Last Updated: Tuesday, Nov 28 2006 8:54 PM
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Tuesday extended the life of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, a state-local coalition formed to help solve the region's chronic economic and social problems.
The partnership, created by the governor in June 2005 but originally scheduled to expire at the end of this year, is a group of state agencies that deal with transportation, health, education, law enforcement and other functions important to the life of the valley.
It is governed by a board that contains state agency chiefs as well as local civic and business leaders.
Kern's representatives are Bakersfield Councilwoman Sue Benham and businessman Ray Dezember.
"The Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, and we must continue to work hard to protect its economic well-being," the governor said as he issued an executive order reauthorizing the partnership. "This partnership will continue to assist the San Joaquin Valley region in improving the conditions of transportation, education, environment and health care in the area."
The order extends the life of the program to at least Dec. 31, 2008.
In its year and a half of existence, the partnership boasts such accomplishments as spurring completion of a business plan for the improvement of Highway 99 between Bakersfield and Stockton and laying the groundwork for graduation of more registered nurses in the area.