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.

What Are You Grateful for in 2025?

As each year comes to a close, Valley Vision staff reflect on what we have been grateful for over the past year. It’s an annual tradition, and we are excited to share our reflections with you. Thank you for continuing to support and collaborate with us!

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.

We Prosper Together Awards an Additional $4 Million to Advance 11 High-Impact Projects in the Capital Region

This completes the distribution of $9 million worth of funding aimed at advancing sustainable industry growth and economic resilience across the eight counties

MEDIA CONTACT – Ronit Sholkoff (valleyvision@wearerally.com)

SACRAMENTO, CA — August 5, 2025 —We Prosper Together is investing $4 million in 11 transformative initiatives across the eight-county Capital Region to advance economic resilience and prosperity. This round of funding completes We Prosper Together’s latest effort to fund local and regional projects that create, attract, and increase access to quality jobs. Projects selected in this round cover a diverse range of critical focus areas — including biotechnology, small business support, community health, and accessible workforce pathways. These projects are poised to address key community needs, expand economic opportunities, and drive impact for residents across the region. 

“These community-led projects will help unlock the potential of the Capital Region’s most promising industries, while investing in our workers and economy in the process. We’re excited to see how these projects, combined with the ones we selected during our first round of funding, will help residents build a more secure, prosperous, and sustainable future for themselves and their families,” said Evan Schmidt, CEO of Valley Vision. 

The funding represents the second and final round of investments in the Catalyst Phase, a critical step in enacting the strategies outlined in We Prosper Together’s Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy. The Catalyst Phase funding is designed to get projects ready for full implementation and position them to compete effectively for future federal, state, or private funding. In total, the Catalyst Phase awarded $9 million to a total of 22 high-impact projects throughout the Capital Region’s eight counties. 

The selected projects of this round tackle critical regional challenges through activities like creating remote work opportunities for full-time caregivers, hiring Spanish-speaking small business advisors, laying the groundwork for a thriving local biotechnology workforce, and developing a sustainable program to train justice-impacted individuals for careers in fire service. 

“As someone who works with disinvested communities, especially mothers with children and caregivers, it was really affirming for me to be in a space where that population was being prioritized. In addition to that, being a part of this project broadened my perspective as to what economic development is, and reaffirmed for me that the work we’re doing at my organization is helping families across our region prosper and thrive.” said Jeneba Lahai, Executive Director of Yolo County’s Children Alliance (YCCA).

The full list of funding recipients is as follows: 

• AgHIRE Expansion Planning Initiative, Center for Land-Based Learning 
• Bio-Mass Recycle to Energy 7 County, Nevada-Sierra Connecting Point Public Authority 
• Colusa USDA and CDFA Certified Meat Processing Facility, City of Colusa 
• Community Health and Working Lands Workforce Pilot, Yolo County Children’s Alliance 
• Justice-Involved Fire Service Planning Project, Future Fire Academy 
• NextGen BioFab: AI-Powered Training for Tomorrow’s Biotech Innovators, University of California, Davis 
• Project IGNITE (Investigating Growth Needs in Inclusive Technical Education), Green Technical Education and Employment (Green Tech)
• Rooted to Rise: Working Lands Economic Master Plan, El Dorado Economic Generator & Germination Fund (Our EGG) of the El Dorado Community Foundation
• Tahoe Business Catalyst Pilot, Tahoe Prosperity Center 
• Working Lands Workforce Development Pipeline, Yuba College 
• WorkReady: Remote Careers for Moms and Caregivers in Business Services, Playzeum Yuba Sutter 

To learn more about the projects listed, visit our website: weprospertogether.org/catalyst-projects. 

The work of We Prosper Together is supported by the statewide initiative California Jobs First and builds on the newly released California Jobs First Economic Blueprint. 

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About We Prosper Together 

Representing eight counties in the Capital Region, over 150 organizations, and hundreds of community leaders and residents, We Prosper Together is driving a community-led approach to building a stronger regional economy. We Prosper Together is working to elevate diverse voices, encourage investments, amplify local solutions, and create living-wage jobs for families in Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties. Visit weprospertogether.org to learn more and get involved.

