**Federal Interagency Task Force for the Economic Development of**

**The San Joaquin Valley**

Summary of Meeting September 9, 2004

Great Valley Center, Modesto

**Present**: See the attached list

**Introductions**: Carol Whiteside, President of the Great Valley
Center, and Dick Rainey, Regional Director of HUD and Chair of the Task
Force welcomed all. Julie Benevedes-Menzes brought greetings from the
**Governor's Office**. There was excellent discussion at various times
of the meeting about the desirability of State agency participation
through a similar interagency Task Force.

Dennis Stewert (USDA) discussed the **Food and Nutrition** program in
the Valley and introduced two new USDA fellows who will be working with
Foodbanks. He suggested an initiative for the Task Force related to
Nutritional Food and Buying California and offered to develop and
possibly staff the initiative.

Tom Kelly (EPA), Allison Quaid (SEI), and JP Batmale (GVC) presented the
report from the **Clean Air/Clean Energy Initiative** and led a
discussion on specific short-term projects that are now in the works.
See attached report.

John Olson (FRB), Ann Marie Flynn (RCAC), and Lidia Mena-Hermida (HUD)
reported on the **Financial Education Initiative** and its next steps,
discussed the new opportunity with financial institutions in the region,
and showed the new foto-novella to be used for training. See attached
report.

Peter Weber with Ashley Swearingen and Tim Lynch showed the presentation
made for the Governor to get State participation in the **Regional Jobs
Initiative** efforts and discussed meeting with the Great Valley Center
and the economic development organizations throughout the Valley to
coordinate efforts.

Rollie Smith presented the plan for staffing the Initiatives of the Task
Force through non-profit organizations.

**Follow up from previous County meetings**: There was some discussion
of developing a new initiative related to supporting the utility
community service districts in the rural areas of the Valley that came
out of the **Tulare County** meeting. Ron Truly reported on follow up
with some of the groups and issues that came with the **Kern County**
meeting. A delegation for the City of Newman, with which Juan Regalado
has been working, presented what has been developed since our last
meeting in **Stanislaus County**. Rollie Smith gave a brief report on
the South Dos Palos effort that was discussed in our **Merced County**
Meeting.

In the afternoon, Carol Whiteside presented the major activities of the
Great Valley Center and discussed many of the synergies with the Task
Force mission and initiatives.

**Outcomes**: Next Page

**Federal Interagency Task Force**

September 9, 2004, Great Valley Center, Modesto

The following decisions and actions came out of the meeting:

-   Carol Whiteside and Rollie Smith will meet to draft an MOU between
    the Task Force and the GVC to coordinate and resource activities.

-   The Task Force will present its staffing plan at the next Federal
    Regional Council in San Francisco to discover approaches to get
    funding for Task Force Initiatives.

-   The GVC will convene with the Task Force the appropriate
    institutions and persons to discuss the possibility of an initiative
    to improve the community utility service districts in the rural
    areas of the Valley.

-   The Task Force will request HUD Policy, Development, and Research to
    assign Jon Sperling to the GVC for developing a GIS system for the
    Valley that would meet the purposes of the Task Force, the GVC, and
    HUD.

-   The GVC will convene with the Task Force a meeting to bring the
    Fresno RJI together with the CVEDC and business and industry groups
    in the Valley to build on and connect with the Regional Jobs
    Initiative.

-   Deena Sasson, EDA, has provided information to submit nominees for
    the Economic Strategy Panel by the Governor from the Valley. There
    are eight vacant positions.

-   Juan Regalado, DOL, will set up a session in which a team of
    appropriate members of the Task Force and its partners will meet
    with the community of Newman to further the development of the city.

-   MOUs with the City of Fresno and the Housing Authority for renewable
    energy and green building will be pursued as models for agreements
    with other cities in the Valley. Also other short term projects
    discussed at the meeting will be pursued.

-   DOL and HUD will meet with representatives of the Regional Jobs
    Training Partnership, the RJI Construction Cluster, and the WIBs to
    discuss the development of preapprenticeship programs that relate to
    affordable housing and neighborhood development. First meeting
    September 15.

