Registration has opened for the 2019 California Economic Summit, to be held in Fresno Nov. 7-8. The summit, produced by California Forward (CA Fwd), marks the eighth annual gathering of private, public and civic leaders from across California's diverse regions committed to creating a shared economic agenda to expand prosperity for all.

Since California Gov. Gavin Newsom was elected, he has spoken about creating policies to benefit all parts of California. He established the Regions Rise Together Initiative focused on bolstering the economies of inland California. The governor has committed to sharing early findings from this initiative at the summit in Fresno.

“We need an economy that works for all Californians, no matter who you are or where you live,” said Gov. Newsom. “The California Economic Summit will be a critical moment for us to come together, across all sectors, and commit to building inclusive and sustainable growth for the entire state.”

Vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Glenda Humiston, is part of the summit steering committee and the team lead for the event's Ecosystem Vitality and Working Landscapes section.

“The San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada are ground zero for developing resilient strategies to make our regions prosperous, equitable, and sustainable," Humiston said. "The summit is the forum for aligning and advancing triple-bottom-line policies that work.”

Regions Rise Together

The summit's tagline – Regions Rise Together – aligns with the governor's initiative and captures the importance of a regional approach to economic development. Issues of housing, cradle-to-career education, workforce development, water quality and sustainability, forest resiliency and broadband access will be discussed and will result in policy recommendations for California and other states to adopt.

“We are thrilled that the summit is coming to Fresno this year. It is fitting that inland California hosts the event, which is concentrating on the issues facing those of us who don't live in the coastal regions of the state,” said Ashley Swearengin, CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation and CA Fwd Leadership Council Member. “The solutions we develop here will not only benefit California but are potentially a blueprint for other economically disadvantaged areas across the nation.”

In addition to Gov. Newsom, speakers at the event will include former State Treasurer John Chiang, Chief Economic and Business Advisor and Director of the Office of Business and Economic Development Lenny Mendonca, numerous state and federal legislators and other regional and state leaders.

UC President Janet Napolitano, CSU Chancellor Timothy White, California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley, and the President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities Kristen Soares will participate in a discussion moderated by Lande Ajose, Senior Policy Advisor for Higher Education for the Newsom Administration, marking a rare moment when all leaders of California higher education are on stage together.

PIE winners named

During the summit, winners of the 3rd annual Partnerships for Industry and Education (PIE) contest will be announced. Sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, the contest is designed to identify and highlight partnerships between industry and education that are filling the need for a skilled workforce in California.

The summit will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2233 Ventura St., Fresno. An early bird registration discount of 20% is available until Sept. 1. For more information and to register visit summit.caeconomy.org/registration.

Source: University of California Divsion of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.