U.S. Commerce Secretary Announces Designation of CV AgPlus for Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Initiative

FRESNO, CA – The Central Valley AgPlus Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium led by Fresno State was one of 12 Manufacturing communities that were designated today by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker for the Obama Administration’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative.

The IMCP designation was granted by the U.S. Economic Development Administration to 12 regions across the country to help accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing. Regions awarded the “Manufacturing Community” designation will develop and execute strategies for increasing investments into six important pillars of their manufacturing ecosystem: workforce and training, supplier network, research and innovation, infrastructure/site development or development, trade and international investment, and operational improvement and capital access. Designated communities will receive the coordinated support of fourteen federal agencies and preferential consideration for $1.3 billion in existing federal funding opportunities.

“This designation helps Fresno build on local efforts such as Fresno Food Expo and our participation in the Brookings Global City Initiative, making us an ideal region for federal investment,” said Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. “It also brings more national attention and resources to our growing reputation as a leader in the food and agricultural manufacturing sector and puts Fresno in an even stronger position to accelerate our success.”

The Central Valley AgPlus region includes 28 counties as well as the City of Fresno. The Central Valley is an economic powerhouse, with $34.7 billion in farm gate value and $11.0 billion exports. Its food and beverage manufacturing produces $43.2 billion in annual output. Accelerating the growth of value-added food and beverage manufacturing will bring added economic opportunity and shared competitive advantage to the region, California and the nation by minimizing leakage of $4.1 billion of output and 5,000 jobs outside of the region.