From Frontline to Leadership: Farmworker Workforce Development in Practice

Photo credit: Charles Vincent McDonald

Over the past two years, the AgHiRE Program has grown into a coordinated regional effort to strengthen frontline agricultural leadership across Northern California. Led by the Center for Land-Based Learning and supported by partners including Valley Vision, the program grew out of a shared recognition among employers and workforce partners that many experienced workers already have significant responsibility and have strong potential to advance further into supervisory roles, and that targeted investment in language, digital, and regulatory skills can help unlock that progression in a more structured and supported way.

Early design conversations, led by agricultural employers alongside workforce and education partners, focused on what advancement actually looks like in day-to-day agricultural work. English for workplace communication surfaced as a foundational need, alongside digital literacy, as farm operations continue to modernize, and a shared concern about regulatory and safety knowledge, ranging from wage-and-hour compliance to heat-illness prevention and workplace responsibility. From those discussions, AgHiRE took shape as a 90-hour structured, cohort training model for participants, designed to be practical, applied, and closely tied to real workplace conditions rather than lecture-based instruction.

The first full cohort launched in late 2024, bringing together over 20 participants across 12 employers and a wide range of agricultural operations. Many learners were already functioning as informal crew leads, positioned between frontline teams and management. Over several months of instruction, and in collaboration with education partners such as Woodland Adult Education, the Forum, and YoloWorks!, they engaged in English as a Second Language (ESL) training tailored to agricultural settings, digital literacy modules delivered through Northstar in Spanish, and foundational content in labor law, workplace safety, and leadership communication.

The program achieved a 96% attendance rate, driven in part by scheduling during the agricultural off-season and offering training during paid work hours. In English language development, 48% of AgHiRE participants advanced to the next ESL level. Across the digital literacy modules, the first cohort averaged above 80% on assessments, reflecting gains in core areas such as email use, file management, basic troubleshooting, and spreadsheet functions. Just as important, students showed increased comfort using these tools in workplace settings to support communication and coordination.

Employers noted clear behavioral shifts following participation. These included greater confidence in communication, more willingness to ask clarifying questions, and increased proactive engagement with management. Several also observed improved coordination within crews and smoother information flow during daily operations. While not always fully captured in formal metrics, these changes were consistently reflected in workplace dynamics, particularly in how the group approached problem-solving, communication, and task execution in real time.

The leadership component became one of the most defining parts of the program. Rather than treating supervision as a job title, the curriculum focused on what leadership looks like in practice: giving clear feedback, managing conflict under pressure, and building trust within teams. Learners were encouraged to bring real workplace scenarios into discussion, grounding the learning in lived experience and making the sessions highly relevant to their roles. Alongside this, regulatory and safety topics were integrated throughout, including wage-and-hour rules, heat-illness prevention, harassment and workplace-safety expectations, and the increased responsibility that comes with supervisory authority.

By March of 2025, the first cohort cycle culminated in a graduation held at the Capay Valley Health and Community Center. This marked the program’s first formal completion milestone, bringing together participants, families, employers, and partners to recognize advancement into more defined supervisory roles.

Building from that foundation and responding directly to participant and employer feedback, the program evolved to better meet learners where they are. ESL and digital literacy instruction were each divided into two levels, allowing participants to engage with content that more closely matched their existing skills and learning pace. In addition, an advanced cohort was introduced for returning Year 1 participants, creating a clear pathway for continued skill development and deeper engagement. This second implementation, with 32 trainees enrolled from 11 partner farms, reflects both continued demand and the model’s adaptability across regions.

In March of 2026, the program reached a milestone with its second graduation at the Woodland Community Center. The event brought together participants, families, employers, and partners to recognize completion and advancement. Rather than standing alone as a celebratory moment, the graduation reflected something broader: participants stepping more fully into supervisory roles they were already growing into within their workplaces.

Photo credit: Charles Vincent McDonald

Employers across both regions have described similar patterns of impact: increased confidence among participants, stronger communication within crews, and improved ability to anticipate and respond to workplace needs. These changes reflect the program’s intent to strengthen the “in-between” layer of leadership that is often critical in agricultural operations but rarely formally supported through training.

Valley Vision’s role in AgHiRE has centered on supporting coordination across partners, facilitating employer and advisory engagement, and helping align the program with broader regional workforce goals. The Center for Land-Based Learning continues to lead program delivery, with AgHiRE functioning as a collaborative model shaped by employers, educators, and community organizations working together over time.

As of August 2025, AgHiRE has been supported by the California Jobs First We Prosper Together initiative. This funding has enabled the program to explore expanding access to neighboring counties, including Colusa, Yuba, and Sutter counties, while also creating space to refine and adapt the model for different agricultural contexts. The project will continue to assess the feasibility of scaling their worker upskilling curriculum in these additional disinvested agricultural communities, strengthening alignment with employer needs and ensuring the curriculum remains practical and relevant to day-to-day operations. This effort focuses on maintaining clear, accessible pathways for Spanish-speaking farmworkers in rural areas to advance into supervisory roles.

This project and approval for worker upskilling reflect a simple but important reality: workforce advancement is not driven by a single skill, but by the combination of communication, confidence, technical ability, and trust. When those elements come together, the impact is felt not only by individual cohorts but across crews, operations, and the broader agricultural system they support. As AgHiRE continues to expand through additional cohorts and regional growth supported by We Prosper Together, the emphasis now is on refining and scaling what’s already been tested. That includes keeping training closely tied to day-to-day work, staying responsive to employer feedback, and making sure the structure remains realistic for both workers and operations. The focus remains on continuing to build pathways for experienced frontline workers to step into leadership roles with the tools they need to do so well, and on strengthening the alignment among training, employer needs, and on-the-ground realities of agricultural work.

To keep up with Valley Vision’s work to advance livability in the Capital Region, subscribe to our Vantage Point email newsletter!
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Liz Kilkenny is Valley Vision’s Workforce Project Coordinator.
Caitlin Blockus is Valley Vision’s Workforce Senior Project Manager.

Capital Region Employers Discuss AI Implications Across Key Sectors

Today the pace and scale of technological change feels unprecedented, reminiscent of the early days of the World Wide Web. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how work is organized, how businesses operate, and how skills are defined.  

On February 19th, Valley Vision hosted a webinar on The Changing Landscape of Work: Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies, examining how rapidly evolving technologies are reshaping employer needs and workplace practices across the Capital Region. The advisory gathered employers across sectors, including Accenture, the State of California (CalHR), Clutch, and Marshall Medical Center, each bringing a distinct sector perspective. They set the stage, conveying a universal message that AI is best viewed as an additive tool that re-engineers workflows, especially repetitive, data-heavy, or document-heavy tasks. They confirmed, AI is not about removing workers, but about freeing them to focus on higher-value, judgment-driven work. The panel emphasized that mid-level roles, particularly in operations and analysis, are seeing the most transformation today, while relationship-based and people-centered work, from clinical care to public service, remains deeply human.

