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Connections between the Food System, Economic Development & JobsCapital Region

+Accelerating Job & Wealth Creation Launched in August 2011

Inspired by some of the region’s leading organizations – SACTO, Metro Chamber, Valley Vision, and SARTA

Engages private and public sectors, elected officials, workforce development, education, labor and community members

Cluster-based evaluation and approach

“Initiatives such as Next Economy are the kinds of regional efforts that are necessary to drive American economic competitiveness and will become the defining model for growing jobs throughout our nation.”

― Matthew S. Erskine, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development

+Agriculture & Food Industry Cluster: Economic Facts Agriculture and food cluster is one of a handful of

the region's economic base sectors that grew between 2000 and 2010

Crop production and food manufacturing = 30% of annual export activity

Supports 37,000 jobs and $3.5 billion of output

Output expected to increase by 24% between 2010-2020

$97 million of venture capital was invested in the cluster between 2005 and 2010, and 36 patents were granted

+Agriculture & Food Industry Cluster:Priority Strategies

Develop regional ag alliance to establish broadly supported policy recommendations

Forge linkages between economic development and UCD’s innovation areas

Create outreach materials to help audiences value agriculture and the food system

Develop the next generation of farmers

Support implementation of food processing and distribution hubs