Organization Mission

Faced with declining agricultural employment for the large unemployed, largely illiterate workforce, the City of Firebaugh in California’s Central Valley decided they must grow and diversify the local economy, by providing technology training and IT employment opportunities. The city formed a dynamic regional collaborative to train the workforce and develop an ongoing stream of technology-literate residents for employment by local and international companies, and to bring high speed Internet to the region.

The Firebaugh Collaborative partners represent a broad spectrum of government, education, and CBO’s in the area:

  • City of Firebaugh
  • Firebaugh Los Deltas Unified School District
  • Westside Institute of Technology
  • Firebaugh Community Health Commission (Firebaugh Computer Learning Center)
  • Berkeley Greenlining Institute (developing high-tech housing for FCLC- certificated renters)
  • Fresno County Office of Education

Community Served

The City of Firebaugh is a small town in the West San Joaquin Valley region, between California Highway 99 and Interstate 5, at the heart of the California 20th Congressional District. The region is the richest farming district in the state; and the area houses the poorest residential workforce in California.

Fresno County is the richest California county as measured by income to farm organizations. The region produces more farm income to farm organizations than any state (except California, Texas and Iowa). However, 2009 court decisions and reduced water allocations from the from the federal Central Valley Project have shut off water imports to the area, and farms are expected to restrict planting and farm work.

Firebaugh's residential population of 7,500 is primarily part-time, low-literacy, immigrant, agricultural workers, not dissimilar to the 200,000 residents of the entire agricultural area.

In 2008-09, the area lost 30,000 jobs, and unemployment is 30-40%. This area is ranked worst in the state (435th of 435 districts) in unemployment, poverty, educational attainment and social disorganization (Congressional Quarterly 2008); it is also at the bottom among U.S. communities.

Challenges

Low literacy. Fewer than half of residents have an 8th grade education; half have a 6th grade education, most often from rural Mexico or Central America; only 1 in 25 has a college degree. Few have mastered either the English language or technology literacy.

Limited technology resources. Fewer than 20% of families have a computer at home. Local teachers are not prepared to teach technology; among area public school teachers, 50% reported themselves as 'technology illiterate.' (Reports to the State Department of Education)

Declining farm employment. Farmworker employment prospects continue to decline. Bringing water to the area to increase farm production (and increase farmworker employment) would take 10-20 years, and is unlikely to change near-term.

Sources of Funding

Contributed
Corporations, Foundations, Government local, State, Federal, Local business

Accomplishments (Snapshots)