Ask just about any Californian and they’ll tell you, our state cannot wait any longer–there needs to be some bold strategies to fix our broken economy.
The California Economic Summit on May 11th will do just that—bring people together from the state’s various regions to connect and discuss strategies to move California’s economy forward.
Leading up to the statewide summit, nearly a dozen regional forums will be held across the state.
Sacramento was one of the first to get down to business. When the recession hit in 2007, the region took a devastating hit, losing nearly 150,000 jobs.
Five years later, Sacramento’s economy is finally on the upswing, which is welcome news to folks who live and work in the area.
Next Economy, a public-private partnership of businesses, held its forum at the Folsom Community Center on February 17.
Despite the optimism felt by most of the 400 people in attendance, many agreed there are still many barriers standing in the way.
Bill Muller, CEO of Valley Vision, an organization in Next Economy, said attendees were most concerned about “innovation and access to capital and making sure that our workforce is positioned for the jobs that become available.”
Using touchpad technology, people at the event were able to answer questions about the economy and their hopes for the future.
Most folks said immediate change “won’t come from someone on the outside, it’s going to be from people, citizens in the region, getting involved, feeling as though they have a big stake in the outcome,” said Mueller.
Many attendees understood that working with other regions is the only way to get California back on track, and they’re ready to collaborate.
Guest host Jim Williams, of Williams & Paddon, said, the California Economic Summit is crucial, because “it’s finally recognizing that California is diverse and made up of many regions. There are different issues in the different regions that each has a unique identity that they can contribute.”
Julie Meier Wright, a member of the California Economic Summit management team agreed. “We need people who are passionate to stay involved and work with other regions in California.”
For more information on the California Economic Summit and to share your ideas, go to caeonomy.org or follow us @CAeconomy.