In every conversation, the same truth emerged: AI literacy is no longer optional. Across the public and private sectors, organizations are seeking talent with a blend of critical thinking, adaptability, and digital fluency. Panelists agreed that employers want individuals who can use AI tools thoughtfully, employ a keen eye for accuracy, check outputs, and explain their reasoning. The message was clear:  job seekers need to understand how AI applies to their field, come to job interviews prepared to discuss concrete examples, and employ critical thinking skills when utilizing AI in the workplace. A CalHR representative explained that California’s statewide approach centers on skill-building rather than displacement, noting, “AI is additive, not foundational.” This principle has to reinforce a future where technology amplifies human ability rather than replacing it.

A common sentiment among the panelists was that responsible AI adoption is a strategic decision, not a trend. Marshall Medical shared how its AI Oversight Committee ensures that new tools address clearly identified needs such as ambient scribe technology, which listens during patient visits and generates clinical notes, reducing documentation time for providers. The organization is also leveraging AI to optimize operating room scheduling and improve efficiency. Marshall’s approach ensures that technology supports employees rather than replacing them, aligning with the state’s emphasis on keeping workers involved in all AI assisted decision making. The common theme spoken is to keep people central in decision-making while letting AI handle repetitive, low value tasks.

Hands on, applied learning emerged as a central topic of the discussion. Panelists agreed that the most effective learning happens on the job, where individuals use AI to improve real workflows and see immediate impact. From drafting reports to analyzing data, building comfort through practice was seen as more valuable than mastering any single platform. Rather than focusing on tool-specific training, the panel members emphasized the need for foundational skills, including data literacy, real world workflow design evaluation, and critical thinking. An Accenture representative reflected a growing agreement that sustainable AI readiness requires applied, iterative learning, and that training programs should build confidence, curiosity, and the ability to adapt across changing tools and contexts. This approach mirrors the U.S. Department of Labor’s AI Literacy Framework, which promotes hands-on education that helps workers learn how to think critically about AI, not just how to use it.

As the webinar came to a close, panelists offered tangible advice for navigating the evolving AI landscape:

For job seekers;

• Stay curious and proactive.
•  Use AI to draft reports, analyze data, or brainstorm ideas, but always edit, verify, and personalize. 
• Demonstrating how you’ve used AI to improve your workflow can make you stand out to employers. 

For training and education partners;

• Create hands-on, outcome focused learning experiences. 
• Courses should require learners to prompt, critique, and refine AI outputs and measure success through real impact, like faster workflows and improved decision making.
• Intentionally strengthen human skills such as critical thinking, judgment, communication, adaptability, and creativity, which AI can support but not replace.

As they closed out the event, the employer panel agreed that AI’s role in the workplace is evolving quickly but remains focused on human decision-making. Rather than replacing jobs, AI is changing how tasks are completed and the skills required to do them. As organizations and education systems across the capital region continue to integrate AI into their operations, the shared challenge will be to ensure that workforce systems evolve just as intentionally, equipping people not only to use AI but to lead alongside it.

The full recording of The Changing Landscape of Work: Keeping up with Emerging Technologies Webinar, is available here. For more information about how Valley Vision is helping lead the Capital Region in this matter, check out the We Prosper Together Regional Plan.

Building a Region That Works: Aligning Jobs, Infrastructure, and Opportunity

When the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) released its newest Blueprint in January 2025, it did more than set a long-term direction for growth – it reinforced a practical truth the Capital Region has been proving for years: Our region’s future success depends on aligning transportation, housing, and land use with the growth of good jobs and community investments – so both urban and rural economic centers are connected, accessible, and positioned to thrive.

At Valley Vision, that alignment has been at the heart of our work with SACOG for more than two decades. Since partnering to engage the community around the region’s first Blueprint in 2004, Valley Vision and SACOG have worked side by side to advance shared economic, environmental, and equity goals – staying engaged not just in planning, but in how those plans are implemented on the ground. That collaboration deepened in 2016 with the launch of the Prosperity Partnership, a formal collaboration between SACOG, Valley Vision, the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce. The Partnership was created to intentionally align transportation and housing investments with economic growth, workforce needs, and environmental outcomes – ensuring that regional growth translates into opportunity and improved quality of life across communities.

The Prosperity Partnership ushered in a major investment from the state of California through CA Jobs First, which resulted in We Prosper Together, our region’s roadmap for economic growth. Together, The Blueprint and We Prosper Together plans are aligned so that economic growth doesn’t happen in isolation, but in places where people can actually access opportunity.

Growing the Right Industries in the Right Places

The Capital Region is diversifying its economy around sectors where we already have strong assets – and where growth translates into good-paying jobs.

One of the clearest examples is advanced and precision manufacturing, particularly semiconductors. The region’s semiconductor activity is growing at a rate 26 times more concentrated than the national average, supported by firms like Bosch in Roseville and Solidigm in Rancho Cordova. These companies are anchoring economic centers that depend on access to training and talent, reliable and modern transportation infrastructure, and nearby housing – exactly the conditions the Blueprint is designed to support.

Biotechnology is another cornerstone. The Capital Region’s unique blend of agricultural abundance and research excellence has positioned it as a hub for biotech innovation—from food and agriculture to medicine and medical technologies. Anchored by University of California, Davis and UC Davis Health, and strengthened by assets like Aggie Square, this sector is translating research into real-world applications, startups, and jobs.

In both cases, our community colleges and universities, in partnership with municipalities and workforce partners, are building industry-aligned pipelines so residents – especially those historically excluded from the innovation economy – can access these careers.

Measurable Results

Both We Prosper Together and the SACOG Blueprint are delivering results. For example, 12,500 housing units were completed in the region in 2024, representing a near two-decade high in new housing construction. This annual level surpasses the near-term growth projection in the 2025 Blueprint plan. In fact, when adjusting for population, the SACOG region has led California in housing production not just this year, but for eight years in a row (SACOG Regional Progress Report). 

We Prosper Together is also showing promising results. Through We Prosper Together, the region has already secured and awarded $9 million across 22 projects, leveraging an additional $6.7 million and delivering concrete outcomes:

• 12 new workforce training programs
• 826 underserved residents connected to workforce pipelines
• 170 organizations with increased capacity to deliver results
• Stronger economic centers in manufacturing, biotech, healthcare, food systems, and clean energy

Together these outcomes reinforce the importance of aligned strategy:  creating job and training opportunities, housing near job centers, transportation options that expand access, and land use strategies that support infill and reduce congestion.

