Economic and Workforce Development

The University Center Consortium will focus on six primary areas of focus—each harnessing the power of regional programs and partnerships. The areas of focus are:

• Regional commercialization efforts
• Advancing high-growth entrepreneurship
• Cultivating innovation
• Encouraging business expansion in a region’s innovation cluster
• Developing a high-skilled regional workforce
• Increasing the resiliency of a region

The partnership benefits each region by exploring innovative strategies to stabilize and grow traditional industries while integrating technology, science, and funding to create and expand high-growth industries which will transform business and workforce opportunities. Leveraging the expertise, students and resources of the three universities and their Centers will strengthen the approach to projects and initiatives and provide opportunities to share best practices with other parts of the state. The ultimate goal is to retain and attract talent throughout our regions thereby strengthening the state’s economic base.

While implementing program activities, the Consortium aims to target distressed rural and underserved communities that focus on historically underserved populations and areas such as Tribes, communities of color, women, persons with disabilities, veterans and military spouses. In addition, Workforce and Broadband Access trainings will target individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Both Universities are Hispanic Serving Institutions (HIS). Additionally, the Consortium will continue its support of its regional partners including the EDA Economic Development Districts.

The Good Jobs Challenge grant is just one way we're working in tandem with our partners to create a vibrant economy for future generations.

In August, 2022 the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) was announced as a recipient of one of 32 grants awarded as part of the $500 million Good Jobs Challenge funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration. FoundationCCC received $21.5 million to support its “California Resilient Careers in Forestry” proposal, which will coordinate and expand forestry and fire-safety training programs in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade regions of northeastern California. The North State Planning and Development Collective and Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, Chico State Enterprises, are among the eight partners who collaborated on the grant proposal and will receive an allocation of the award to conduct important industry work.

Additional partners include:

• Butte College
• Shasta College
• Lake Tahoe Community College
• Feather River
• Reedley
• Sierra Business Council
• UC ANR

Funding will support a four-year project to help scale a system to place qualified workers into high-quality jobs in the forestry sector, responding to urgent needs to build economic and climate resilience in California’s forested, rural communities. Work will be conducted in partnership with five community colleges (Butte College, Feather River College, Lake Tahoe Community College, Reedley College, and Shasta College), California State University Chico, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Sierra Business Council. This group has proven experience delivering effective workforce training programs in partnership with industry and community. 

The emerging forestry and fire safety sector has the potential to grow into a $39 billion industry. Yet there are currently projected shortages of thousands of workers for relevant well-paying jobs with benefits, including but not limited to fire and forestry crew leads, conservation scientists, and U.S. Forest Service crew members. By working to recruit, support, and train local communities in partnership with multiple Hispanic-serving institutions, Indigenous-led partners, and other community-based organizations, the project will expand the industry’s talent pool while simultaneously diversifying the field. 

The California Resilient Careers in Forestry project was selected from a pool of over 500 applicants and is one of two grants awarded in California. The 32 grantees awarded are focused on diversifying the workforce in their respective industries and will serve and support historically underrepresented populations to help communities recover with equity.

Our community profiles offer a comprehensive look at counties across the state. From labor market and workforce development data to information on top industry sectors and population demographics, the Collective team is ready to help you compile the latest information about your community. The Collective also produces the Service Region Profile for California State University, Chico.

Email Jason Schwenkler at jschwenkler@csuchico.edu to learn more about our support services.

The Collective serves as the coordinator and fiscal agent for the Butte County chapter of the North State Together K-16 collaborative. The purpose of the county network is to build inclusive, supportive pathways to connect Butte County students to quality, well-paying healthcare careers. Building Butte is dedicated to supporting healthcare pathways in Butte County by facilitating conversations between K-16 educators, healthcare industry leaders, and nonprofit entities in the county.

During the network’s first year, Building Butte is creating an inventory of healthcare programs available to students in the county and building an interactive platform that will allow students and families access pathway information.