-   The presentations by the Fresno RJI and the Great Valley Center will
    be put on the Task Force website: http://www.sanjoaquinvalley.us

-   The next meeting of the Task Force will be held in November in
    Merced in conjunction with the University of Merced and a briefing
    with Representative Cardoza.

See attachments: Participants and Reports

Federal Interagency Task Force

**September 9 Participants**

**Federal Agencies:**

DOL\--Juan Regalado

SBA\--Ron Truly

HUD\--Dick Rainey, Rollie Smith, Lidia Mena-Hermida, Larry Roselle,
Toulu Thao

HQ\--Jon Sperling, Elizabeth Pollitt

HHS\--Emory Lee

EPA\--Tom Kelly

DOC/EDA\--Deena Sasson

DOC/EAC\--Eduardo Torres

DOC/IRS---Josie Martinez

FRB\--John Olson

DOE\--Janie Rochford

USDA\--Dennis Stewert, Melissa Daigel

**Congressional Delegation:**

Rep. Cardoza: Ryan Kelly

Rep Radanovich: Lacey Kiriakou

Sen. Boxer: Margaret Arechiga

**Partners:**

Governor\'s Liaison: Julie Benevedes-Menzes

Strategic Energy Innovations: Allison Quaid

GVC: Carol Whiteside, JP Batmale, Sheila Hurst, Carolyn Ratto, Ellen
Harrod

RCAC: Ann Marie Flynn

Operation Clean Air: Brian Wise

RJI: Tim Lynch, Peter Weber, Ashley Swearingen

RJTP: Doug Whipple, Dave Ingram

Stanislaus County Chamber: Gary Plummer

Citibank: Mary Hogarty

Newman: Maria Lemus, Roberto Salinas, Maria Velasquez, Robert Garcia

USDA fellows: Laura Tatum, Dennis Barrett

Stanco/CDC Network: Dave Meling

**Update on the Clean Air/Clean Energy Initiative in the Central
Valley**

**Report to the Federal Interagency Task Force, September 9, 2004**

**Initiative Steering Committee: Paul Johnson, DOE, Chair**

**[A. Background]{.underline}**

The Federal Interagency Task Force for the Economic Development of the
San Joaquin Valley (Task Force) is collaborating in three regional
initiatives: 1) employment and workforce readiness through the Regional
Jobs Initiative, 2) asset development among the poorest residents
through the Financial Education Initiative, and 3) environmental support
to economic development through the Clean Air and Clean Energy (CA/CE)
Initiative. These initiatives are elements of an overall, integrated
strategy, called the Central Valley Initiative (CVI), for the economic
development of the region.

The CA/CE Initiative will be carried out through a working group
consisting of Federal (EPA, DOE DOT and HUD) staff and with input from
state agencies, non-profits and other organizations. The CA/CE Working
Group met in May and June 2004 to clarify the group's mission, vision,
and goals and how it would operate. The proposed scope of activities for
the CA/CE Initiative are described in Section B below.

**[B. Proposed Scope of Activities for the CA/CE
Initiative]{.underline}**

***1. Mission***

Our mission is to realize our vision for a more livable Central San
Joaquin Valley by supporting and advocating clean energy investments in
the Valley and providing an incubator to develop and nurture projects
that provide lasting clean energy solutions to the Valley\'s economic
and environmental problems.

***2. Goals***

Three goals are proposed:

● To the extent, possible increase federal agency investment in clean
air and clean energy initiatives in the Valley above current levels.
(Investment in this context refers to the allocation of technical and
financial resources by agency staff.)

● To adopt policies and take actions to support incorporation of clean
energy technologies into Federal Agency properties in the Valley.

● To provide incubator services to develop and nurture, secure funding
for at least 4 quick-start clean energy projects in the Valley in 2004
that address the outcomes identified below. We also intend to lay the
foundation for long term larger scale projects that benefit large
portions of the Valley.

> .

