San Joaquin Valley

Fresno State energy-innovation incubator receives $500,000 boost

The Business Journal
By Business Journal staff

November 15, 2016

Fresno State’s new energy-innovation incubator has received another shot in the arm with a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Central Valley Regional Energy Innovation Accelerator will use the money to help entrepreneurs commercialize new water- and energy-related technologies and innovations.

Go to full story at The Business Journal

AgPLUS Newsletter – November 2016

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AgPLUS Quarterly Newsletter: 3rd Edition

A publication of the Central Valley AgPLUS Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium
By Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development
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November 2016, Vol. I Issue 3
AgPLUS is working everyday toward accelerating economic growth in the San Joaquin Valley through the mentorship of established, emerging and future agriculture-related manufacturing businesses and their supporting industries.

AgPLUS, Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) designated initiative, fosters growth and creation of food and beverage businesses and middle-skilled manufacturing jobs while also seeking to optimize the value chain potential for regional producers by promoting the transformation of raw goods into value-added products.

Here at the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED), our main objective is assisting in the expansion and sustainability of regional businesses and partner organizations. We invite you to contact us and take advantage of our public sector assets in your private sector endeavors.

To learn more about AgPLUS and its IMCP designation, as well as upcoming events, news and available grants, visit cvagplus.org.

HIGHLIGHT
EDA Awards $250,000 to Advance Central Valley
Ag Manufacturing
 
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Trish Kelly, Executive Director, Valley Vision and Congressman John Garamendi.
Central Valley AgPLUS was recently awarded $250,000 in funding through the EDA's Economic Adjustment Grant. The award supports the AgPLUS Implementation Plan throughout the 28 county Central Valley region. Through this funding, AgPLUS will be able to support new developments in each of the six pillars. For more information, click here.

HIGHLIGHT
AgPLUS attends 2016 IMCP Summit
 
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Executive Committee members, Mike Dozier of Fresno State's Office of Community and Economic Development, Trish Kelly of Valley Vision and Dan Ripke of Chico State's Center for Economic Development attended the annual IMCP Summit in Washington DC this October. Learn more about the trip here.

OUR PILLARS

Through AgPLUS, we are tasked with developing and executing strategies for increasing investments into six important pillars of our manufacturing ecosystem. Below is our established and new objectives for each strategic strategy and pillar.
 

1. Workforce Developmentelectrician-1080554_1920
Strategy #1: K-16 Food and Beverage Manufacturing Career Pathways
Strategy #2: Community College-Industry Curriculum and Training Alignment
Recent Developments:
AgPLUS was recently awarded a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, which will provide a series of workforce development workshops in rural areas. The workshops focus will include federal and state grant procurement, micro loan access and growth strategies. Sacramento region lead, Valley Vision will kick off the workshops on November 18 in Winters, CA, while OCED and Chico State will begin implementing workshops in their regions in early 2017.

Planning is well underway for a Workforce Development Summit on February 7, in partnership with California League of Food Processors (CLFP). Coinciding with the Sacramento Food Processing Expo, the event will include panelists from all four regions of AgPLUS to discuss issues and developments for their area's workforce.

In addition to panelist discussions, the event will also release the results of a survey put together by the CLFP to identify key current work training needs. The survey will be distributed to AgPLUS members and partners in Mid-November.

 

2. Supply Chainroad-train-1185254_1920 2
Strategy #3: Supplier Mapping and Match-Making
Recent Developments:
As part of funding through EDA's Economic Adjustment Grant, AgPLUS will begin exploring supply chain mapping activities. This project will provide required information to address critical data gaps and supply leakages while promoting the improvement of value chain integration opportunities.

 

3. Research & Innovationoffice-594132_1920
Strategy #4: Central Valley AgPLUS Research Partnership
Strategy #5: Central Valley Innovation Hub (iHub) Network
Recent Developments:
Fresno State partners were awarded a $5 million dollar grant through the California Energy Commission to promote efficiency in water and energy by identifying entrepreneurs in research and development fields. The award provides resources, services and infrastructure for innovative entrepreneurs to deploy and commercialize new technologies in water and energy that will directly benefit disadvantaged communities. The Valley provides water to 8 million acres of farmland while creating 80 percent of the state's agriculture; this project will provide major benefits to food and beverage manufacturers throughout the IMCP designated area. More information can be found here.
 

4. Infrastructureconstruction-664705_1920
Strategy #6: Rural-Urban Connections Strategy (RUCS) Planning Tools
Recent Developments:
Through the EDA funding, AgPLUS will provide site location and infrastructure assessments for food and beverage manufacturers. This action will help identify ready to use facilities for food and beverage processors and help communities become better prepared for site location opportunities that will greatly improve value chain integration.

