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Fresno State outlines how braided funding and campus partnerships drive Central Valley social mobility
Summary
Barbara Foster of Fresno State described OSED’s cross‑sector work using USDA, SBA, philanthropic and corporate partners to serve thousands of residents, provide training and support services, and advance social mobility in underserved Valley cities.
Barbara Foster, director at Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development, told the committee the university leverages federal, state, philanthropic and private funds to deliver workforce training, counseling and digital literacy across underserved Central Valley communities. She pointed to programs that served more than 5,200 unique clients and delivered more than 13,300 counseling hours and 624 training classes, with 81% of clients from low‑wealth areas.
Foster highlighted the institution’s role bridging local partners and noted Fresno State’s Carnegie community engagement designation and a reported regional economic impact: “Fresno State is recognized as a valuable partner within the valley and generates over $1,000,000,000 in regional industry activity.” She urged reducing bureaucratic permitting and regulatory barriers that slow projects and stressed offering services in English and Spanish and using virtual training where appropriate to reach families.
Foster and committee members discussed targeted supports—stipends, childcare, transportation—that helped increase apprenticeship completion for women in trades, and the need to sustain those supports beyond single grants.