Looking to the Future

Looking ahead to 2050, success means a Capital Region with multiple vibrant job centers connected by safe roads, efficient transit and trails; revitalized commercial districts; and a diversified economy anchored in biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and sustainable food systems. It means rural communities that are economically strong and climate-resilient, and an innovation economy that more people can participate in. Valley Vision is proud to work alongside SACOG and many civic, business, and community partners to ensure that alignment continues – so that growth translates into opportunity, and plans translate into results.

More information and coverage:

• Capital Public Radio: Insight with Vicki Gonzalez – Building the Sacramento Region
• CBS13: Sacramento region adopts long-term blueprint to plan housing, jobs and transportation
• Onsite Observer: SACOG adopts 2025 Blueprint outlining growth through 2050
• KVIE News Minute: SACOG Begins 25 Year Growth Plan

To keep up with Valley Vision’s work to advance livability in the Capital Region, subscribe to our Vantage Point email newsletter!

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Evan Schmidt is Valley Vision’s Chief Executive Officer.

The Capital Region Achieves a Major Clean Air Standard

We talk a lot about “playing the long game,” but rarely are we around to see the fruits of decades of labor by multiple generations of leaders.

For decades through long-standing partnerships, the Capital region’s leaders, led by our five local air districts – Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Feather River Air Quality Management District and El Dorado County Air Quality Management District – in collaboration with communities, health nonprofits, environmental advocates and industry representatives, have worked diligently and persistently in cleaning the air for the benefit of all communities.

On August 21, 2025 in Folsom, CA, our local air districts and other regional leaders joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui and former U.S. EPA Region 9 Administrator, Joshua F.W. Cook, to celebrate a major air quality achievement. The Sacramento region met the 2008 8-hour Ozone standard by the 2024 attainment date. Meeting this air quality standard means our communities get to breathe cleaner air and our region will continue to receive federal support and funding. Read the press release here.

The air quality in the Capital region, which includes Yolo, Solano, Yuba, Sutter, Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado Counties, is geographically impacted by a combination of surrounding mountains, plenty of sunshine, wind patterns and thermal air inversions, making the region dangerously vulnerable to high levels of air pollution. An inversion layer is a layer of warm air trapping cooler air underneath, effectively acting as a lid, trapping pollutants near the ground in the Sacramento valley. Moreover, mountain ranges surrounding the region create a natural barrier, preventing horizontal air movement, which contributes to inversion layers. Meanwhile, the Capital region is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state of California. According to our region’s metropolitan planning organization for land use and transportation, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the region is projected to add an additional 580,000 residents by the year 2050 (SACOG 2025 Blueprint). Therefore, the Capital region must accommodate population growth through increasing housing production and increasing investments in transportation and utility infrastructure and will have to do so in a way that will also help to manage the challenges that come with rapid growth such as congestion, pollution, and other public service impacts. 

The Capital region’s historical and projected population growth, in combination with its unique topography, will continue to impact air quality, public health and economic growth, especially in our most vulnerable communities. Due to these varying reasons, the Capital region must continue to prioritize and implement strategies and programs that help curb emissions alongside a growing population. If left unregulated, growing emissions from gas and diesel vehicles, heavy equipment that supports multiple industries, including agriculture and logistics and transportation, building and construction, and open burning and wildfire smoke, will endanger millions of people and wildlife and exhaust human and financial resources. For example, air pollution results in significant healthcare costs. Air pollution causes an estimated 107,000 premature deaths annually, and each American pays $2,500 in extra medical costs every year due to air pollution. These numbers contribute to a staggering total of $820 billion in U.S. healthcare costs due to air pollution, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (Health Costs From Climate Change, 2021). Therefore, it is imperative that the Capital region’s leaders, along with communities, public health non-profits, environmental advocates, and industry representatives, work together to advocate for and implement programs and policies to promote cleaner air, protect community health and advance economic growth. Cleaner air for current and future generations is a responsibility that is shared by leaders and advocates in our region. 

The Basics: Ozone Overview and Impacts to Public Health

Ozone molecules are present at both atmospheric and ground-level. Ozone that naturally occurs in the atmosphere serves as a protective layer that shields people from harmful UV rays from the sun. In contrast, ozone at the ground-level, commonly known as smog, is harmful to people and the environment. Ground-level ozone worsens asthma, irritates lungs, and can trigger chest pain, breathing difficulty and cough, particularly for sensitive populations. In our region, ground-level ozone or smog comes from a variety of sources, including gas vehicles, factories, chemical and industrial plants, gas stations and household paints, lawn mowers, barbecues, fire pits and fireplaces, and nearby wildfires. Read more about ground-level ozone basics here. 

Guided by the federal Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set and regularly review air quality standards or National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five other common criteria air pollutants that are present in outdoor air and are harmful to public health and environment: Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Lead (Pb), and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂). 

Regions that have been designated “in attainment” by the EPA have levels of these pollutants at or below the national ambient air quality standards. Regions that do not meet the national ambient air quality standards are designated as “nonattainment areas”. The Sacramento region or Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA), which includes all of Sacramento and Yolo counties and portions of Placer, El Dorado, Sutter and Solano counties, was classified as a “severe nonattainment” area for the 1997 8-hour NAAQS of 84 parts per billion (ppb) for ozone. Then again, in 2008, the EPA designated the region as a severe nonattainment area for the revised 8-hour Ozone standard of 75 ppb (Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District), and was required by the EPA to meet the national standard for ozone by the end of 2024. Due to this designation of nonattainment, the region was at risk of a transportation funding pause and more stringent restrictions for businesses in the region, which would delay our progress in improving air quality, public health and economic growth. 

In response, the region’s air districts developed the Sacramento Regional 8-hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan in 2013 to detail how the region would meet the 1997 8-hour standard, which was approved by the EPA in 2015. Then, in 2017, the districts submitted the Sacramento Regional 2008 NAAQS 8-Hour Ozone Attainment and RFP Plan showing how the area would meet the more stringent 2008 ozone standard, which EPA largely approved in 2021. The plans detail how existing and new control strategies would provide the necessary future emission reductions to meet the federal Clean Air Act requirements for reasonable further progress and attainment of the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the Sacramento region, as well as an updated emissions inventory and new motor vehicle emission budgets for transportation. Simply put, the plans document how the air districts and CARB would implement existing and new control strategies to meet the standards by the required deadlines. For example, the plans include strategies to regulate businesses such as industrial facilities or factories and transportation control measures to reduce emissions from on-road and off-road vehicles and equipment. Learn more about the two types of air quality plans that the districts must prepare and update in order to meet and maintain compliance with federal and state air quality standards, here.

