Interagency Task Force for the Economic Development
of the Central San Joaquin Valley (June 2004, 56 p)
2003 – 2004 Progress Report and Action Plan
The San Joaquin Valley (the Valley) is a region with unique
and serious social, economic, and environmental challenges
that merit special attention by the federal government. In
February 2002, President Bush implemented Executive Order
13173, which created the Federal Interagency Task Force for
the Economic Development of the Central San Joaquin Valley
as the primary vehicle for leading change. The Task Force
comprises 19 federal agencies that seek to leverage each other’s
strengths and resources, as well as work in partnership with
local and state governments, the private sector, universities,
Congressional representatives, and other local organizations.
During the past year, the Task Force has made great progress
toward achieving the goals of the executive order. The Task
Force has chosen to focus on three priority economic development
initiatives, which include measurable goals and outcomes.
The Regional Jobs Initiative focuses on alleviating chronic
double-digit unemployment through a comprehensive private-public
effort aimed at creating new jobs in the Valley. The Clean
Air/Clean Energy Initiative focuses on alleviating the region’s
poor air quality, a major obstacle to the region’s economic
development, by a series of innovative efforts to clean the
environment in ways that create new jobs. The Financial Education
Initiative seeks to create more opportunities for homeownership,
small business development, and personal savings through increased
banking relationships and access to financial services by
Valley residents.
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