***3. Needs***

The Working Group has identified the following energy-related needs in
the Valley.

● Create/Strengthen An Energy Infrastructure to Develop and

Implement Clean Energy Projects

● Develop Approaches that Address both the Energy, Economic and

Environmental Needs of the Agricultural Sector

● Develop Approaches that Address the Energy, Environmental, and

Economic Aspects of Transportation in the Valley

● Provide local officials with tools and assistance to make and

support clean energy investments.

● Strengthen the Clean Energy Industry

● Provide Clean Energy Education for Students and Others

> Provide Energy Efficient Housing to Meet the Current and Future Needs
> of the Valley.

● Develop a capability for short term reductions in energy use and

emissions.

● Develop Approaches that address the Energy, Environmental, and
Economic Aspects of the Commercial and Industrial sectors in the Valley.

***4. Projects\
***

***a. Short -- Term***

["Quick-Start" Projects]{.underline}

These projects will be designed to :

● deliver measurable, short-term results (within 6 to 12 months)
consistent

with our goals

● utilize proven programs

● have the potential to create momentum in the region and demonstrate
what is feasible; and

● leverage other funds.

To date we have identified and begun to develop quick start projects
relating to:

● **Diesel Pumping Efficiency** - Center for Irrigation Technology has
developed and initiated a protocol for improving the efficiency of
diesel pumps used in the agricultural sector. We are identifying means
in which to support the protocol's implementation.

● **Food Processing Industry** - Support expansion of efforts by
Lawrence Berkeley National Labs with support from DOE to improve the
efficiency of the food processing industry. Our efforts are focused on
outreach for the guidelines, funding, and dissemination of results.

● **Address Clean Energy Opportunities in Communities** - The CA/CE
would like to propose entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with the city of Fresno to provide the city with assistance to pursue
its clean energy interests. This non-binding agreement would identify
core energy interests of the city and discuss how each agency signing
the agreement would seek to leverage its technical and other resources
to meet Fresno's needs. Topics would generally include cool roofs, green
building, and smart growth. In addition to the city, participants in
this agreement could include the US Department of Energy, US
Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the California Energy Commission, and others. We are also
exploring other projects including technical support to communities.

***b. Long Term Projects***

To date the CA/CE Working Group has identified almost 20 project ideas
for promoting growth and development of clean energy in the Central
Valley that might be supported through its incubator services (see goal
#3). These include:

● Conduct a Feasibility Study and Create a Regional Energy Office

● Create a Clean Energy Cluster

● Develop a Dairy Waste Initiative

● Create a Diesel Pumping Efficiency Program

● Promote Solar Initiative for Water Pumping

● Develop and Implement a Regional Transportation Plan

● Incorporate Clean Energy Into City Projects

● Mitigate Urban Heat Islands Cool Roofs and Shade Trees

● Provide Tools, Training, and Support to Help the Clean Energy Industry
grow

● Support Hands On Education for Students

● Identify Emission reduction and Energy Efficiency Opportunities in
Large Energy Consuming Facilities in the San Joaquin Valley

# *5. Working Group Resources*

Federal Agency participants in the CA/CE Working Group identified the
following types of assistance that they could provide to support the
CA/CE Initiative.

● Simplified access to assistance Federal and state resources

● Technical assistance to assess energy options and opportunities

● Outreach and training

● Support and deploy Clean Energy Research -- disseminate key research
findings, find sites for project demonstrations, and opportunities for
business development

● Funding assistance -- receive up to date information on relevant
funding from Federal agencies, state agencies, foundations, and other

● Recognition and publicity.

● Letters of support and connections to government (all levels)

● Regulatory/ordinance assistance

● Facilitation -- to plan, and develop partnerships and projects

***6. Recent Accomplishments***

● During several meetings and conference calls we began to incubate
Quick-Start projects that we had identified. These include
diesel-pumping efficiency, working with the food processing industry,
and providing community-level assistance on clean energy projects, e.g.
smart growth planning and green building. Agency commitments for
technical support were secured to develop and refine these projects.