 

5. International Tradeshipping-containers-1150062_1920
Strategy #7: Central Valley Export Training Program
Recent Developments:
AgPLUS partner, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, was a recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce 2016 Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP). Recipients are chosen based on a proposal featuring innovative new projects that will generate exports conducive to the creation of new jobs. Learn more about this here.

AgPLUS has been meeting with the French based West Coast Entrepreneurial Alliance on a partnership to bring more foreign investment into the Central Valley. The Executive Committee will host a tour for West Coast Entrepreneurial Alliance members of the AgPLUS region in January.

 

6. Capital Accessfarmer-880567_1280
Strategy #8: Regional Finance Fund (Funds of Funds)
Recent Developments:
AgPLUS continues to explore the feasibility in providing a regional finance fund that can be easily accessed by food and beverage manufacturers. Through funding from the EDA's Economic Adjustment Grant, the Consortium will begin planning for a Funders Forum to be held in mid-2017. The Forum will help identify investment opportunities while mobilizing investment in the Valley for food and beverage manufacturing firms.
MAIL calendar PERSON
 
NEWS

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Report finds strength in Modesto food industry

 

The Modesto area rates high for a consultant who helps food and beverage…

 

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Report: Metro areas in Valley saw increased exports in 2015

 

The U.S. Department of Commerce this week released a report highlighting goods…

 

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AgPLUS attends National Manufacturing Day

 

As part of National Manufacturing Day, Yolo County Congressman John Garamendi…
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The Office of Community & Economic Development at Fresno State is a co-leader on the Central Valley AgPLUS Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium Executive Committee, providing operational support for the IMCP Central Valley AgPLUS Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium.
Contact Us | Phone: 559-278-0721 | www.cvagplus.org


Madera almond processor to break ground on $10 million plant

The Fresno Bee
By Robert Rodriguez, brodriguez@fresnobee.com

November 7, 2016

A $10 million almond processing plant is being built in Madera to meet the growing demand for nut processing services in the region.

A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at 2725 Falcon Drive in Madera. The plant will be owned and operated by California Custom Processing.

Go to full story at The Fresno Bee

Company to break ground on $10 million almond processing facility in Madera

The Business Journal
By Business Journal staff

November 4, 2016

California Custom Processing will host a groundbreaking next week in Madera for a $10 million almond processing facility.

The facility, being built by company owners Grant Willits and Sonya Trevino, is located at 2725 Falcon Drive in Madera next to the Madera County Sheriff headquarters.

Go to full story at The Business Journal

Valley food producers land nearly $850,000 in USDA grants

The Business Journal
By Business Journal staff
October 28, 2016

San Joaquin Valley food producers are on the receiving end of nearly $850,000 in grants meant to help small rural businesses develop new products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a total of $45 million in Value-Added Producer Grants Thursday, going to 325 projects across the U.S.

Go to full story at The Business Journal

Fresno lands $3 million fed investment for infrastructure

The Business Journal
By Business Journal Staff

Sep 23, 2016

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced today that the City of Fresno will receive $3.04 million to improve infrastructure and boost economic development.

The investment award from the Economic Development Administration is anticipated to create 327 jobs and spur $35 million in private investment.

Go to full story at The Business Journal

EDA Awards $250,000 to Advance Central Valley Ag Manufacturing

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Sep 22, 2016

EDA Awards $250,000 to Advance Central Valley Ag Manufacturing

Sacramento, Chico, Fresno, and Central Sierra partnering regions lead AgPLUS Initiative

SACRAMENTO, CA – Valley Vision Managing Director Trish Kelly was notified today by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) that California’s Central Valley will be awarded $250,000 to carry out implementation activities as part of the Valley’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP).

Click here to view entire news release

Report: Metro areas in Valley saw increased exports in 2015

The Business Journal
By Business Journal Staff

September 9, 2016

The U.S. Department of Commerce this week released a report highlighting goods exports from U.S. metropolitan areas for 2015. The International Trade Administration’s 2015 Metropolitan Area Export Overview indicates that goods exports from the Modesto, Stockton-Lodi and the Madera-Chowchilla metropolitan areas increased.

In the Modesto metropolitan area exports for 2015 exceeded $1.9 billion, a 10 percent increase; in the Stockton-Lodi metropolitan area exports exceeded $1.4 billion, a 10 percent increase; and in the Madera-Chowchilla metropolitan area exports were over $500 million, an 11 percent increase.

Go to full story at The Business Journal

County envisions Castle as future state manufacturing hub

Merced Sun-Star
By Brianna Calix, bcalix@mercedsunstar.com

August 30, 2016

Merced County will move forward with a plan to develop Castle Commerce Center into a manufacturing hub that officials hope will create nearly 10,000 jobs and draw up to $1 billion in investments.

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to move forward with the Castle strategic development plan. District 4 Supervisor Deidre Kelsey left the meeting before the vote.

Go to full story at Merced Sun-Star