1. What is the Partnership for Prosperity?

The Partnership is a broad coalition of more than 34 economic development stakeholder organizations that authored, and are carrying out, a collaborative 3-5 year regional business plan for the Sacramento region.

Top

2. Who does it include and concern?
The coalition that authored the plan includes business, finance, technology, labor, utilities, universities, ethnic chambers of commerce and other major organizations from the six-county region that includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.

Top

3. What is the goal?
To keep our region competitive by coordinating the goals and resources of groups from many sectors to create a proactive economic vision or blueprint. We’re stronger and more efficient when we work from the same playbook.

Top

4. Why do we need this?
Competition in today’s economy increasingly occurs at the regional level, and our economic advantages are narrowing under the current de facto strategy. Housing and other costs of doing business continue to rise at the same time that growth impacts like traffic and air pollution mar quality of life and marketability. We also depend heavily on just two industry sectors, government and construction.

Top

5. Who is involved, and how were they chosen?
The Sacramento Metro Chamber, Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO) and Valley Vision initiated the project. They sought involvement from dozens of economic stakeholders and public input via the Web, media and presentations at events.

Top

6. What are the strategies?

• Business and government leaders will cooperate better to make this the best place to do business in California.
• We will prove our innovation by growing our unique green energy sector.
• We will ensure high school grads are ready to continue their education and join our quality workforce.
• We will support our colleges to produce the skilled people and new initiatives that align with our regional economic needs. 
• We will invest more in civic amenities that enhance our identity and our quality of life. 

Top

7. Why did we choose these strategies?
More than a year of research, interviews, data gathering and analysis, polling and discussion went into the plan before its Spring 2006 launch. Some strategies are intended to improve basic, nuts-and-bolts components of our economy, while others are new and more catalytic. The major benefit is the plan aligns many partners behind all goals for maximum effect. 

Top

8. How is this a regional effort?
Most partnering organizations are regional in scope, and we interviewed stakeholders from each county to gauge their needs. Participation continues to be open to the entire region.  

Top

9. Why are you concentrating on these strategies and not, say, flood control?
Partnership leaders decided to focus on ripe issues they are uniquely suited to address.  There is already significant regional attention paid to major issues like flood control and transportation, for instance. And the plan is a living document that can adapt as needs evolve.

Top

10. How is this different than similar efforts undertaken in the past?
Partnership for Prosperity is unique because of its scope and who is involved. The groups supporting and participating in Partnership represent a wide range of economic interests in the region - from arts and education, technology and business, and transportation and utilities.

We also sought and incorporated feedback from a broad range of community members via presentations at events, media coverage and the Web. Most efforts similar to Partnership have been owned by one organization, or have involved limited partners.

It's also unique because of its commitment to action. We are committed to a backend strategy that is as robust as the planning stages. Our project leaders and "action teams" of key stakeholders still gather regularly to identify and carry out tasks and hold themselves accountable for results.

Top

11. How is this funded?
The effort is ffunded by participating private and public sector regional organizations. Each organization, representing their individual constituent organizations and companies, is asked to contribute to help cover research, expert consultation and project management. There is also significant in-kind work from our partners who have incorporated the regional business plan into their own work.

Top

12. How does this effort affect the average Sacramento resident or business?
Strengthening the region’s economy, business climate and workforce helps everyone via better jobs, educational opportunities, civic amenities and quality of life. This plan is particuarly relevant because it was built from the ground up in a transparent process, rather than in a back room by a few officials.  

Top

13. What’s happened since you launched the plan, and what’s next?
The partners who helped write the plan committed to infuse it into their own yearly work plans. Partnership leaders also formed several “action teams” of key stakeholders and volunteer experts to carry out the strategies in the plan. Each group of 25+ business, community and elected leaders meets monthly to identify and carry out tasks. Designated “champions” oversee the process and hold it accountable for results.

Top

14. What will be the result? What changes will the region see?
It will take many years to see the results of Partnership's efforts. In the short-term, the first outcome is our shared action plan that helps inspire regional organizations to align their resources and talent towards accomplishing a unified economic vision. Other results will include improved dialogue, interaction and information flow between key organizations.

Top