● In August, three members of the CA/CE initiative met with Fresno
officials to propose entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with the city to provide the city with focus and assistance to pursue
its clean energy interests. Fresno has recently identified a broad array
of clean energy interests to benefit the local economy, create jobs,
create new energy sources, promote clean air, and improve the fiscal
condition of the city. These range from pursuing community choice
aggregation, developing power generation at the waste water treatment
facility, development of a renewable hydrogen power park, and supporting
solar and green building initiatives.

> This non-binding MOU would identify core energy interests of the city
> and discuss how each agency signing the agreement would seek to
> leverage its technical and other resources to meet Fresno's needs. In
> addition to the city, participants in this agreement could include the
> US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, US
> Department of Housing and Urban Development, the California Energy
> Commission (CEC) and others.

*Services* that could be provided to the city by participants include:

● Simplified access to assistance Federal and state resources

● Technical assistance to assess energy options and opportunities

● Outreach and training

> ● Support and deploy Clean Energy Research -- disseminate key research
> findings, find sites for project demonstrations, and opportunities for
> business development
>
> ● Funding assistance -- receive up to date information on relevant
> funding from Federal agencies, state agencies, foundations, and other

● Recognition and publicity.

● Letters of support and connections to government (all levels)

● Regulatory/ordinance assistance

● Facilitation -- to plan, and develop partnerships and projects

> Reaction from the city staff was excellent. We are waiting final word
> from the city before proceeding with development of the MOU.
>
> ● We have been working with Fresno Housing Authority Staff to identify
> types of assistance that we could provide to green the development of
> the HOPE VI project in the city. On behalf of the Initiative,
> Strategic Energy Innovations applied for an EPA Smart Growth
> Brownfield Redevelopment Grant to work with the CA/CE Working Group,
> the Fresno Housing Authority and the Fresno Redevelopment Authority to
> conduct a community visioning and develop a Sustainability Report for
> West Fresno. EPA announces grant awards in Feb. 2005.

● We are actively seeking CEC involvement in the CA/CE Initiative. In
August, Paul Johnson and Cyane Dandrige met with a senior CEC staffer to
discuss the initiative and the range of interests that we had. Chris is
setting up an in-depth meeting with CEC staff sometime in September to
talk about specific ways that the CEC could assist the initiative.

### FINANCIAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS - 2003

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media  | # Over 100 a                                            |
| /image1.wm | ttend kickoff conference to promote financial education |
| f){width=" |                                                         |
| 0.74375in" | Sponsored by the Federal Partners, Valley Technology    |
| height="1. | Accelerator and Federal Reserve, this May 2003          |
| 0888888888 | financial education event was attended by bankers,      |
| 888888in"} | community groups, and government representatives.       |
|            | Conference attendees suggested creating a steering      |
|            | committee to pursue the ideas presented at the          |
|            | conference.                                             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/ | **San Joaquin Valley Financial Education Steering       |
| image2.wmf | Committee**                                             |
| ){width="0 |                                                         |
| .977083333 | The inaugural meeting of the steering committee was     |
| 3333333in" | held in June 2003. The meeting was attended by a        |
| height="0. | cross-section of organizations interested in promoting  |
| 5659722222 | financial education in the valley. Community            |
| 222222in"} | organizations, financial institutions, and local,       |
|            | state, and federal government representatives made a    |
| ![](media/ | commitment to an ongoing effort to coordinate financial |
| image3.wmf | education resources and efforts.                        |
| ){width="0 |                                                         |
| .799305555 |                                                         |
| 5555556in" |                                                         |
| height="0. |                                                         |
| 7111111111 |                                                         |
| 111111in"} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/ | # Ruiz Foods, Committee members and others partner to   |
| image4.wmf | launch Una Casa Para Mi Familia / A House For My Family |
| ){width="0 |                                                         |
| .966666666 | Ruiz Foods responds to HUD's call for employer support  |
| 6666667in" | of a workplace-based financial education program to     |
| h          | increase savings and homeownership for low-income       |
| eight="0.4 | workers and their families. Banks and other financial   |
| 8819444444 | educators, credit counselors, realtors, mortgage        |
| 444443in"} | lenders, and others help create a model for workplace   |
|            | financial education that will teach important lessons   |
| ![](media/ | for communities nationwide.                             |
| image5.wmf |                                                         |
| ){width="0 |                                                         |
| .843055555 |                                                         |
| 5555556in" |                                                         |
| height="   |                                                         |
| 0.8875in"} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media  | # Fiest                                                 |
| /image6.jp | a en Madera -- A Model of Culturally Sensitive Outreach |
| eg){width= |                                                         |
| "0.8625in" | This family event paired food and fun with financial    |
| height="1. | education. The Fiesta was sponsored by the Irvine       |
| 1333333333 | Foundation and organized by Madera's Oaxacan community, |
| 333333in"} | Farmworker Advisory Group, Maderans Making a            |
|            | Difference, and Minotaur. Attendees took advantage of   |
|            | financial education offerings, including a prepaid      |
|            | bankcard demonstration.                                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| !          | # President Supports Una Casa Para Mi Familia Program   |
| [](media/i |                                                         |
| mage7.jpeg | President Bush and HUD Secretary Martinez visit Ruiz    |
| ){width="0 | Foods in October 2003, raising awareness of the         |
| .955555555 | initiative's importance and further energizing partner  |
| 5555556in" | commitments to the program.                             |
| height="0. |                                                         |
| 7388888888 |                                                         |
| 888889in"} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/ | # 1^st^ Ph                                              |
| image8.wmf | ase of Valley-wide Financial Education Survey Completed |
| ){width="0 |                                                         |
| .977083333 | Committee members from the I-5 Social Services Corp and |
| 3333333in" | IRS led the first survey of financial educators         |
| h          | throughout the Valley with support from the FRB and     |
| eight="0.1 | Minotaur. The survey will help the committee identify   |
| 8888888888 | opportunities for collaboration and identify gaps where |
| 888888in"} | more training is needed.                                |
|            |                                                         |
| !          |                                                         |
| [](media/i |                                                         |
| mage9.jpeg |                                                         |
| ){width="1 |                                                         |
| .031944444 |                                                         |
| 4444446in" |                                                         |
| height="0. |                                                         |
| 2111111111 |                                                         |
| 111111in"} |                                                         |
|            |                                                         |
| ![](media/ |                                                         |
| image2.wmf |                                                         |
| ){width="0 |                                                         |
| .811111111 |                                                         |
| 1111111in" |                                                         |
| height="0. |                                                         |
| 2881944444 |                                                         |
| 444444in"} |                                                         |
|            |                                                         |
| !          |                                                         |
| [](media/i |                                                         |
| mage10.wmf |                                                         |
| ){width="1 |                                                         |
| .003472222 |                                                         |
| 2222223in" |                                                         |
| h          |                                                         |
| eight="0.1 |                                                         |
| 7777777777 |                                                         |
| 777778in"} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

