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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of support for Central Valley AgPlus Manufacturing Community Disgnation ProposalBUTTE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OTTFo 0 0 25 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 200 0 0 OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965 -3380 0 = _ _; �' a Telephone: (530) 538 -7631 Fax: (530) 538 -7120 CDUN'�y PAUL HAHN Chief Administrative Officer April 7, 2014 Mr. Matt Erskine Acting Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Room 71014 Washington, DC 20230 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BILL CONNELLY LARRY WAHL MAUREEN KIRK STEVE LAMBERT DOUG TEETER RE: Letter of Support for Central Valley AgPlus Manufacturing Community Designation Proposal Dear Acting Secretary Erskine: On behalf of Butte County, I am writing to express support for Fresno State's Office of Community and Economic Development's (OCED) application to the Economic Development Administration's Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) Designation for Manufacturing Communities. OCED is partnering with several key stakeholders across 28 counties for an unprecedented effort to bolster the region's bio -based economy. Production agriculture has been the region's heritage and competitive advantage in the global economy. Food, fiber, forest and fuel are the region's growth opportunities of the future. Increasing the amount of value -add agricultural manufacturing that occurs within the region will help reduce the amount of dollars and jobs that leak into other countries; primarily those along the Pacific Rim trade corridor. The region is also uniquely positioned to capitalize on alternative fuel production stemming from agricultural waste streams and biomass situated within the region's forested areas. Reducing the biomass within the region's forests will not only reduce the propensity of costly fires, but also make the critical watersheds that irrigate the Central Valley more efficient and bountiful. Through coordination and strategic investments in areas such as in- demand workforce training, commercialized research, strengthened supply chains, improved transportation and energy infrastructure, export promotion and enhanced access to capital, the four sub - regions of the San Joaquin Valley, Greater Sacramento, Sacramento Valley, and Central Sierra will mitigate their chronic poverty and unemployment by creating a globally competitive environment that will attract, retain and expand investments in manufacturing. The federal "Manufacturing Community" designation will enable California's Central Valley to create good - paying jobs while expanding the nation's manufacturing output and exporting value. The Central Valley AgPlus Manufacturing Community Designation proposal is in alignment with Butte County's goal to grow existing key industries such as agriculture, as is stated in the 2014- 2017 Butte County Regional Economic Development Strategy. The Strategy specifically states that the County will work toward the following actions: www.buttecounty.net 1. Support Sector Strategies 2. Support Business Incubation and Innovation 3. Support Expansion of Business Financing Programs, and 4. Improve Necessary Infrastructure to Support Business Growth and Development The region is an ideal investment for the federal government, as it will capitalize on the exponential growth opportunities in agriculture and strengthen a comprehensive approach to implementing an economic development plan that will attract, retain and expand manufacturing jobs and investments in California. Sincerelyr, Paul Hahn Chief Administrative Officer 2 The Opaortuni The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) Designation will be granted by the U.S. Economic Development Administration to 12 communities across the country to help accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in regions. The IMCP will reward communities that combine their efforts around workforce training, infrastructure and research centers to implement an economic development plan that will attract, retain and expand manufacturing investment. Designated communities will receive the coordinated support of thirteen federal agencies and preferential consideration for $1.3 billion in existing federal funding opportunities. The Proposal Through a strategic partnership between the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State, the Center of Economic Development at Chico State, Valley Vision, Innovate NorthState, and the Central Sierra Economic Development District, Central Valley AgPlus is an unprecedented effort to bolster California's bio -based economy. It is widely recognized that production agriculture has been the Central Valley's heritage and competitive advantage in the global economy; however, "food, fiber, forest and fuel" are the region's growth opportunities of the future. Increasing the amount of value -add agricultural manufacturing which occurs within the region will help reduce the amount of dollars and jobs that leak into other countries; primarily those along the Pacific Rim trade corridor. The region also is uniquely positioned to capitalize on alternative fuel production stemming from agricultural waste streams and biomass situated within the region's forested areas. Reducing the biomass within the region's forests will not only reduce the propensity of costly fires but also make the critical watersheds that irrigate the Central Valley more efficient and bountiful. Through coordination and strategic investments in areas such as in- demand workforce training, commercialized research, strengthened supply chains, improved transportation and energy infrastructure, export promotion and enhanced access to capital, the four sub - regions of the Central Valley will mitigate their chronic poverty and unemployment by creating a globally competitive environment that will attract, retain and expand investments in manufacturing. This designation will enable California's Central Valley to create good - paying jobs while expanding the nation's manufacturing output and exporting value. Department ofAgriculture RBEG; REDLG; Intermediary Re- lending; Rural Development Loans; Business & Industry Loan Guarantees Department of Housing and Urban Development Integrated Planning & Investment Grants; Delta Community Capital Capacity Initiative; Appalachia Economic Development Initiative Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCT) Department of Transportation Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Environmental Protection Agency Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBA); Brownfields Site Assessment /Cleanup /RLF National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education (ATE); I /UCRC (supplemental awards) Small Business Administration Accelerator Program (Additional Technical Assistance available and programs that support IMCP objectives) Department of Commerce MEP technical assistance Department of Defense Community Economic Adjustment technical assistance Department of Education Technical education technical assistance Department of Energy Clean Energy Company Incubation; CHP technical assistance; Industrial Assessment Centers; National Lab Resources SIDE ONE There are many direct benefits of the designation: Preferential consideration for $1.3 billion in federal funding A federal point of contact to help access federal economic development resources Branding and promotion as a Manufacturing Community Potential consideration for federal financial assistance through challenge award grants As well as, many indirect benefits: Enhanced cross - regional collaboration Strong network for resource sharing and peer learning Organizational structure for future investment opportunities The proposed geography includes 28 counties and comprises four sub - regions: 6 North State: Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Butte Plumas, Sierra, Nevada flo, Sacramento, Solano isa, Tuolumne ed, Madera, Fresno, SIDE TWO