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.”

We Prosper Together Awards $5 Million to Advance 11 High-Impact Projects in the Capital Region

This marks the first of two rounds of funding aimed at catalyzing economic resilience in the eight-county region

MEDIA CONTACT – Sabina Li (valleyvision@wearerally.com)

SACRAMENTO, CA — March 6, 2024 — We Prosper Together is investing $5 million in 11 transformative initiatives across the Capital Region to advance economic resilience and create high-quality jobs. Spanning a diversity of sectors—including biotech, clean energy, food and agriculture, and precision manufacturing—these projects are poised to strengthen key industries, foster innovation, and expand economic opportunities for residents across all eight counties.

“We’re creating a pipeline of transformative projects that address our region’s economic challenges, leverage promising industry sectors, and create equitable economic growth. This funding is just the beginning. We’re excited to continue supporting high-impact projects that will help residents earn a living wage and build a more secure future for themselves and their families,” said Evan Schmidt, CEO of Valley Vision.

The funding represents the first round of investments in the Catalyst Phase, a critical step in enacting the strategies outlined in We Prosper Together’s Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy. The Catalyst Phase funding is designed to get projects and ideas ready for full implementation and position them to compete effectively for future federal, state, or private funding. The second round of Catalyst Phase funding will open within the next three months and distribute an additional $4 million to projects across the region.

The selected projects tackle critical regional challenges from multiple angles, including expanding workforce training programs to address labor shortages, building opportunities in future-ready jobs, strengthening the local agricultural ecosystem through food hubs and incubators, and providing students with hands-on learning opportunities in high-demand careers.

“We Prosper Together is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring communities together to chart the future of good jobs in our region. This funding lets us take our workforce development programs into eight counties and work with community members of all ages to introduce them to jobs available now and the jobs that are coming up next,” said Orville Thomas, CEO of the California Mobility Center.

The full list of funding recipients is as follows:

• Building a Healthcare Talent Pipeline: Quality Jobs for Stronger Communities, Los Rios Community College District
• Capitol Region Biotech Talent Partnership, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency
• Cultivating Resilient Rural Food Ecosystems, Sierra Commons
• District Ranch Agritourism and Workforce Pilot, Nevada Joint Union High School District
• EPIC on the Road, Cal EPIC [California Energy, Power, and Innovation Collaborative], formerly the California Mobility Center
• Forest Biomass Business Center – Feasibility Study and Business Planning, Camptonville Community Partnership
• Greater Sacramento TPM Manufacturing Collaborative: Digital Tools Initiative, Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Growing Quality Working Lands Jobs: Last-Mile Development of the Yolo Food Hub to Benefit Rural Agricultural Workers, Small Farms and Food Businesses, New Season Community Development Corporation
• Skilled Trades Workforce Pipeline Project, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• The Plant Food and Agriculture Innovation Center Pre-Development Project, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Yuba Sutter Food Hub Feasibility Study, Yuba Sutter Food Bank

The work of We Prosper Together is supported by the statewide initiative California Jobs First and builds on the newly released California Jobs First Economic Blueprint.

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About We Prosper Together

Representing eight counties in the Capital Region, over 150 organizations, and hundreds of community leaders and residents, We Prosper Together is driving a community-led approach to building a stronger regional economy. We Prosper Together is working to elevate diverse voices, encourage investments, amplify local solutions, and create living-wage jobs for families in Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties. Visit weprospertogether.org to learn more and get involved.