Ozone standards are health based standards and achieving them is important to lessen health impacts to our communities. Pollution especially affects seniors, children, pregnant people, individuals with pre-existing health conditions, the unhoused populations, and outdoor workers. As a result, these air pollution impacts from ground-level ozone and the other five criteria air pollutants put further strain on our healthcare systems through increasing hospital visits and care from respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Air pollution also disrupts human and natural resource productivity, through crop and ecosystem damage, and increasing the need for infrastructure repair, which impacts local and state resources. According to the EPA, air pollution impacts physical infrastructure through degradation of materials such as concrete and coatings on buildings, bridges, roads, freeways and ports as a consequence of global warming events – more frequent and intense storms, flooding and extreme heat (Climate Change Impacts on Transportation).  Attaining standards offers multiple benefits to communities not only through improved air quality and public health outcomes, but also helps businesses avoid additional regulatory requirements, and strengthens eligibility for current and future transportation and infrastructure funding. 

Strength in Numbers and Partners: 2008 Ozone Standards Met By 2024 Deadline

“This achievement reflects years of hard work by local communities, businesses, and air agencies, made possible through strong partnerships at all levels of government. While reaching attainment is a proud moment, we’re not stopping here. We remain committed to advancing innovative projects and programs to meet cleaner air quality standards, which will protect our children and hard-working families for generations to come.”

Eric Guerra – California Air Resources Board of Director, Sacramento Region Air Districts

The region’s five local air districts developed plans and implemented strategies that helped our region meet the 2008 8-hour ozone standard for cleaner air and healthier communities. They did this through continuous coordination with agencies including the California Air Resources Board and US Environmental Protection Agency, with local utilities such as SMUD, local non-profit organizations such as Valley Vision and Breathe California-Sacramento, and industry and business leaders such as Teichert, CEMEX, the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Association of Realtors, and Pacific Gas & Electric through the Cleaner Air Partnership coalition. 

Through the Cleaner Air Partnership coalition, decades of advocacy, outreach and education have contributed to cleaner air and healthier communities in our region. Most notably, the Cleaner Air Partnership coalition helped require the Bay Area to conduct enhanced smog checks on vehicles, as our air quality was impacted by pollution blowing in from the west. The coalition also helped to advocate for the successful inclusion of the South Sacramento-Florin community as an Assembly Bill (AB) 617 community, which opened the door for the community to receive funding and resources for emissions reduction. Today, the coalition continues to provide outreach and education on air quality-related topics such as transportation emissions reduction strategies and actively participates in federal advocacy through the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s annual Capitol-to-Capitol program. It is key to note the contributions of the business community for investing in clean innovations and strategies, for example in complying with local, state and federal regulations such as transitioning their fleets to zero-emissions. Moreover, it is also crucial to recognize the contributions of communities, especially low-income and communities of color, who have prioritized and supported clean alternative transportation and other key emissions reduction strategies such as advocating for expanding tree canopy, advocating for protected bike and pedestrian lanes, and actively taking part in learning more about air quality and public health education.

Keeping Up Momentum: The Work Doesn’t Stop Here

The Capital region’s geography due to its unique combination of surrounding mountains, lots of sunshine, varying wind patterns, and thermal air inversions, along with a fast population growth and changing climate will continue to impact air quality, especially in polluted communities. While the region has achieved a significant milestone by meeting the 2008 ozone standard, the work can’t stop. The Capital Region’s air districts, along with our communities, various public partner agencies, organizations and businesses must continue to be creative and find innovative solutions to meet air quality standards, including the newest most stringent ozone standard of 70 ppb that was set in 2015. Investments in policies and programs that sustainably fund clean infrastructure in both the natural and built environment, strengthen public-private partnerships, and cultivate intentional and genuine community engagement and education is imperative to our region’s progress. With federal funding cuts to environmental justice and air quality programs, it is now more important than ever that the region’s leaders, including state and federal level agencies and departments, continue to work together to ensure cleaner air for the benefit of all of our communities. 

The Cleaner Air Partnership looks forward to continuing our advocacy and advancing this important work at the local, regional, state, and federal levels on behalf of all communities in the Capital Region. Learn more about Cleaner Air Partnership here to get involved and stay up to date. 

From Conversation to Action: Strengthening the Heart of Our Region

The Capital Region is a place that I chose to live, having moved here 24 years ago. Right away, I was struck by the people and places of this region: people who introduced me to new ideas and new ways of making community; and places that offered beauty and function – urban gardens, bike lanes, access to nature, and more. It felt like a region where you could raise kids, build a career, and plan for the long term – which is exactly what my husband and I did. Those qualities are what drew us in, and they’re the same ones that make this work personal for me.

At Valley Vision, we conduct the Livability Poll each year to understand people’s views on critical issues and how people across our six-county region experience life here. In comparison with our most recent Livability Poll in 2023, the 2025 results reveal a region that remains hopeful but is also under strain. Affordable housing once again tops the list of residents’ priorities, with the majority saying it’s getting harder to purchase a home or imagine retiring here. Access to healthcare rose to the second-highest priority this year, reflecting growing concern about affordability and policy uncertainty. Livable wages ranked third, with residents expressing mixed confidence in job security and career mobility – especially as artificial intelligence reshapes the labor market. Education remains a key concern, rounding out the top four, and as always, perspectives and experiences differ greatly according to geography, race and ethnicity, income, and other factors.

Despite these challenges, the data also highlights important and unique strengths. Residents continue to describe the Capital Region as a good or excellent place to live, work, and raise children. They value its diversity, natural amenities, supportive services, and sense of community – themes that came up repeatedly when people were asked about the region’s greatest strengths. In short, people care about this place and recognize the assets we have.

The Livability Poll gives us a clear picture of where we stand – but numbers alone don’t create change. That’s why we bring people together for the Livability Summit: to share data, create dialogue, and catalyze action. On October 1st, more than 350 leaders, partners, and community members gathered to do exactly that.

We gathered in Citrus Heights and experienced firsthand how local leadership is driving community vibrance. The Summit featured insights from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) on the region’s 25-year vision for growth and transportation, and from two California legislators – one Democrat and one Republican – who discussed how they’re working together across differences to serve our communities. Attendees joined five workshops focused on workforce development, affordable housing, climate resilience, federal policy, and community engagement; explored how regional media connects to civic trust; practiced tools for collaboration; and closed the day with reflections from youth leaders on their hopes for the future – capped by a community social hour with the City of Citrus Heights and the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce.

