SJVB Summit
      

On June 28, 2006 over 700 people participated in a kick-off summit in Fresno for creating a regional vision and strategy for California’s San Joaquin Valley. Coming from eight counties, the attendees represented a diversity of perspectives. In the ranks of participants were policymakers, planners, farmers, developers, nonprofits, housing advocates, students, and a variety of public agency representatives. The daylong event allowed participants to gain a regional perspective regarding their common assets and assets, connected regional issues and potential strategies, and how local planning issues relate to the region.

Co-sponsored by the eight Councils of Governments (COGs) in the San Joaquin Valley and facilitated by the Great Valley Center, the milestone event begins a process of county-scaled regional planning efforts called “blueprints”. Funded by the State of California Department of Housing and Development, the plans are to provide an opportunity for communities to collaborate in creating a strategy for accommodating the Valley’s projected population growth.

The San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Planning Process is a joint effort of the Council of Fresno Governments, the Kern Council of Governments, the Kings County Association of Governments, Madera County Transportation Commission, the Merced County Association of Governments, San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stanislaus Council of Governments, the Tulare County Association of Governments and the Great Valley Center.