Slingshot: Supporting Innovation

To boost the innovation environment in California’s Capital region, bolster high-revenue producing employment sectors and effectively compete in a globalized, information-age economy, entrepreneurship, new startups and human capital must permeate the economy. The Sacramento region contains many of the necessary ingredients to support entrepreneurs and small businesses, but sustained success requires a robust network of investors, assistance providers, sources of innovative products and services, and a skilled workforce.

SlingShot is an initiative of the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) to encourage and support regional partnerships across the state to engage in new collective actions around innovation workforce challenges. The Sacramento region’s SlingShot project is focused on building an ecosystem where innovation thrives and business startups can be successful. The goal is to catalyze leadership and engagement from regional entrepreneurs and businesses in order to strengthen the Capital Region’s innovation ecosystem, and to stimulate innovation and new company creation by creating the conditions to grow emerging industries and new businesses.

SlingShot is a statewide program being implemented locally through a partnership with the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), Golden Sierra, the North Central Counties Consortium, and the Yolo County WDB, with SETA acting as the lead partner and Valley Vision being the project manager.

SlingShot partners have been working together since May 2014 to pursue and build collaboration across the nine county geographic region. SlingShot has resulted in ~$750,000 to support innovation, entrepreneurs, and startups in the region. The Sacramento Employment and Training Agency released RFPs in Winter 2016-17 to support business mentorship, maker spaces/incubators/accelerators, and web-based resource navigators.

School2Home Initiative

Historically low-performing schools tend to have limited access to the technology and tools necessary for teachers and students to navigate and adapt to an increasingly digitized world. School2Home is an innovative statewide program that aims to close both the Achievement Gap and the Digital Divide by integrating computing and broadband technologies into teaching and learning at low-performing schools throughout California.

The goal is to increase student achievement at Leataata Floyd Elementary School (LFE) and the adoption of broadband service by the school’s families. LFE is the first elementary school in the state to adopt the program. Leataata Floyd Elementary School is a historically low-performing school with 100% of students living in households that fall below the Federal Poverty Level. School2Home helps to provide the infrastructure and support services needed to increase both student achievement and family success, including laptops for every student to use in school and at home; enhanced teacher professional development and training on integration of technology into instruction; increased parent engagement and home access to high-speed Internet; and student Tech Expert Development.

As part of its management of the regional broadband consortium, Valley Vision is implementing the School2Home pilot initiative at Leataata Floyd Elementary School, the first school in Sacramento in which the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has invested. Valley Vision is working in partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund, Leataata Floyd Elementary School, Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) and other community partners.

Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium

In the digital age, fast and reliable internet is indispensable to equity and economic development. Without it, community members are barred from full access to basic services, job opportunities, among other tools and paths for improving quality of life.

Valley Vision is at the center of strategic efforts to improve broadband access in Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba Counties within California’s Capital Region, paving the way for future-ready infrastructure and regional prosperity. As the manager of the inclusion Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium (CCABC), Valley Vision coordinates efforts to fill critical broadband infrastructure gaps and improve access in homes, schools, and businesses.

This work is funded by a grant from the California Public Utilities Commission, and carried out in partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund, as well as several other state and local agencies and non-government organizations, including the USDA, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, the California Department of Education, California Department of Technology, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, California Telehealth Network, Leataata Floyd Elementary School, Yolo LAFCo, City of Sacramento and Sacramento, Yolo, and Yuba counties, network service providers, and many other stakeholders and partners.

AgTech Pilot

Agricultural has become increasingly reliant on technology for water and energy conservation, reduction of chemical inputs, and increased productivity.

Most of this technology requires Internet access, yet many rural areas do not have access to broadband–technology-neutral, high-speed Internet access from both wired and wireless infrastructure. Without access to broadband, farmers and ranchers are unable to adopt new technologies necessary to stay economically viable.

Valley Vision is working to support keeping ag land in agriculture. The project has three components: research, a grower’s survey, and a field study. The research conducted by Valley Vision summarizes findings on existing research, studies in progress, and research gaps. Our proximity to UC Davis, the premiere agricultural research university in the nation, gives us access to the most up-to-date information.

In partnership with the Yolo County Agriculture Commissioner’s office, Valley Vision administered a survey to growers in early 2017. The results show that 70% of growers have some coverage, while 30% have none. Among those who have coverage, no one reported 100% coverage. Additionally, growers are being innovative in their solutions, creating mobile hotspots and “rigging up” coverage that is ultimately unsustainable. Other survey findings are included in the final report.

Connecting the Delta: Broadband Action Plan (2019)

The purpose of this report is to prompt specific action by providing a detailed, tangible broadband improvement plan for five legacy communities within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Additionally, it is intended to improve broadband adoption and support by informing local governments and all those affected by the lack of high-speed Internet service.

This report was prepared by Valley Vision for the Delta Protection Commission in response to the Delta Community Action Planning project.

AgTech Pilot Fact Sheet (2019)

This information sheet explains the key details of the Yolo County AgTech Pilot Project, which is managed by Valley Vision and generously supported by the California Emerging Technology Fund.

Capital Region Innovation Resource Inventory (2016)

As part of the Capital Region Slingshot Project, Valley Vision prepared an inventory of entrepreneurs and innovation resources, as well as service providers. This resource inventory was prepared to help us better understand what assets do exist, as well as understand and identify the gaps that can be addressed through the Slingshot Project. The need to better understand and improve our entrepreneurism ecosystem is a need that was identified by Next Economy.

The six core business clusters of Direct Entrepreneur Support, Agriculture & Food Production, Clean Energy Technology, Education & Knowledge Creation, Advanced Manufacturing, General Technology and Small Business Services, Networks, Funding and Other Resources were identified by Next Economy.