The day reinforced what I’ve long believed: data can guide us, but people move us forward. I left the Summit convinced that local, data-informed storytelling is one of our region’s most important assets. It builds shared understanding and helps communities and leaders make decisions grounded in reality, not assumptions. That’s essential to a healthy democracy – and to the kind of trust we need to take on hard issues together.

Our region is far from finished, but the progress is undeniable. We’ve achieved cleaner air, expanded cutting-edge sectors like biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, and established ourselves as a national leader in inclusive economic growth. Through We Prosper Together, we’re turning collaboration into impact – supporting projects that build living-wage jobs, prepare workers for the future, and ensure the benefits of growth reach every community in the Capital Region. The Livability Poll helps us see where we stand. The Summit reminded me that real progress comes from what we do with that knowledge – and from the people willing to keep showing up to make this region stronger.

To keep up with Valley Vision’s work to advance livability in the Capital Region, subscribe to our Vantage Point email newsletter!

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Evan Schmidt is Valley Vision’s Chief Executive Officer.

Building Momentum Around Biomass as an Economic Driver and Environmental Necessity

Highlights from Valley Vision’s Second Legislative Roundtable

Launched in 2025, the Legislators’ Roundtable builds on the success of the annual Livability Summit, bringing together the twenty-one state and federal District Directors representing our region with civic and nonprofit leaders. Meeting quarterly, these bipartisan convenings provide a powerful platform for strategic communication, relationship-building, and collaboration to directly shape solutions that impact communities across Sacramento.

As the regional convener for California Jobs First, Valley Vision is providing legislators with exclusive, real-time insights into the region’s most innovative and impactful work. This roundtable offers a first-hand look at groundbreaking data, research, and cross-sector initiatives that can help align efforts with legislative partners and drive meaningful progress in areas such as housing, education, workforce development, manufacturing, and economic mobility. By ensuring alignment between legislative offices and community leaders, the roundtable fosters collaboration that drives meaningful, lasting impact, equipping policymakers with the insights they need while empowering regional partners to advance shared priorities.

Takeaways from the August 14th Roundtable

We appreciate the dedication of the Capital Region delegation who continues to show up for their communities and join us in the Legislators’ Roundtable series. This second convening was designed to strengthen partnerships between policymakers and regional leaders, highlighting the momentum behind the region’s bioeconomy as a driver of innovation, resilience, and good jobs.

Federal and state district staff explored the current landscape of biomass utilization projects, identified key challenges, and discussed legislative strategies to accelerate progress.

Elizabeth Betancourt, Natural and Working Lands Policy Advisor with the California Department of Conservation, highlighted how biomass utilization aligns with several of the state’s most pressing priorities, including California’s commitment to carbon neutrality and zero-carbon electricity by 2025, while also addressing urgent wildfire prevention and forest management needs. She noted the potential to avoid more than $3.1 billion annually in public health costs by reducing wildfire damages and improving overall air quality. Her remarks underscored both the scale of the opportunity and the need to scale investments to realize these benefits.

A panel of industry and community leaders further highlighted opportunities in renewable fuels, grid resilience, rural manufacturing, and workforce development. They emphasized the importance of legislative and policy alignment to accelerate progress and overcome barriers in permitting, financing, and infrastructure that often delay project development.

Panel Facilitated by Lindsey Nitta, Camptonville Community Partnership

• Matt Boeger, COO, Regen Biofuels
• Dr. Matt Summers, COO, West Biofuels
• Sam Kang, COO, Pioneer Community Energy
• Amy Berry, CEO, Tahoe Fund

Attendees engaged in a candid exchange of ideas about the future of biomass in the Capital Region. Discussions reinforced the need for stable funding streams to scale projects, integration of biomass into California’s broader clean energy portfolio, and development of strong workforce pipelines so local communities can fully benefit from emerging opportunities. The Roundtable emphasized that sustained collaboration with legislators will be essential to scaling solutions and realizing these benefits.

Get Involved in Local Biomass Solutions

Encourage continued collaboration, investment, and advocacy to keep biomass at the forefront of the region’s clean economy strategies. 

Join us for the 2025 “Biomass & Beyond” Symposium on November 5th! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1571550532949

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Gretchen James is a Project Manager focused on the Leadership & Civic Engagement and Clean Air & Climate impact areas. Outside of work, Gretchen enjoys spending time in nature and supporting local artists.

Event Recap – Food Hubs: Increasing Market Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Producers

On July 16th, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center hosted a webinar on “Food Hubs: Increasing Market Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Producers”. The event included presentations from two Center partners Alicia Baddorf, of University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (UC SAREP) and Sabina Malik, of University of Nevada, Reno Extension (UNR Extension). Speakers presented on the development and planning process of food hubs, its impact in fulfilling market gaps, and collaborative learning through food hubs networks. The webinar is part of the Center’s quarterly webinar series, where Center partners share best practices and innovative projects on essential topics related to business development and capacity assistance for local producers, farmers, and ranchers.

Alicia discussed the work of UC SAREP’s California Food Hub Network as a learning network, supported by the Southwest Regional Food Business Center, to coordinate technical assistance, collaborative learning and information sharing for and among food hubs in California. Alicia exemplified these efforts by the Food Hub Network’s work with the Transitions to Organic Partnership Program, in which food hubs were paired with a food hub mentor and to receive support about the steps for obtaining organic certification for their facilities. Sabina discussed UNR Extension’s planning process for the first food hub in the greater Las Vegas area. Sabina provided the audience with a multitude of background research that informed the need for the food hub and described how UNR’s research community assessment research, such as the Healthy Food Access Map, can serve as a model to support best practices for equitable development of food hubs across unique geographies, alongside specific resource guides including USDA Regional Food Hub Resource Guide and Michigan State University National Food Hub Survey.

Attendees, representing a wide variety of organizations and businesses, were actively engaged throughout the webinar, as many sought to learn of the outcomes of a network-based approach to food hub collaboration and understand research-based planning processes for food hub development.

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About Valley Vision and the Southwest Regional Food Business Center

Valley Vision leads coordination, communication, and network development efforts for the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. The quarterly webinar series is part of Valley Vision’s efforts to share best practices and to foster a collaborative network among Center partners and other participants. 

The Southwest Regional Food Business Center, representing Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, is one of twelve USDA Regional Food Business Centers nationwide developed in 2023 to provide coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and initiatives, as well as navigate federal, state and local funding and resources. With an extensive network of partners from academic, government, and community-based organizations, the Southwest RFBC is dedicated to prioritizing historically underrepresented communities and small to mid-tier businesses.

