturing firms in rural America are at least as likely as similar urban firms to use innovative methods that can contribute to job creation and increased earnings, a new report says.

Though preliminary, the study may indicate that there are exceptions to the oft-repeated rule that economic innovation is the nearly exclusive purview of urban-based businesses.

“The findings in this report regarding the prevalence of rural innovation challenge the conventional wisdom that rural nonfarm innovation is relatively rare and idiosyncratic,” the report says. While large rural manufacturers had an innovation edge, that finding did not hold true for small and medium-sized rural manufacturers, the study shows. (Chart included in article.)

The study by the USDA’s Economic Research Service looked at non-farm rural economic sectors like manufacturing and services, which have not received as much attention from rural economists as agriculture-related activities. The research looked at the years 2010-2014, which correspond with the period of economic recovery following the Great Recession.

Go to full story at Daily Yonder.

Madera farmer makes almond butter

August 28, 2017

The Madera Tribune
By Cassandra Garibay

The grocery aisles in California are filled wall-to-wall with a seemingly endless variety of spreads, almond butter included. Since California is the primary location of almond orchards, most people have no difficulty buying locally. However, there is a catch.

Kahal Farm’s operations manager Mallvinder Kahal and Amandeep Kahal, Mallvinder’s sister, noticed that most of the locally grown almond products being sold were packaged outside of California. Therefore, despite their California labels, the almonds were processed and packaged outside of California, then sold back to local stores.

“As farmers, you see that, and you see a lack of accountability, because we put a lot of effort into growing a quality crop,” Kahal said.

Kahal Farms, founded in 1985, is a family-owned farm in Madera County. What once started as a wine grape vineyard, expanded to 1,200 acres of primarily almond orchards spread out between Madera and Merced.

Go to full story at The Madera Tribune

Above: Kahal Farms operations manager Mallvinder Kahal tries to get a taste of his almond crops. He has also expanded to producing almond butter with his sister Amandeep. Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune.

After decades of pushing bachelor’s degrees, U.S. needs more tradespeople

August 29, 2017

PBS NewsHour
By Matt Krupnick
The Hechinger Report
@MattKrupnick

FONTANA, Calif. — At a steel factory dwarfed by the adjacent Auto Club Speedway, Fernando Esparza is working toward his next promotion.

Esparza is a 46-year-old mechanic for Evolution Fresh, a subsidiary of Starbucks that makes juices and smoothies. He’s taking a class in industrial computing taught by a community college at a local manufacturing plant in the hope it will bump up his wages.

It’s a pretty safe bet. The skills being taught here are in high demand. That’s in part because so much effort has been put into encouraging high school graduates to go to college for academic degrees rather than for training in industrial and other trades that many fields like his face worker shortages.

Now California is spending $6 million on a campaign to revive the reputation of vocational education, and $200 million to improve the delivery of it.

“It’s a cultural rebuild,” said Randy Emery, a welding instructor at the College of the Sequoias in California’s Central Valley.

Go to full story at PBS NewsHour

Above: Student Kalei Kipp in Cedar Crest High School’s welding program in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, during the 2016-2017 school year. Three percent of welders in the U.S. are women. Photo from PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs series “Outside the Box.”

AgPlus to host Funders Forum in October

News Release

June 15, 2017

FRESNO – The Central Valley AgPlus Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium (AgPlus) announced today it will host the 2017 AgPlus Funders Forum in October at the McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento County. The two-day event is designed to share innovations in financing tools for business and to determine the feasibility of a regional finance fund to support new and existing food and agriculture businesses and nonprofits in the Central Valley.

Day One of the Forum will be a working session for financing experts, with presentations, in-depth policy discussions and breakout sessions. On Day Two,  a wide array of business/finance advisors and food system partners will provide insights and updates in a trade show environment with exhibition booths, workshops and more.

Event details: AgPlus Funders Forum, Oct 17-18, 2017, McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento. For further information, please contact the following AgPlus team members.