###  FINANCIAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS - 2004

+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/im  | # Rural Comm                                         |
| age11.wmf){wi | unity Assistance Corporation Agrees to Serve as Comm |
| dth="1.153472 | ittee's Fiscal Agent Supported by The Minotaur Group |
| 2222222222in" |                                                      |
| heig          | Funding was identified as a critical need. RCAC was  |
| ht="0.2548611 | selected as the right fiscal agent. Support was      |
| 111111111in"} | offered by Minotaur, which submitted the 1st SJV     |
|               | FinEd grant request (securing invitation to apply    |
| ![](media/im  | for US Catholic Bishops' Campaign for Human          |
| age10.wmf){wi | Development funds in 2004).                          |
| dth="1.003472 |                                                      |
| 2222222223in" |                                                      |
| heigh         |                                                      |
| t="0.17777777 |                                                      |
| 777777778in"} |                                                      |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/    | # FDIC MoneySmart "Train the Trainer" Workshop Held  |
| image12.wmf){ |                                                      |
| width="0.6in" | The Committee sponsored a visit from the FDIC to     |
| heig          | teach community members how to present the FDIC's    |
| ht="0.7215277 | MoneySmart financial education curriculum, which is  |
| 777777778in"} | available in both English and Spanish.               |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/im  | **1st Funding Secured for Una Casa Para Mi Familia & |
| age13.wmf){wi | Committee Initiatives, including survey, website,    |
| dth="1.265972 | outreach**                                           |
| 2222222223in" |                                                      |
| heig          | Citigroup granted \$20,000 to Self-Help Enterprises  |
| ht="0.3659722 | in support of workplace-based financial education    |
| 222222222in"} | while Bank of America granted an equal amount to     |
|               | RCAC in support of other SJV FinEd initiatives.      |
| !             |                                                      |
| [](media/imag |                                                      |
| e14.wmf){widt |                                                      |
| h="0.74375in" |                                                      |
| heig          |                                                      |
| ht="0.4326388 |                                                      |
| 888888889in"} |                                                      |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| !             | **Assets for Independence Individual Development     |
| [](media/imag | Account (IDA) Workshops Held, Emphasizing Need for   |
| e15.jpeg){wid | Collaborative Approach**                             |
| th="1.3125in" |                                                      |
| heig          | These provided a forum for organizations to begin    |
| ht="0.5208333 | discussing options for collaboration as well as to   |
| 333333334in"} | learn about IDA funding and delivery.                |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/im  | **"Budget Day" Results in 141 Team Member Sign-ups   |
| age16.wmf){wi | for Una**                                            |
| dth="0.831944 |                                                      |
| 4444444445in" | **Casa Para Mi Familia Orientation (Homebuyer        |
| heig          | Education)**                                         |
| ht="0.6048611 |                                                      |
| 111111111in"} | Fiesta-style "Budget Day" event is held May 2004 at  |
|               | Ruiz Foods, coordinated by Minotaur and other        |
|               | partners. The event raises awareness of savings and  |
|               | asset development. In June 2004, a Ruiz Foods team   |
|               | member became a homeowner as a result of the         |
|               | resources provided at Budget Day.                    |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+
| !             | **More to Come**                                     |
| [](media/imag |                                                      |
| e18.wmf){widt | In the year ahead, the Valley can also expect:       |
| h="0.78125in" |                                                      |
| he            | • More Una Casa Para Mi Familia-style Workplace      |
| ight="0.3in"} | Programs, one already underway at Foster Farms       |
|               |                                                      |
| ![](media/ima | • More FotoNovelas, which raise awareness of budget  |
| ge19.png){wid | benefits and "how-tos" in a culturally effective     |
| th="0.4993055 | format                                               |
| 5555555556in" |                                                      |
| heig          | • Expanded use of                                    |
| ht="0.5513888 | [www.SJVFinEd.org](http://www.SJVFinEd.org/) for     |
| 888888889in"} | online delivery of tools and information, increasing |
|               | accessibility throughout the Valley                  |
| ![](media/im  |                                                      |
| age20.wmf){wi | • Collaboration on IDA, EITC and other initiatives   |
| dth="1.133333 | to raise savings rates throughout the Valley,        |
| 3333333333in" | leading to increased homeownership                   |
| heig          |                                                      |
| ht="0.3597222 |                                                      |
| 222222222in"} |                                                      |
|               |                                                      |
| ![](media/ima |                                                      |
| ge21.jpeg){wi |                                                      |
| dth="0.364583 |                                                      |
| 3333333333in" |                                                      |
| heigh         |                                                      |
| t="0.35555555 |                                                      |
| 555555557in"} |                                                      |
|               |                                                      |
| ![](media/ima |                                                      |
| ge22.jpeg){wi |                                                      |
| dth="0.786111 |                                                      |
| 1111111111in" |                                                      |
| heig          |                                                      |
| ht="0.4305555 |                                                      |
| 555555556in"} |                                                      |
+---------------+------------------------------------------------------+