The Center for Economic Research and Education of Central California at California State University, Fresno and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) serving Fresno County are partners in a new alliance designed to add research opportunities to help local businesses create jobs.

Representatives of the university and EDC signed a memorandum of understanding during a press conference today.

Steve Geil, president/CEO of the EDC, and Dr. Antonio Avalos, the center’s research director, were joined at the signing by Dr. Luz Gonzalez, dean of the College of Social Science, and other university and EDC officials.

The agreement calls for the center to join the EDC and contribute $25,000 in-kind annually in products and services designed to assist with the economic research needs of the EDC.

EDC will refer outside research projects to the center and assist with the coordination of client meetings; advertise the center in EDC publications and cross link Web sites

Geil thanked his university partners “for their forward-thinking in the creation of this partnership.”

“Fresno State has always understood the driving force behind maintaining and improving quality of life in Fresno County is job creation,” Geil said. “Business has a strong need for research to make critical decisions for creation of local, innovative jobs.”

Avalos said the university’s partnership with EDC fulfills part of center’s mission: to make a significant contribution in enhancing economic development in the region.

“Businesses, professional organizations, policymakers and citizens in general are likely to make better decisions if they are based on sound research and data,” said Avalos, who also is the chair of the Department of Economics at Fresno State. “The partnership will bring together decision makers with relevant information. The potential created by this collaborative effort to produce positive change is significant.”

The Center of Economic Research and Education of Central California was launched in March 20007 as part of the College of Social Science to provide the San Joaquin Valley with focused economic research and educational resources on economics.

Related links:

http://www.fresnoedc.com/

www.csufresno.edu/cerecc/