MEATing the Moment: Valley Vision Attends 3rd Regenerative Meat Summit

By Grace Kaufman & Ethan Mermell

On November 18th, Trish Kelly, Grace Kaufman, and Ethan Mermell of Valley Vision’s Food and Agriculture team attended the 3rd California Regional Regenerative Meat Event hosted by Roots of Change, UC Davis Institute of the Environment, and IC-FOODS, in collaboration with Mulvaney’s B&L and Cream Co. This event was a celebration of three-years of USDA-funded work to develop high-value regional meat supply chains in Northern California. As the lead for coordination and communication for USDA’s Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Valley Vision has participated in this effort to learn about supply chain and market challenges and opportunities for regenerative ranchers in California and support the project through a variety of ways.  This includes facilitating connections with several of our food and agriculture partners who work across the region and throughout the state; sharing information about the resources of the Center and the state-funded California Jobs First Initiative which Valley Vision manages for the region – We Prosper Together; and coordinating on institutional procurement activities led by the University of California and the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

The event kicked off with a panel discussion about the launch of the University of California Market, emphasizing the outcomes of launching system-wide purchasing of regional and regenerative meat for the UC system’s schools and hospitals. Marilyn Biscotti, UC Office of President; Clifford Pollard, Cream Co Meats, and Kathy Webster, TomKat Ranch and Beef2Institution Collaborative spoke on their experiences procuring regenerative meat in University and K-12 school districts. Major barriers include long-term contracts to meet demand of conventional food suppliers, processing and aggregation, as well as market channels for whole animal usage. As an aggregation and distribution hub for ranchers throughout the state, Cream Co Meats provides the “missing middle” in supply chain infrastructure for institutional procurement. Cream Co Meats has purchased 1.3 million pounds of regenerative, West Coast meat from ranchers in the past year, and plans to procure an additional 30 percent annually, serving as an aggregator for resale to institutions. The panel ended with an exciting announcement – starting in 2025, the University of California will purchase 400,000 pounds of regenerative meat from Cream Co Meats. 

Following a delicious lunch of local produce and regenerative meat from PT Ranch, Sarah Keiser, Wild Oat Hollow, Jim Kleinschmit, Other Half Processing and Growing GRASS, Nick Anicich, CDFA Farm to School, and Steve Schwartz, Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative, spoke of new market opportunities for regenerative growers. Steve Schwartz’s presentation highlighted new policies such as AB 888 that support on-farm harvesting for cultural practices. Nick shared a list of CDFA’s funding opportunities and encouraged ranchers to get involved in farm to school and institutional procurement. Sarah discussed the market opportunities, and ecosystem services that cows, sheep, and goats provide through fire management grazing. Jim discussed new market opportunities for ranchers, such as regenerative leather products.  

IC Foods then presented a demo on their Regional Regenerative Meat Resource Portal which provides a directory of the regional regenerative meat community, such as contact information and resources on markets and opportunities. 

The last panel of the event focused on remaining challenges and solutions for regenerative meat. This panel’s speakers, Michael Delbar, CA Rangeland Trust and Loren Poncia, Stemple Creek Ranch discussed marketing and how the community’s awareness of regeneratively grown meat is growing. Challenges discussed included the dwindling amount of processors and the need to increase producer awareness of available grants, as economic feasibility persists as a challenge across the board faced by ranchers. It is important for these businesses to be viable given that regenerative grazing differs from conventional meat production through practices that improve soil structure and build soil organic matter, leading to carbon sequestration. 

 Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, discussed a broad range of funding opportunities from USDA and new initiatives that support small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers, such as the USDA Regional Food Business Centers- 12 multi-state centers across the country providing new resources to support farmers, ranchers and food producers and more resilient regional food systems.  As part of this effort, USDA has hired 40 fellows to support food system transformation, including programs to support regenerative agriculture. Jenny noted that supply chain infrastructure such as processing facilities are a major challenge for small to mid sized ranchers. As part of Valley Vision’s role in the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, we actively share information about upcoming funding opportunities and resources for supply chain infrastructure and new market channels, and the Center’s network of partners provide capacity building support to access these resources. We also include the Regional Regenerative Meat Portal in Center resources.

The event ended with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, who provided an optimistic and forward-looking view of regenerative agriculture in California. Secretary Ross discussed the future of regenerative agriculture, which planted the seed for creative networking discussions that were paired with regenerative meats, including goat from Neuman Family Ranch, and local, seasonal produce prepared by Chef Mulvaney and staff. 