For more information about the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center and its initiatives, visit www.swfoodbiz.org. To stay updated on future webinars and events, be sure to subscribe to the Center’s newsletter: http://bit.ly/SWRFBC-Newsletter. 

USDA disclosures and guidance can be found at https://bit.ly/USDAdisclosures.

Visit the Center’s socials here.

Brewing Up Opportunity: Career Pathways in Fermentation Science

On April 30, 2025, Valley Vision, in collaboration with the Los Rios Community College District, hosted a regional advisory on fermentation sciences, including brewing, and viticulture careers. The event convened academic leaders, industry professionals, and labor market insights to explore workforce needs and opportunities in fermentation-related industries. 

Dr. Jessica Coppola, Professor of Nutrition, Food Science, and Beer Brewing at Sacramento City College, kicked off the event with an overview of fermentation. She described it as an ancient process with modern applications across food, beverage, biotechnology, and beyond. Coppola highlighted fermentation’s role in producing diverse products such as yogurt, soy sauce, beer, wine, and even non-edible items like nail polish remover, emphasizing fermentation’s historical significance for food preservation and its modern health benefits. 

Professor Glen Fox, an Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Science at UC Davis, delivered a keynote, emphasizing that brewing careers demand more than a passion for craft beverages, involving tasks like managing raw materials, maintaining production schedules, and ensuring rigorous quality control. Dr. Fox highlighted the sometimes labor-intensive nature of cleaning tanks and kegs, and stressed the importance of troubleshooting, critical thinking, and understanding ingredient functions, noting that recipe design is only a small part of fermentation science roles. Fox also showcased UC Davis’s brewing program as a national leader in preparing students for diverse industry positions.

Together, Dr. Fox and Dr. Coppola discussed Sacramento City College’s partnership with UC Davis, which has created pathways for underrepresented students through courses like Nutrition 336: Introduction to Beer and Brewing. This collaboration has already facilitated student transfers and sparked broader interest in fermentation careers, blending scientific rigor with practical craft. 

Ebony Benzing, Director of the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, presented labor market data for fermentation-related occupations in the Greater Sacramento region. She defined industrial fermentation as the intentional use of microbial processes to produce commercial products at scale, grouping 16 industries into five categories: food and beverage, breweries/distilleries/wineries, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology R&D. These sectors employed approximately 7,100 workers in 2023, with an 11% projected growth by 2028, adding about 800 new jobs. Average earnings in these fields exceed Sacramento County’s living wage, making them attractive career paths.

Benzing highlighted middle-skill roles that require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree as key opportunities for community college programs. These include separating and filtering machine operators, quality control technicians, and fermentation production workers, which align with the hands-on, technical skills later emphasized by industry panelists.

An employer panel brought together leaders from across the fermentation landscape – including Raef Porter (Bike Dog Brewing), Jacqueline Samson (Better Meat Co.), David Ogilvie (Wilson Vineyards & Silt Wine Company), and Justin Boeger (Boeger Winery) – to share insights on the evolving needs and opportunities in fermentation-focused industries. Panelists highlighted the challenge of filling essential but less glamorous roles, such as cleaning kegs and tanks, which are critical for maintaining product quality in craft brewing, and provide a ladder to future careers. These employers noted that some fermentation fields often rely on internal training or poaching talent from competitors, but programs like those at Sac City College and UC Davis are vital for upskilling employees, particularly in sensory analysis to ensure quality control. The panel emphasized the need for candidates with general fermentation experience, food safety training, and familiarity with automation systems, noting that brewing experience provides a strong foundation across different fermentation science roles.

Employers representing the viticulture industry further spoke on the need for a blend of scientific knowledge and practical skills. They advocated for formal training, such as that offered at Folsom Lake College, and hands-on lab experience to enhance employability. Panelists highlighted the transformative role of AgTech in viticulture, such as remote irrigation and autonomous tractors, which reduce labor demands but require technical adaptability. Discussion also focused on the importance of interpersonal or “soft” skills like problem-solving and perseverance. The panelists agreed that stronger education-to-career pipelines, including internships and community college certificates, are essential for building a diverse, skilled talent pool that reflects the region’s innovation and creativity.

The advisory underscored the convergence of traditional fermentation practices and cutting-edge science, with regional employers diversifying operations and adopting advanced technologies. The growing demand for professionals who blend scientific knowledge with practical skills highlights the importance of our local training programs. Community colleges were identified as critical partners in offering accessible, targeted education to provide hands-on fermenter experience. 

This regional industry advisory was made possible by Strong Workforce Program Funding by the Los Rios Community College District, which brings together industry, employers, education, and workforce stakeholders to align the pathway for these future careers. For more information on this advisory or previous events, or to share your ideas for a future advisory, please contact DiAngelo Andrews at diangelo.andrews@valleyvision.org.

Valley Vision Engages 200+ Residents to Design Community Air Monitoring Plans

The Sacramento metropolitan area, while having made enormous progress in recent decades, suffers from unacceptable levels of air pollution. As a result, diverse coalitions including community organizations, neighborhood associations, local governments, air districts, and education partners have been using cutting-edge technologies to monitor air quality in their neighborhoods. Despite progress, vulnerable communities still suffer from inequitable environmental conditions. It is crucial that federal and state leaders continue supporting community air protection programs and investing in the health and well-being of pollution-burdened communities.

Valley Vision has been a leader in improving regional air quality for more than 20 years. As manager of the longstanding Cleaner Air Partnership (CAP), the premier public-private coalition focused on improving air quality in California’s Capital Region, Valley Vision and our CAP partners bring air quality regulators, industry, and the nonprofit sector work together on air quality issues of common concern, for the benefit of all. Since 2017 and the passage of AB 617, and the subsequent establishment of CARB’s Community Air Protection Program, we have partnered to do air quality monitoring of our own, paired with advocacy and securing critical funding for community clean air projects.

As an evolution of our longstanding air quality and environmental work, Valley Vision is participating in the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI). As part of this project, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is partnering with Aclima – a public benefit corporation – and 64 frontline communities across California to measure air pollution at the neighborhood level. The initiative is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide effort that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Community Air Monitoring Plans: Residents in the Driver Seat 

The $27 million initiative brought together diverse community members and advocates, community organizations, local agencies, and air districts to co-develop community air monitoring plans (CAMPs) for 64 pollution-burdened communities throughout the State of California. Over forty community organizations and community serving non-profits led engagement in these communities raising awareness about the project milestones, gathering input from residents about their experiences with air pollution, and working with them to define community monitoring boundaries, which informed Aclima where to deploy their sensor-equipped vehicles that will be measuring pollution block-by-block this year.