Erik Cherkaski (Fresno) echerkaski@mail.fresnostate.edu, 559-278-4575
Adrian Rehn (Sacramento) adrian.rehn@valleyvision.org, 916-325-1630
Dan Ripke (Chico) dripke@csuchico.edu, 530-898-4598

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In 2016, AgPLUS was awarded an USDA Rural Development California Grant for its AgPLUS Rural Business Resources Assistance Program. The program provides workshops and technical assistance to small and emerging rural businesses throughout the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, and North State regions. 

3rd Annual Manufacturing Summit rousing success

FRESNO – Over 850 registered for the 2017 Manufacturing Summit-Thriving in the Valley, including 205 local students. The day was dedicated to the “thriving” manufacturing community in the San Joaquin Valley.

The third annual event took place at the Fresno Convention Center and featured 85 vendors from manufacturing, education, finance and government. Additionally, 24 diverse workshops were offered, created based on feedback from previous year’s attendees. These practical workshops pointed a spotlight on a range of topics for manufacturing from financing and taxes to diversity and veterans.

Opening remarks were provided by Fresno City College President Carole Goldsmith, and San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance (SJVMA) Chair Mike Betts. Former President of Shell Oil Company and Founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, John Hofmeister, provided the morning session keynote address, where he focused on energy related issues and its impact on manufacturing. The lunch keynote was delivered by Katherine A. DeRosear, the Partnership Architect for the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI), and facilitator of the Dream it. Do it. Virginia Network. DeRosear’s presentation centered on increasing the manufacturing capacity of communities by closing the career planning and skills gaps faced by advanced technology industries.

Planning for this year’s event was carried out by SJVMA committee members, led by Chair Mike Betts and Business Development Director, Sam Geil. Since rebranding itself in April 2016, SJVMA has reached a membership milestone of more than 500. Committee members and their hard work were recognized at a VIP reception held the night before the Summit at Mechanical Associates.

The Summit’s success shows what can be accomplished when people from different professions come together under one common vision: support a thriving economy where our Manufacturing industry can meet its full potential. SJVMA has many more projects to support this goal in the pipeline, and are already planning for next year’s Summit!

USDA certifies another investment pool for small and startup rural businesses

Acting Deputy Under Secretary Roger Glendenning has announced that USDA has certified the Innova Ag Innovation Fund IV LP as an investment pool for small and startup rural businesses.

The fund will support 30 to 45 companies that have the potential to generate more than $200 million in economic activity and create 600 jobs. It will provide capital for high-growth companies in the biosciences, technology and agricultural technology industries. The fund is the second USDA has certified under the Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP). RBIP funds support USDA’s strategy for rural economic growth.

Farm Credit System members are contributing $31 million to the Ag Innovation Fund. The Farm Credit System is a nationwide network of banks and lenders specifically chartered to serve agriculture and the U.S. rural economy.

This is not your grandfather’s manufacturing career

The 2016 Presidential race put a spotlight on bringing jobs back to the US, particularly in manufacturing. While the focus during the campaigns was on losing the jobs to lower-wage economies abroad, there is another reality: we lost interest in the greatest American middle-class industry sector somewhere along the way. Contrary to another belief, technology hasn’t taken these jobs either – it’s only changed them. The physical muscle required for manufacturing jobs 20 years ago has been replaced with the need for intellectual muscle and technical expertise, and here in the Valley we’re building our own world-class workforce.

The San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance’s 2017 Manufacturing Summit in April was attended by nearly 800 people – over 200 of them students, 60 exhibitors, and two notable keynote speakers affecting manufacturing and policy on a national level. SJVMA and the annual Summit are bringing together this industry sector in unprecedented ways. The aim: to develop pathways for a future workforce.