To learn more about Roots Of Change and the regenerative meat project, visit: https://www.rootsofchange.org/projects/transformation-of-californias-meat-processing-capacity/

To learn more about the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, visit www.swfoodbiz.org and sign up for the newsletter here: http://bit.ly/SWRFBC-Newsletter

Community Innovator, We Prosper Together, Shares Strategies Primed to Increase Economic Growth in the Capital Region

The Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy charts a bold path to a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future
 
SACRAMENTO, CA — October 28, 2024 — We Prosper Together unveiled its Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy, a community-driven framework providing the blueprint for a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy for the Capital Region. This strategic plan—the result of a two-year-long collaboration—identifies key priorities that will shape future investments, including those supported by We Prosper Together through California’s Regional Investment Initiative.

“The completion of We Prosper Together’s Regional Plan is another step towards building an equitable and sustainable regional economy,” said Evan Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Valley Vision. “Shaped by economic research and input from communities across our region, this economic framework will create more quality jobs by helping to move innovative ideas to fruition, bring projects to life, and accelerate the region toward a future where all families can thrive.”

The Regional Plan outlines actionable strategies to achieve more high-quality jobs, lower barriers to access, and foster more equitable outcomes for local families. The plan identifies two primary strategies:

• Target Sector Strategies: Strategies focusing on investments in four high-growth sectors with the greatest potential for quality job creation. These sectors include Business Services, Precision Manufacturing, Working Lands, and Research & Development.
• Economic Mobility Strategies: Approaches connecting disinvested communities with existing high-quality job opportunities ensuring future economic growth results in equitable outcomes for the region’s residents. These approaches include workforce development, outreach and awareness, transportation, childcare, and housing.

Developed through robust community feedback, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and comprehensive research conducted by Brookings Institute-affiliated Cities GPS, the Regional Plan takes into account the distinct needs, strengths, and opportunities across the region to create a collective vision for the future. 

“The Regional Plan not only exemplifies the strength and opportunity of cross-regional collaboration but also sets us up to make targeted investments that can transform our region,” said James Corless, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. “Only by coming together can we create a local economy that works for everyone and ensures all have access to the resources they need to prosper.”

The Regional Plan: Strategies for a Thriving and Inclusive Economy serves as a unifying roadmap cultivating a resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy empowering all local residents. The Regional Plan builds upon July 2023’s Capital Region Economic Assessment, a holistic assessment of the Capital Region’s economic, climate, and public health as part of the California Jobs First program. The Regional Plan concludes a two-year planning phase that included establishing We Prosper Together’s Collaborative, extensive community engagement, and the development of a shared regional strategy. We Prosper Together will now transition from planning to implementation, leveraging existing strategies and subregional efforts to drive progress.

The full Regional Plan can be found at https://www.weprospertogether.org/our-regional-plan.  

The Global Shapers Sacramento Hub Aims to Erase Millions of Dollars in Medical Debt Through “Shred the Debt” Campaign

This Youth-led Effort Aims to Eliminate Medical Debt for Thousands of Residents in the Greater Sacramento Region for Pennies on the Dollar

Sacramento, California November 4th – Today, The Global Shapers Sacramento Hub announces the launch of Shred the Debt, a project aimed at erasing medical debt across the Greater Sacramento Region. Through this initiative, the Global Shapers Sacramento Hub aims to purchase and eliminate millions of dollars in medical debt, focusing on those disproportionately burdened by medical debt. 

“Our goal is to alleviate some of the financial stress that medical debt imposes on our neighbors,” said Gustavo Garcia, Curator of the Global Shapers Sacramento Hub. “Through Shred the Debt, we’re not just erasing numbers on a balance sheet—we’re giving people a fresh start and lifting a heavy burden that affects health, families, and futures. We have an ambitious goal to buy a medical debt portfolio worth $3.7 million, and are confident that our region will come together to tackle this.”