Valley Vision led community engagement in four communities in the Sacramento area – South Natomas, Oak Park/Fruitridge, Meadowview and Florin. Our friends at the Sacramento Environmental Justice Coalition (Sac EJC) led engagement in the Old North Sacramento/Norwood and Del Paso Heights neighborhoods of North Sacramento. Residents from different backgrounds with diverse needs came together to voice their air pollution concerns, and made key decisions that have helped shape community air monitoring plans. Read more about the community sessions below:

• Residents Guide Air Pollution Monitoring in South Sacramento 
• Residents Guide Air Pollution Monitoring in South Natomas

Celebrating Wins and the Next Phase

On June 3rd, 2025, CARB, Aclima, and community leaders gathered together in front of the CalEPA building to celebrate major milestones, including the collaborative process used in this project, and to launch the next phase of the initiative. Read more about the press conference here.

The next phase of the initiative will kick-off this summer through winter of next year, where Aclima will deploy their fleet of vehicles equipped with sensors – block-by-block – to collect pollution data in overburdened communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution. The results gathered through collective efforts will help inform and drive local, community-centered solutions to improve air quality and public health.

Valley Vision is proud to partner with CARB, Aclima, and community groups to advance this important work, and we are committed to further connecting the forthcoming data with resources for communities to address these issues. We want to particularly thank the Gardenland-Northgate Neighborhood Association, the Meadowview Neighborhood Association, and the Oak Park Neighborhood Association for their thoughtful participation in the community forums earlier this Spring. Keep an eye out for Aclima’s vehicles and mobile labs coming to North Sacramento and South Sacramento neighborhoods starting this Summer!

Stay updated by visiting https://aclima.earth/ca-smmi. 

High Voltage Electrical Careers: Powering Greater Sacramento’s Clean Energy Future

On April 15, 2025, Valley Vision convened a High Voltage Electrical Careers Advisory at Sierra College, bringing together leaders from industry, education, and workforce development to address the urgent demand for skilled high-voltage professionals. With representatives from SMUD, Rivian, the Sacramento Electrical Training Center, CalEPIC and the California Air Resources Board, the hybrid event focused on how these careers are critical to meeting California’s clean energy and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals. The discussion emphasized aligning training programs with industry needs, addressing workforce shortages, and expanding equitable career pathways in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the state’s economy.  

California’s clean energy transition has fueled a surge in high-voltage electrical careers. Ebony Benzing, Director of the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, shared that 416 regional job postings over the past year required high-voltage skills, defined as systems over 600 volts, spanning electricians, maintenance workers, and engineers across utilities, manufacturing, and construction. Of these, 131 positions required a high school diploma or associate’s degree, while 108 required bachelor’s degrees, offering diverse entry points. Employers like SMUD, with 31 postings, and Rivian, with 8, seek candidates with 2 to 6 years of experience, emphasizing skills like transformer diagnostics, safety protocols, and diagnostic software.

Keynote speaker Larry Rillera, Staff Air Pollution Specialist for Community Outreach and Engagement at the California Air Resources Board, emphasized California’s global leadership in ZEV technologies, with electric transportation, a top export, comprising 26% of light-duty vehicle sales and 260 certified heavy-duty ZEVs last year. He outlined the state’s ZEV Market Development Strategy, built on four pillars: vehicles, infrastructure, users, and workforce. Rillera highlighted innovative educational programs in the state, such as Mulholland Middle School’s hydrogen fuel cell car project and Calexico High School’s electrification of a Volkswagen Beetle, which inspire young talent. He stressed modern training methods, like AC Transit’s use of mixed-reality for high-voltage systems, and the need for cross-disciplinary skills in automotive, electrical, and IT fields. Rillera also championed equity, ensuring that underserved communities have access to these career pathways, and projected exponential job growth in ZEV infrastructure, positioning California as a model for sustainable economic development.

High-voltage electrical careers are not only stable and high-paying—they’re central to building California’s clean energy future. With demand rising for roles in EV infrastructure, renewable energy, and grid modernization, Greater Sacramento is emerging as a hub for innovation and global leadership in zero-emission technologies.

Employer panelists representing SMUD, Rivian, CalEPIC, and the Sacramento Electrical Training Center reinforced this demand, and discussed pathways to economic prosperity for workers. SMUD offers apprenticeships starting at $44.70/hour, scaling to $68.26/hour for journeymen, while Rivian’s Fast Track program hires 150 entry-level technicians annually, prioritizing soft skills and in-house training. The Sacramento Electrical Training Center trains 450 apprentices across 17 counties, providing free education for careers with the opportunity to earn over $100,000. 

Significant hurdles remain. Outdated training facilities struggle with modern technology, requiring advanced tools such as mixed-reality training, and a looming wave of retirements strains capacity for the future. Benzing pointed out that high-voltage expertise is a competency, not a job title, which is imperative for training alignment. Additionally, many applicants lack foundational skills, such as knowledge of algebra and hand tool use. Equity gaps persist, with underrepresented groups needing better access to training. 

The Capital Region can seize these opportunities through strategic collaboration. A comprehensive labor market assessment, as Benzing recommended, alongside employer surveys, will pinpoint high-voltage job needs to align training programs effectively. Strengthening Career Technical Education programs in middle and high schools with hands-on circuit theory, tool use, and job shadowing at substations, such as CalEPIC’s mobile classroom initiative led by Orville Thomas, will prepare students early. Promoting equity through outreach efforts, such as SMUD’s Women in Skilled Trades Day and Sacramento Electrical Training Center’s mentorship programs for women and veterans, will diversify the workforce. Streamlining high school and college curricula to eliminate duplication and offer stackable credentials, from helper certificates to advanced diplomas, will accelerate apprenticeship pathways. Partnerships with Sierra College, unions, and employers like Rivian can expand certifications, such as EVIT for EV charger maintenance, and integrate emerging skills in grid cybersecurity and vehicle-to-grid technology, ensuring a future-ready workforce.

Continued collaboration to unite utilities, manufacturers, educators, and community leaders in a dynamic sector-partnership model allows for co-design of agile curricula, shares innovative resources like mobile labs, and builds a resilient talent pipeline that powers California’s zero-emission ambitions for generations to come. This collective effort will not only fill today’s job vacancies but also empower a diverse workforce to lead in a sustainable, high-tech future. This regional industry advisory was made possible by Strong Workforce Program Funding by the Los Rios Community College District, which brings together industry, employers, education, and workforce stakeholders to align the pathway for these future careers.

