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History: The Beginning
On June 1, 2007, ninety-eight of Inland Southern California’s most influential leaders came together to identify prospects for a new vision for the Inland Empire: a vision focused on bringing new jobs, greater opportunities and a higher quality of life to the region.
The First Principals Forum launched The Green Valley Initiative, where representatives from area cities and government agencies, universities, school districts, businesses and environmental groups met at the historic Mission Inn to discuss the opportunities for focused growth in the region. The plan: to bring in businesses that will transform the Inland Empire into the nation’s leader in the emerging industries of renewable energy, green technology, and recyclable materials. Sponsored by GIVE, the Green Institute for Village Empowerment, the forum focused on the steps to be taken to channel today’s challenges into tomorrow’s solutions.
Representatives from the First Principals Forum were split into three groups and asked to consider specific areas of sustainability. From that June 1 meeting, they formulated their own set of implementation recommendations during a series of three meetings held in July, August and September:
Group 1: Policy and Sustainable Approaches
- Identified and documented existing areas and models to evaluate for the Inland Empire
- Projected the results of implementing policy changes in the I.E.
- Created a benchmark for progress and investment
- Integrated MSHCP and other environmental/conservation efforts
Group 2: Sustainable Economic Development
- Identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the region
- Identified capital and funding options
- Addressed branding, marketing and perception
Group 3: The Green Brain Trust/Education
- Refocused education at all levels
- Identified and market the quality of IE
- Identified a model for technology development plan
View videos from the stakeholder meetings
A general meeting was held on October 22, 2007, involving all participants from the June Principals Forum as well as state officials. It is at this meeting where recommendations from each of the three groups were presented.
