What's Happening Right Now?
Silicon Valley Mayors Meet in First Regional Cleantech Leadership Summit
July 1, 2009 - Mayors and other representatives of more than two dozen Silicon Valley cities gathered at San Jose City Hall on June 30 for the first Silicon Valley Mayors Summit. The topic for discussion was maintaining the region’s leadership in clean technology and innovation center.
Convened by Joint Venture and hosted by San Jose Mayor (and Joint Venture co-chair) Chuck Reed, the meeting was the first of its kind. This meeting was prompted by the recent release of a report by the Milken Institute on America’s knowledge-intensive economies, which ranked Silicon Valley number one for its ability to spawn entrepreneurial firms, while at the same time sustaining our high-tech anchors.
The mayors heard the latest information on Silicon Valley’s current innovation habitat, the various climate protection efforts and programs already underway, and the role the public sector can play in promoting clean tech as a strategy to lead the nation out of recession.
The group was briefed by Doug Henton, CEO of Collaborative Economics, Kelly Krpata, Applied Materials Director of Joint Venture’s Climate Prosperity Initiative, and Mike Mielke, Environment Director for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Discussion followed, in which the mayors agreed upon an action plan to:
* set goals
* publish indicators charting progress toward those goals
* convene working groups to discuss regional approaches to permitting, fees, and standards
* convene working groups to jump start infrastructure projects
* coalesce around a legislative agenda
* hold regular meetings
The mayors also agreed to participate in the Climate Prosperity framework set up by Joint Venture, and to encourage their respective cities’ adoption of the Climate Change Compact.
Are You the Person We Need?
June 24, 2009 - Joint Venture and ALF are teamed up for a new project of work enlisting Silicon Valley’s support for state governance reform. We’re looking for a bright and capable project manager.
Click here for the job description and to apply.
Huge Crowd Packs Grand Boulevard Public Forum
June 20, 2009 - The future of El Camino Real as a vibrant regional arterial took center stage at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City on June 20 when more than 350 people jammed a day-long forum to hear the vision and progress of Joint Venture’s Grand Boulevard Initiative. The initiative seeks to develop El Camino Real as a people-centric and transportation oriented thoroughfare stretching 60 miles from Daly City to San Jose.
The audience heard from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and the region’s top federal, state and local transportation officials, along with visionary urban designer Michael Freedman, about policies and programs underway to carry out the Grand Boulevard Initiative. Nineteen Peninsula and Silicon Valley cities have embraced the guiding principles of the initiative as a road map for the first multi-community project of its kind anywhere.
“There are grand city boulevards, but a regional grand boulevard does not exist in the world right now,” Freedman told San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Richards. “The challenge is not technical. Can we do this? Absolutely. Does this make sense in terms of the way the world is going? It’s perfect. But things like this depend on political vision and leadership.”
The audience of elected and appointed officials, city planners, business owners and citizens also heard from Caltrans Director Will Kempton, Metropolitan Transportation Commission executive director Steve Heminger, and VTA deputy director of planning for Chris Augenstein.
Click here to read Gary Richards’ article in the San Jose Mercury News.
Click here to read the San Jose Mercury News editorial on Grand Boulevard.
Click here for more information about the Grand Boulevard Initiative.
Joint Venture and American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley Collaborate to Work on California Governance and Reform
June 16, 2009 - Joint Venture has entered into a partnership with the American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley (ALF) to work collaboratively on strengthening Silicon Valley’s role in California governance and fiscal reform.
Both nonprofit organizations have identified California governance as a priority issue and are on record calling for reform. Through this collaborative, ALF and Joint Venture will embark on a program designed to coalesce the region’s leaders around a reform agenda, and join with other regional and statewide organizations to advance that agenda.
“With this partnership Silicon Valley can flex its considerable muscle on statewide issues more than ever,” said Russell Hancock, President & CEO of Joint Venture. “The combined influence of our two organizations brings a powerful voice for our region to Sacramento.”
“ALF and Joint Venture have long held similar values and goals in terms of advancing an agenda for the common good of Silicon Valley,” said Chris Block, CEO of ALF, which is dedicated to building a better Silicon Valley community by joining and strengthening leaders to serve the common good. “It is a natural evolution for ALF to be collaborating with Joint Venture on this project of crucial importance to the future not only of Silicon Valley, but to all of California.”
Joint Venture Adds Rachel Massaro to Climate Team
June 17, 2009 - Joint Venture has announced the addition of oceanographer and climate change analyst Rachel Massaro to its team as Associate Director of Climate Initiatives. She will assist with the Climate Prosperity Initiative, the Climate Protection Task Force and related projects.
Massaro was previously a data analyst, researcher and field operations coordinator for three years with the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she earned her Master of Science degree in geochemical oceanography in 2008. Her research focused on global climate change and the role of the coastal ocean, specifically with respect to carbon dioxide dynamics.
A Palo Alto native, Rachel completed her undergraduate degree in physical geography with a minor in geology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She specialized in geospatial data analysis, Geographic Information Systems and global climate change.
Click here for a full bio.
Hats Off to Teachers! New Program Launches with 150 Silicon Valley Businesses Offering Discounts
May 7, 2009 - Joint Venture and the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce have tipped their collective caps to Silicon Valley teachers with the launch of Hats Off To Teachers, a unique regional program offering merchant discounts and savings expressly for teachers.
The program is part of Joint Venture’s Alliance for Teaching that focuses on strengthening teacher recruitment, professional development and national teacher certification for Silicon Valley teachers.
Under the Hats Off To Teachers program, teachers presenting valid identification to any of some 150 participating businesses may take advantage of savings on everything from office supplies, books, electronics and gifts to health and beauty products, food and dining, professional services, toys, pet care and automotive needs.
Click here to read the complete news release.
Click here to visit the Hats Off to Teachers website.
Click here to learn more about the Alliance for Teaching