For more information on this advisory or previous events, or to share your ideas for a future advisory, please contact DiAngelo Andrews at diangelo.andrews@valleyvision.org.  Together, we can power Greater Sacramento’s clean energy economy with a skilled and inclusive workforce!

Cap-to-Cap 2025 Highlights from Valley Vision Staff

Valley Vision has a long history of participating in the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Capitol-to-Capitol program, which serves as our region’s premier federal advocacy opportunity each year. This program provides opportunities to meet with the Sacramento Region’s federal legislators and encourages participants to meet with federal agencies, many of whom oversee competitive funding programs.

This year’s 53rd annual “Cap-to-Cap” was the largest on record, with 450+ leaders participating. Valley Vision staff led and supported many of the topic-based teams and, in keeping with tradition, have documented their experiences below.

Evan Schmidt, CEO (Business Climate Team): “As always, it is great to see our region coming together for common purpose. There really is nothing like travelling with 400+ regional leaders to make new connections across people and issues that help us all get things done! While funding constraints and rapid change in agencies are presenting challenges for the region, it is also clear that our regional elected leaders in DC are committed to creating wins for our region whenever possible. Our ability to lean in together on key asks and aligned goals will be critically important – Valley Vision is committed to helping shape that cohesive vision through our work.”

Trish Kelly, Managing Director (Food & Agriculture Team): “The 2025 Cap-to-Cap program was a different experience for our Food and Agriculture team from previous years given the intensity of budget negotiations; recent and pending program funding terminations that are affecting our region; changes and gaps in agency staffing; and overall uncertainty. It was a timely visit for us to communicate our priorities to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees which are negotiating the passage of the Farm Bill and facing difficult decisions to reach targeted budget cuts, especially for SNAP food security programs that also provide important revenues for our farmers, grocers and food producers. It’s very special to join our dedicated partners as we elevate the assets of our food system and break bread together in shared purpose.”

Renee John, Managing Director (Business Climate Team): “Cap to Cap provides a unique opportunity to connect with decision makers on key issues facing our region. From meetings on Capitol Hill, to networking events, and the spontaneous “walk and talk” that happens as we are hustling between meetings and events, the shared experience of this program encourages deeper conversations that can really move the needle on regional economic prosperity.”

Adrian Rehn, Director (Air Quality Team): “It was a very interesting year in D.C. I’ve been participating in Cap-to-Cap since 2019 and have not experienced the “vibe” of scarcity that we saw in 2025. Offices told us that there was little money for our programs, or – as in the case of U.S. EPA – that they would not be enforcing basic functions that business, government, and community members rely on. That said, there were some opportunities that became apparent to our Air Quality Team members – energy resilience is still a priority, and there is bipartisan interest in biomass utilization solutions that protect our landscapes from wildfire, create rural jobs, and generate high-value products. We look forward to pursuing these threads through the year through the Cleaner Air Partnership and other avenues.”

Analyst Careers – Understanding the Opportunity

On April 2, 2025, Valley Vision partnered with Los Rios Community College District, the California Community Colleges Centers of Excellence, and the Capital Region Workforce Boards to host a virtual Analyst Careers Advisory event. This cross-sector convening between Public Sector Pathways and Information and Communication Technologies equipped job seekers with information on rewarding analyst roles, strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline, and offering a roadmap for aligning education with employer needs.

Ebony J. Benzing, Director of the Greater Sacramento Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, set the stage with compelling data on analyst career trends. Her analysis highlighted strong demand across sectors, with 6,500 analyst job postings from 1,100 employers in the region over the past year. Government positions lead with (38%) of analyst jobs, followed by professional and technical services (20%), finance and insurance (9%), and healthcare (7%). Analyst roles are projected to grow by 7% by 2028, adding over 2,600 jobs and creating 3,400 annual openings. Notably, entry-level analyst roles in Greater Sacramento offer an average wage of approximately $41.19/hour. “Analyst jobs provide pathways to a living wage,” Benzing emphasized, underscoring their potential for upward mobility.

Benzing also noted a variance in education requirements, with 75% of job postings in the public sector not specifying an education degree level, compared to 65% of private sector postings requiring a bachelor’s degree. This accessibility broadens opportunities for diverse candidates.

A dynamic panel featuring Lanaya Trejo (CalHR), Erica Priddle (Placer County), Nnenaya Jite-Ogbuehi (Sacramento County Office of Education), and Catharine Anderson (USDA) clarified the diverse responsibilities of analyst roles. Analysts, they explained, are data-driven problem-solvers who interpret information to support organizational goals across various fields, from crime analysis to crop insurance management.

The panel shared key skills needed and their organizations’ efforts to remove barriers to accessing positions.  Key skills denoted were proficiency in data analysis, project management, and software, including Excel, business intelligence, and data visualization tools like Power BI, and Tableau, alongside communication and attention to detail. Trejo noted that following a gubernatorial initiative, CalHR has removed degree requirements for specific roles, including Staff Services Analysts. Priddle highlighted Placer County’s efforts to lower barriers by valuing experience over degrees and developing feeder roles to support career growth. Jite-Ogbuehi explained that SCOE allows candidates to qualify with a combination of education, training, and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. The event emphasized preparing students and job seekers for analyst careers through targeted education and training. Panelists urged educators to prioritize hands-on experience and the development of soft skills. They highlighted strategies, such as mock interviews, to help younger generations build confidence and effectively articulate their strengths post-pandemic. Additionally, they emphasized the value of internships in providing students with practical experience and networking opportunities to connect with hiring managers and departments. Cameron Whitfield, Internship Developer at Cosumnes River College, showcased the Handshake platform, which connects employers with students across Los Rios campuses. He shared a success story of a three-part series with the Sacramento Employment Training Agency, culminating in a mini career fair that drew 90-100 students to engage with state agencies. Whitfield spoke about the effectiveness of smaller, focused career events in helping students understand analyst positions.

The Analyst Careers advisory event sparked ideas for enhancing workforce readiness. Attendees called for better outreach to high school students, who often overlook analyst roles in favor of more visible careers like healthcare or law enforcement. Jite-Ogbuehi proposed outreach events in the community, such as career workshops, to promote benefits like work-life balance that appeal to younger generations. Trejo pointed to CalHR’s “Tip Tuesdays” videos on workforcalifornia.ca.gov, designed to simplify the state hiring process for diverse learners. This event not only clarified the analyst career landscape but also inspired actionable steps to prepare a skilled, diverse workforce for Greater Sacramento’s future. Valley Vision remains committed to fostering connections, information and dialogue to advance inclusive economic and workforce development. A detailed meeting proceedings report, summarizing discussions and recommendations, will be shared in May 2025. Click here to view emerging advisory events for this fall.