Shred the Debt is made possible through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, which specializes in purchasing medical debt at a fraction of its original cost. Through this partnership, a donation of just $1 has the power to erase over $200 of medical debt, amplifying the impact of each contribution. 

The Global Shapers Sacramento Hub will be collecting donations through the middle of February, and will match the first $500 donated – eliminating over $100,000 worth of medical debt for our neighbors, families, and communities in the Greater Sacramento Region. For more information, and to sponsor our efforts, please contact David Sievers at sacramento@globalshapers.org.

For more information on how our project works or to make a donation, please visit our donation page.

Valley Vision has been fiscal agent for the Global Shapers – Sacramento Hub for several years. Through this formal partnership, the Sacramento Hub has access to a high-performing and trusted local nonprofit that manages its finances and records, keeping things running smoothly. For Valley Vision, the Global Shapers bring a unique connection to the global community not found in other young leaders groups, which further boosts VV’s toolset in advancing the livability of the Sacramento region.

Valley Vision Helps Showcase Sacramento As Co-Host of California Economic Summit

Valley Vision helped co-host this year’s California Economic Summit, organized by California Forward and held for the first time in Sacramento since 2016. Held October 8-10, 2024, the latest iteration of the annual Summit proved to be an incredible showcase for the Sacramento region’s leadership on inclusive economic development, workforce, innovation, and more.

Valley Vision organized a set of regional tours on the first day of the Summit, which gave participants an on-the-ground perspective of how local communities are tackling some of our biggest economic and environmental challenges. By showcasing everything from sustainable food systems to novel workforce training programs, these tours highlighted the solutions that are helping to build a more resilient, inclusive future for California. See below for photos highlighting the tours:

The welcome reception followed the tours, and served as a kickoff for both the California Economic Summit and the Growth Factory’s GFX Summit. In addition to showcasing our region’s topline facility for advancing clean mobility, attendees could taste several gourmet foods created with plant-based, lab grown meat alternatives. Innovative!

The main days of the Summit (October 9 and 10) featured plenary sessions, action-packed workshops, networking events, and more. See below for a few highlights:

Finally, the Summit ended with a “handoff” from Valley Vision’s Evan Schmidt to leaders in Stockton, California, which is hosting next year’s Summit the week of October 20th, 2025. We wish Stockton the best and look forward to learning how they are building a vibrant economy. Subscribe to California Forward’s email newsletter for more updates! Thank you to California Forward, its staff, and partners for a fantastic showcase of Sacramento.

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Adrian Rehn is a Senior Project Manager overseeing air quality and environmental projects as well as Valley Vision’s communications.

Valley Vision Takes On Longstanding Regional Climate Collaborative

We are thrilled to announce that the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRC) has officially transitioned from CivicWell to Valley Vision. CRC was established in 2014 to improve collaboration and coordination between government, business, and community as it relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Valley Vision joined the Collaborative in 2015 and has had leadership roles in the Collaborative since.

This transition marks a new and exciting chapter for CRC, as Valley Vision is already working to advance climate resilience and collaboration in the greater Sacramento region through several programs such as the Cleaner Air Partnership and We Prosper Together, a California Jobs First Initiative.

As CRC’s new home, Valley Vision will continue to facilitate regional conversations to improve coordination and take action on climate adaptation and mitigation. The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative has long been a crucial platform for bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups, to address climate challenges facing the region, such as warming air and water temperatures, risk of wildfire, more extreme heat waves, variable precipitation and seasonal shifts, and loss of ecosystem habitat, to name a few. Now, with Valley Vision’s leadership, we are positioned to build on these efforts and bring even greater capacity to support regional resilience and collaboration.

We invite Valley Vision’s partners to learn more about the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative and consider joining the Collaborative as a member. Whether you are a business leader, government agency, academic institution, or community organization, your participation will help strengthen our collective ability to build a climate-resilient future for all.

Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

To kick off this new chapter, we’re excited to host/cohost a series of events designed to engage our community and provide opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration.

