Funding Pours in for Green Valley Initiative

The economic development agencies of both Riverside and San Bernardino counties have committed $25,000 each to the process of identifying and promoting clean and green technology opportunities and projects for the region - efforts that will bring jobs and grow business in the Inland Empire. The Morgan Family Foundation, a non-profit benefitting youth, education, environment and stewardship, has pledged a $50,000 matching grant to help fund a detailed action plan developed by Silicon Valley mastermind and economist Doug Henton of Collaborative Economics, Inc. The study will pinpoint strategies and approaches to take when GVI is formally launched as an independent entity in January.
These funding sources come on the heels of a $100,000 grant awarded to GVI last month by Southern California Edison.

GVI is a regional economic development plan launched in 2007 to promote renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, biotech, nanotech and other sustainable industries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, a Southern California region referred to as the Inland Empire. To date, the boards of supervisors of both counties, the Western Riverside Council of Governments and more than 25 cities and public agencies have adopted resolutions in support of the initiative.

"Riverside County's Economic Development Agency has been a key partner in the Green Valley Initiative since its inception," said Sarah Mundy, assistant director. "These next steps are vital to identifying future projects for the region and seeing them through."

"Thanks to the generosity of the county EDAs and the Morgan Family Foundation, the Green Valley Initiative will continue to gain the momentum required to accomplish our goals," said Ali Sahabi, who helped launch GVI in 2007 through his nonprofit, GIVE. Sahabi is president of SE Corporation, a land-planning and entitlement company specializing in sustainable communities.

GIVE is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 to promote balance in the way people live, how their choices impact the environment and others in their community. For more information visit www.giveforthefuture.org.

Various agencies and nonprofits contribute $200,000 to the mission's next steps: forming an independent entity and action plan to be implemented in January, 2009