The energy surrounding the rebirth of manufacturing is electric, and exciting for the economic development of Fresno and the whole Valley. Through tools like the E3 Network, which matches students up with employers to participate in job shadowing and internships, we are engaging our children earlier to think about careers and explore the many onramps to success. Robust new Career Technical Education programs are being launched throughout the region, enabling students to fast track into the workforce through project-based learning and dual-enrollment in courses through our high schools and community colleges simultaneously.

The development of these invaluable programs is based in our ability to come together as a community and focus efforts on one goal – building a world-class workforce development ecosystem. Fresno Unified is working closely with the State Center Community College District to ensure these programs are meeting employer demands, and move seamlessly into post-secondary curriculum. With incredible alignment of focus, the synergy being created is resulting in remarkable programs and unlimited options for our kids to build a bright future – for themselves, and in turn, enriching our community.

The Fresno Business Council, SJVMA and Betts Company are proud to be involved with all of our community partners in creating bright futures for our next-generation workforce and our local manufacturers.

AgPLUS News April 2017

Ag-plus-final_update_sep2015_sm THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY AGPLUS FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING CONSORTIUM BY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT FRESNO STATE
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CALED honors Kelly with ‘Golden Bear’

kelly-trish 2 Trish Kelly, Valley Vision managing director and AgPLUS executive committee member, received top honors from California Association of Local Economic Development with its Golden Bear Lifetime Achievement award.

The presentation was made at CALED’s 37th Annual Conference on March 23, 2017, in San Diego.

We congratulate Trish on this well-deserved honor!

 

Workforce Summit, Food Processing Expo

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Panel discussion at Feb 7 Workforce Summit

Central Valley AgPLUS in partnership with California League of Food Processors and Zenith Insurance kicked off the 2017 Food Processing Expo with the Food Processing Workforce Summit on February 7. The Summit addressed issues surrounding recruiting, training and retaining a strong workforce for food processors; and how human resources managers can keep up with various regulation requirements. More than 70 attended, representing food and beverage manufacturers and public organizations. Trish Kelly represented AgPLUS , moderating the morning session and providing an overview of AgPLUS and its IMCP designation. Summit panel discussions were represented by industry, education and government, and featured keynotes Tim Rainey, executive director of California Workforce Development Board, and Matthew Roberts, dean of Field Operations for Workforce and Economic Development Division, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Results of a survey by California League of Food Processors were released at the event. The survey covered workforce issues for Central Valley food processors and how these can potentially affect initiatives dedicated to solving the skills gap in the industry. Fourteen companies indicated the positions they have the greatest need to fill include maintenance mechanics (93%), electricians (70%), boilers/process heater operators (55%), automation and controls/mechatronic specialists (44%) and machine operators (33%). Many of the positions listed also were named as ones anticipated as having a significant number of vacancies to fill within the next five years due to retirements and departures. DOWNLOAD SURVEY RESULTS

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AgPLUS was one of 260 exhibitors at 2017 Food Processing Expo in Sacramento

The Food Processing Expo on February 8 and 9 hosted 260 exhibitors including AgPLUS. Thousands from around the world attended the Expo making it the largest food processing trade show in California. Featured exhibits included machinery, equipment, and supplies along with informative sessions and industry-networking opportunities.

AgPLUS business workshops continue throughout Central Valley

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Congressman John Garamendi speaks at Marysville workshop

AgPLUS rural business workshops connect food and beverage manufacturers to business development resources and financing opportunities; and feature presentations from various partners of the AgPLUS network. Workshops began in November 2016 and got off to an early start in 2017.

Valley Vision kicked off their 2017 regional workshops on January 27 in Marysville. This second workshop was for food processors in Yuba, Sutter and surrounding counties. U.S. Congressman John Garamendi joined the meeting and provided remarks for attendees. The next workshop, which took place on March 31 in Placerville, was for food businesses in El Dorado, Placer and surrounding counties.

North Valley leads at Chico State Center for Economic Development got their regional workshops under way on March 20 at the Glen County Farm Bureau in Orland.