November 20th, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Biomass Workshop, Folsom Community Center 

• Join for an in-depth workshop focused on the role of biomass in climate resilience. This event is in collaboration with the Cleaner Air Partnership, the Los Rios Community College District, and CRC. With over 100 attendees expected, this workshop will establish a shared understanding of biomass utilization, explore the future of forest management and agricultural careers in our region, and mobilize leaders and decision-makers for action. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with regional experts, researchers, and policymakers.  Registration link.

December 12, 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM – CRC Members-Only Meeting, Sierra 2 Center – 2791 24th Street, Sacramento CA 95818 (Room 10) 

• This meeting, exclusively for CRC members, will feature presentations on the state of climate adaptation in the Capital Region. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions, identify collaboration opportunities, and explore how CRC can better support members’ efforts in addressing climate challenges. If you are already a member, this is your chance to help shape the future of climate action in the region. If not, consider joining to be part of this important conversation! Registration link 

Join the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative

There has never been a more critical time to take action on climate resilience. CRC is a diverse and growing collaborative, and with Valley Vision’s leadership, we are ready to take CRC’s impact to the next level. We invite you to join us as a member and be part of the solution as we work together to create a more climate-resilient Capital Region.

To learn more about membership opportunities, visit https://climatereadiness.info/about-us/join-the-collaborative or contact Grace.Kaufman@valleyvision.org.

Advocating to Secure Unprecedented Federal Resources (Cap-to-Cap 2024)

Right now is a critical time to engage with the federal government.

Once-in-a-generation resources are available for the “big play” investments that our region needs to grow and thrive. 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 52nd annual“Cap-to-Cap” was the largest on record, with 425 leaders participating. Valley Vision staff led and supported many of the topic-based teams and, in keeping with tradition, have documented their experiences below.

Clean Air & Climate by Adrian Rehn

The Cleaner Air Partnership, which Valley Vision staffs, staffs two of the thirteen policy-focused “teams” focused on (1) air quality and (2) wildfire. This year, our teams elevated funding for a comprehensive suite of air quality strategies as part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, climate projects of regional significance, and technical but extremely important policy fixes like letting air districts “write off” smoke from preventative prescribed fire instead of getting dinged by U.S. EPA. We are in the process of following up on these important “Asks” and look forward to continued engagement throughout the year as we continue to work toward cleaner air for all.

Workforce Development & Education by Renee John

During my third in-person year at Cap to Cap, I co-led the team representing workforce and education.  Our team advocated for the reauthorization and modernization of key acts including WIOA, the National Apprenticeship Act (NAA) and the Preparing and Resourcing  Our Students and Teachers Act (PROSPECT), as well as expansion of Pell Grant eligibility and Perkins grant funds for vocational and technical education.  Our team was co-led by Xanthi Soriano from SCOE and Ejiro Okoro from United Way California Capital Region, and included over 40 individuals from workforce and education institutions including preK-12, higher education, nonprofits, and elected officials. 

This year, as in prior years, myself and team members had the opportunity to speak with folks shaping legislation that governs our ability to invest effectively in upskilling our region’s workforce.  WIOA has been passed out of the House of Representatives and is currently in the Senate for markup. The Senate HELP Committee is currently creating its own version of the bill.  While workforce legislation is generally bipartisan, different opinions on key provisions are common.  Our goal was to share stories from the field to illustrate how vital federal funding is to our workforce and education efforts, highlight the key investments California is making, and encourage the federal government to work with haste to streamline and invest effectively in initiatives to ensure our businesses have the talent they need with the ability to pay living wages.  

Impacting federal legislation can seem far removed from the daily work we all do.  However, my experience has been that folks in Washington D.C. are interested to hear what is working well and what could be improved from partners implementing programs in their cities and regions.  

Economic Development by Evan Schmidt

The Economic Development team took the opportunity at Cap-to-Cap to share and advocate for our key regional economic growth priorities and drew connections from the California Jobs First (formerly CERF) regional We Prosper Together initiative. Investing in and advancing the California Mobility Center and clean mobility innovations; advancing job creation and infrastructure around precision manufacturing; supporting our agricultural and life sciences assets including Aggie Square and ag innovation coming out of UC Davis and beyond; and supporting the supply chain and economic activity surrounding our region’s working lands were key priorities carried by the team.

