Tate Hill, president of Access Plus Capital, speaks at a news conference Wednesday at the United Way Fresno and Madera Counties office. United Way President and CEO Lindsay Fox-Morris stands to his side. Photo by Estela Anahi Jaramillo

The region is primed for a jobs boost after local organizations partnered to receive a $10 million grant from the State of California.

On Wednesday, United Way Fresno and Madera Counties announced it was awarded a $10 million grant as part of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF). The grant’s purpose is to help create wealth and prosperity for the disinvested population in the Central Valley.

It was issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who announced on May 24 the award of $40 million for communities in California. United Way received the largest grant of the 2023 CERF Economic Development Pilot awardees.

“When we found out that we got the grant it was so exciting because it’s $10 million. We had asked for as much as we possibly could because we wanted what was the best for our community and we got it,” said current United Way President and CEO Lindsay Fox-Morris.

She noted the buzz of excitement that went throughout the office when they discovered that the area received the largest award in the state. Fox-Morris is anticipating the change that will arrive in Fresno and Madera counties with the new grant, she said.

The influx of money has allowed United Way and its partnership with other organizations such as Fresno Drive and Fresno County Economic Development Corporation to offer new opportunities to community members.

These include bringing quality jobs; advancing entrepreneurship and access to capital for hundreds of minority business owners; and providing infrastructure in parts of the community while creating a demonstration model for scale and replication.

Fox-Morris said the project aims to provide 30,000 residents with increased access to the internet; 1,500 will be able to participate in training for the Good Jobs Initiative through Fresno EDC; 210 entrepreneurs have the opportunity to be trained by Access Capital; and 125 businesses will be accelerated towards new jobs, including electric vehicle jobs.

Artie Padilla, director of DRIVE initiatives at Central Valley Community Foundation, highlighted the hard, collaborative work that happened behind the scenes to obtain this grant.

“We all have a focus of serving our community, serving our Valley and making sure we all come together within our partnership with the strengths that we bring. And then collectively, we are able to get these amazing funds to serve our community,” said Padilla.

According to Will Oliver, vice president for business services at Fresno EDC, a portion of this grant will go toward participant stipends, scholarships, dual enrollment, pathways to pay for on-the-job experience for youth as well as adult learners working to obtain their GED or high school diploma.

“Our efforts collectively were focused on the underserved and underrepresented in taking part in our economic growth,” Oliver said.

 CERF is a $600 million program that launched in 2021 activating high-growth, low-carbon industries and high-quality jobs transitioning to a clean energy economy, according to the state.