FRESNO (KMJ) — A chance to join a worldwide network will help the Central Valley expand its business.
It's called the Global Cities Initiative – and officials and local firms will be given help to expand their business across the world as part of the network. The initiative is part of a five year joint project between the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase.
The Fresno Metro Area and the Central Valley region is one of eight metro areas accepted to the GCI Exchange’s 2015 group, the final cohort of the 28-metro-area network.
Being part of the initiative should highlight what the Central Valley does to the rest of the world – especially when visiting groups of foreign officials foreign countries haven't even realized our importance.
"The group from Hong Kong went to Napa Valley and then on their way to Los Angeles they weren't going to stop in the valley", says Fresno Economic Development Corporation's Lee Ann Eager.
"They didn't know anything about the Central Valley of California. And so we said 'wait wait wait – you have to stop here'. If you want to see really what California has to offer – you have to stop in the Central Valley".
The Brookings Institution selected metro areas for the Exchange through a competitive process based on their readiness and commitment to pursue the Exchange’s global competitiveness principles.
“For the Exchange, we selected metro areas that are committed to expanding their global economic reach by working together to identify regional competitive strengths and increase exports,” said Brad McDearman, Brookings fellow and director of global special projects. “The eight metro areas selected for this final round represent a growing group of U.S. metro areas that understand the need to embrace the global market to remain competitive in the 21st century economy.”
“We’re delighted that the Central Valley and the Fresno Metro Area will be a part of this new network – it’s exactly the kind of innovative planning that is needed to ensure our community’s long-term economic success,” said Erik Langeland, Head of the Commercial Bank for JPMorgan Chase in the Central Valley and Sacramento.
“We have a long history of helping businesses connect to global markets, and now the Exchange brings additional resources to help our region’s leaders design strategies to further create jobs and grow our economy through greater global engagement.”
Although it's the Fresno Metro Area and Central Valley region that have been selected – it's hoped that it'll bring benefits for the rest of the valley too.