We were able to meet with our regional representatives as well as key federal contacts at the National Science Foundation, Economic Development Administration, Small Business Administration, and US Department of Commerce, CHIPS for America. These meetings create opportunities for our region to identify investment opportunities with key federal contacts, communicate our region’s value proposition and needs, and build cohesion among regional stakeholders.

Valley Vision was also pleased to host a session for all delegates with our partners at the Brookings Institution to share data resources that have been compiled and analyzed for our region in the last nine months as part of the We Prosper Together initiative. Brookings researchers reinforced the importance of our key industry sectors and shared analytics about our region’s economic and innovation landscape. Explore the data and read the Executive Summary here.

Food and Agriculture by Grace Kaufman

How can we leverage funding across multiple departments in USDA to provide more resources for infrastructure that supports small and mid-size food businesses? How can we improve food and nutrition insecurity while also supporting the region’s local farms and restaurants?  Those were some of the questions the food and agriculture team asked our representatives and federal agencies during the 2024 Cap-to-Cap program. 

The food and agriculture team met with staff from three separate USDA departments. These meetings helped the team better understand and connect USDA opportunities to support the Sacramento Region’s food and farm businesses. This was particularly helpful for Valley Vision, as we support coordination and communication for the new USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, one of a network of 12 Centers across the country that provides resources and technical assistance to underinvested farmers and food producers. 

This year was my second year attending the program, and I look forward to attending next year to advocate for the Sacramento Region and the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. In the meantime, Valley Vision will continue to work with partners to build a food and agriculture system that is resilient, innovative, sustainable, and equitable. 

Food and Agriculture and Economic Development by Trish Kelly

I co-lead the Food and Agriculture team and support the Economic Development team. Our priorities centered on the passage of the 2023 Farm Bill as well as overall food system resiliency. These two areas encompass such important issues as hunger and nutrition security, food is medicine, agricultural viability, institutional procurement (farm to school and farm to hospital), broadband connectivity, and food economy projects. The region is well positioned as an innovation leader in all these areas and we focus on telling our story and raising awareness of the region nationally, as well as on specific asks, such as removing barriers to healthy food access and fully funding the Farm Bill (which is passed every 5 years, but has been rolled over to 2024). 

Our team includes a great cross-section of our food and agriculture ecosystem – nonprofits including food banks, farmers, local governments including elected officials (mayors, council members and supervisors), chefs both from restaurants and UC Davis Health, UC Davis main campus, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), and businesses. 

This is my tenth year participating in Cap-to-Cap and I have seen its strength and impact grow over this time. We’re really built this team from a small and mighty core to a diverse and energized group of leaders, backed up by supporters at home. I look forward to this trip every year as the opportunity to meet with staff and leaders in Congress, including not only our delegation but the staff at key food and ag committees, at the federal agencies, and with organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, national food policy and advocacy organizations and the Brookings Institution.

Two key highlights for me were meetings with Kelliann Blazek, the White House Agriculture and Rural Policy Advisor, and Congressman Jim McGovern, on the White House Challenge for Hunger, Nutrition and Health, and food is medicine legislation. They are inspiring leaders working to end hunger and improve health. But overall, our meetings with our local congressional leaders, USDA, EDA and SBA (the latter two through economic development) were so valuable in learning about new resources, better understanding the opportunities and challenges of the current legislative term, and gaining support for the region.

We’re proud to be part of the largest delegation that comes to DC on a community-focused mission. Since our trip, we have already had a follow-up on a few key priorities, and we feel our team has returned strengthened and committed to carrying the good work forward for the region. We appreciate the opportunity through Cap-to-Cap to engage with local leaders and champions in DC, which carries over into our work at home. We encourage anyone who wants to engage in these issues to stay in touch!