California State University, Fresno is part of a new alliance focusing on agriculture, water and solar energy technologies and designated by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development as the Central San Joaquin Valley iHub.
It’s one of a dozen regional hubs designed to strengthen and support job creation and technology development through innovation in specific industries within each area.
The Fresno-based Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI) and the Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation and Economic Development are lead agencies. Joining them are Fresno State, the University California, Merced and UC Merced’s Small Business Development Center Regional Network.
Helping support the iHub are local economic development corporations, workforce investment boards, cities and county government agencies serving Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
“Fresno State is an integral part of our region’s efforts to develop new industries,” said Fresno State President John D. Welty.
“We know that leveraging the Valley’s innovation and entrepreneurial initiative with our university’s academic accomplishment and research efforts will provide high-paying, stable employment opportunities that can help sustain our economy over the long term,” added Welty. “This partnership will help us explore new ways to improve our area.”
Fresno State has committed several departments, centers and colleges to collaborate on the new initiative. They include the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED), Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, International Center for Water Technology, University Business Center, Lyles College of Engineering and the Center for Irrigation Technology.
“The strong and ongoing partnerships between industry and our academic programs help to maintain our central commitment to the health and welfare of the region,” said Fresno State Provost William Covino.
Said Mike Dozier, interim director of the Fresno State OCED, “The iHub designation is another tool to provide cutting-edge economic development for the central San Joaquin Valley that will pay long-term benefits with technology transfer and commercialization through entrepreneurship. The partnerships will provide a strong network of resources and tools to bring this to fruition.”
“Not only are we forging new alliances and uniting key stakeholders within our region,” said CVBI CEO Kirk Nagamine, “we are bringing financial support and recognition from the state to the assets, resources and needs of our communities.”
The goal of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is to improve California’s national and global competitiveness by stimulating partnerships, economic development, and job creation around specific research clusters through state-designated iHubs.
Office director Joel Ayala said the iHub program “provides an open forum for the sharing of knowledge and building of partnerships, which we hope will lead to the quick and efficient acceleration of the commercialization of technologies.”
“We have been impressed by the Central Valley’s ability to unite to confront issues the region faces with respect to water, energy and agricultural resources, and we believe inclusion of the region will be a tremendous asset to the greater statewide network,” added Ayala.
For more information, contact Dozier at mdozier@csufresno.edu or 559.294.6027.
