Task force delights in delivering on vow of 'action, action, action.'

Here's a twist. Silicon Valley is jealous of the San Joaquin Valley.

Believe it, says Victoria Bradshaw, state secretary of labor and workforce development: "The other Valley is beginning to think we're spending too much time in the San Joaquin Valley."

Bradshaw is one of eight Cabinet secretaries assigned to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, a task force appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger that is charged with improving the economy and living conditions of the eight-county region.

When the governor announced the 26-member task force in June, he promised "action, action, action." Bradshaw and others say they are delivering.

"There is more cooperation and more collaboration than we've ever seen before," said Valley native Sunne Wright McPeak, state secretary of business, transportation and housing and the partnership's leader.

The group gets feedback from business and civic leaders from throughout the Valley. Eight work groups focus on everything from air quality to education. Public forums will be held today in Hanford and Friday in Fresno.

The partnership expires Nov. 1. At that time, members will submit an action plan on how to improve the region, which extends from San Joaquin County south to Kern County. Partnership members cite the following accomplishments so far:

Clean-air incentives. Legislation has been introduced that would create a Valleywide Air Quality Mitigation Zone that would give tax incentives for investments in air-quality mitigation technologies and production of clean energy. Another bill would help low-income residents replace high-polluting vehicles.

Nursing training. A consortium of Valley health-care training companies is being formed, with state assistance, to improve nursing training. Examples of projects include creating a database of eligible faculty.

Highway 99. A spending proposal was adopted for the aging highway, calling for an immediate $1 billion investment. Partnership members say the plan helped get the highway on the lists of proposals for a statewide infrastructure bond.

Education. Legislation has been introduced to give poor-performing school districts, including Fresno Unified, greater flexibility when spending money and setting curriculum.

Transportation. Partnership input helped Valley agencies land $2 million from a $5 million pot of statewide money available for regional transportation planning.

Some of these accomplishments are works in progress. For instance, the Highway 99 plan will mean little unless lawmakers can reach a deal to get an infrastructure bond on the ballot.

Talks broke down to get the measure on the June ballot, and the focus has shifted to November.

Though some Highway 99 momentum might be lost, McPeak said, "I think the vigilance that the San Joaquin Valley leaders and legislators continue to [show] is going to be very helpful ... to keep that funding in place."

Meanwhile, legislation recommended by the committee and embraced by Valley lawmakers still must pass the Legislature.

Assembly Member Juan Arambula, D-Fresno, wrote the air quality and education bills with input from the partnership. But while the partnership endorsement might mean something if the bills reach the governor's desk, they will have to pass the Legislature on their own merits, he said.

That the partnership was created at all could be considered a major accomplishment.

Valley groups, including the Regional Jobs Initiative, lobbied the Schwarzenegger administration for months. They argued that the Valley's chronic unemployment, high crime rate, poor air quality and run-down infrastructure were bringing down the entire state.

Leaders originally expressed frustration that they couldn't get the governor's attention. But now that the administration is on board, officials are mostly pleased.

"They really are committed, they really are present," said Ashley Swearengin, chief operating officer of the RJI, a grassroots job-creation effort.

But there are limits on how much can be accomplished, as evidenced by one recent failure.

Earlier this year, the partnership applied for a $15 million federal workforce development grant. Leaders planned to used it to train workers for employment in food processing, logistics and health care. But the Valley was left out; 13 other regions got the money.

"It sounds like they just didn't buy it," Swearengin said of those reviewing the Valley bid. Still, the application -- like the partnership itself -- forced the region to think as one.

"We're further down the path because of that than we could have been without it," Swearengin said.

The reporter can be reached at eschultz@fresnobee.com or (916) 326-5541.

INFOBOX

If you go

What: California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley public meetings

When: 9:30 a.m. today and 8 a.m. Friday

Where: Today's meeting will be held at the Civic Auditorium in downtown Hanford, 400 N. Douty St. Friday's meeting will be at the Fresno Convention Center New Exhibit Hall, 848 M St.

Details: For more on the partnership, visit www.bth.ca.gov/capartnership/sanjoaquinvalley.asp.