OCED is set to co-host a workshop with Fresno State SBDC, Plan Prosperidad of Univision, CAMEO, Fresno CDFI, among others, on April 22 at Reedley High School in Reedley, Calif. Financial planning, expanding to other markets, and export/import strategies are just some of the discussion points.

AMP SoCal brings together IMCP communities

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AgPLUS and other members of the IMCP community attend the AMP SoCal Bi-Annual Meeting

AgPLUS was on hand for fellow IMCP community Amp SoCal and its 2017 Bi-Annual Meeting in Los Angeles on March 9, where we participated with other IMCP communities and EDA officials in discussions about the future of IMCP under the new Presidential Administration.

This meeting engaged small- to medium-sized manufacturers and their supply chain in discussions about the work they do in aerospace, and the goals and impact on workforce they have accomplished since receiving IMCP designation.

CalAsian Chamber hosts 2017 international trade show

International work group member CalAsian Chamber of Commerce is hosting its second trade show of the year,Seoul Food and Hotel 2017, in Seoul, South Korea, from May 14-21. The first was in Shanghai, China, from March 26 through April 2.

CalAsian Chamber of Commerce has been committed to helping food and beverage growers/producers expand and export their products to the Asian market for the past five years. This has been achieved by organizing international trade missions, providing export training support, marketing research and business matching. CalAsian Chamber administers the China Direct and Korea Direct export programs under a cooperative agreement with the International Trade Administration Market Development Cooperator Program under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

2017 Manufacturing Summit

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The 2017 San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Summit is just around the corner. On Thursday, April 20, more than 800 will be at the Fresno Convention & Visitors Bureau along with 90 vendors, 24 workshops, and keynotes by John Hofmeister, former Shell Oil Company President, and Katherine A. DeRosea , Dream It. Do It. Virginia, and Headed2, LLC.

For more Summit information, visit the official event page: http://sjvma.org/event/thriving-in-the-valley-2017-manufacturing-summit/.

Stay up-to-date

We have a lot of exciting new projects in the pipeline so be on the lookout for news on future developments, and stay up-to-date on info and upcoming events. Visit www.cvagplus.org.

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THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT FRESNO STATE IS A CO-LEADER OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY AGPLUS FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING CONSORTIUM (AGPLUS) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, PROVIDING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AGPLUS.

CONTACT US | PHONE 559-278-0721 | WWW.CVAGPLUS.ORG


California passes nation’s toughest methane emission regulations

The San Francisco Chronicle
By Dominic Fracassa
dfracassa@sfchronicle.com

California air quality officials have approved what are widely considered to be the most rigorous and comprehensive regulations in the country for controlling methane emissions, a move that helps cement the state’s status as a standard-bearer for environmental protection.

The new rules, green-lighted Thursday by the state’s Air Resources Board, seek to curb methane emissions at oil and gas production plants by up to 45 percent over the next nine years. The cuts will come from a combination of heightened efficiency requirements, inspection mandates and rules meant to ensure that leaks are discovered and fixed swiftly. The regulations apply to both onshore and offshore oil and gas centers.

The standards, which experts said mark the first major piece of environmental regulation passed by any state since the turnover of power in Washington, were hailed as a triumph by environmental activists, but criticized as cumbersome, costly and ultimately unnecessary by oil and gas producers.

“Our industry is not the top emitter of methane in the state, yet this rule will add to the nation’s toughest regulations that our operators must follow, such as cap and trade,” Rock Zierman, the chief executive officer of industry trade group the California Independent Petroleum Association, said in a statement. “We hope that regulators will provide ample time for implementation and ensure that the program is fairly and consistently enforced across the state.”

Above: Crews work on a relief well at the Aliso Canyon plant in Los Angeles in 2014. Dean Musgrove, Associated Press.

Chronicle staff writer David R. Baker contributed to this report.

Go to full story at The San Francisco Chronicle