“If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” Words from Peter Nunez of Teamsters Local 431 that speaks of our first kick off gathering this month.

Comprised of various stakeholders Teamsters is one of PIQE’s 35 new partners representing the Fresno County area for the Valley CERF (Community Economic Resilience Fund). In the late summer of 2022, PIQE was invited for an informative debrief of an upcoming opportunity to enhance the lives of our families.

Six months later, we now join a committed yet widely diverse group of stakeholders from Community Based Organizations to Local Government, Tribes to Environmental Justice, and many more! As a collective, our vision is to “foster an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy that creates quality jobs and provides equitable economic access to all across the Central San Joaquin Valley.”

Over the next 18 months, we will be meeting to develop a plan and identify projects to transition our economy from vision to action. In collaboration, we will work across systems to access the current landscape of this region, strategize plans to implement projects that will focus on the following:

• Equity
• Sustainability
• Job quality and access
• Economic competitiveness and resilience

Stay informed for more updates by visiting our website. You can also contact Sade Williams –Lead of Engagement and Strategic Initiatives – swilliams@piqe.org | 559-498-9748.