CSU, Chico News

Pacific Gas & Electric’s Mike Travis presented Dan Ripke, director of the California State University, Chico Research Foundation’s Center for Economic Development (CED), and CSU, Chico President Paul Zingg with a grant for $15,000 to support CED’s effort in creating an online community in California. The project, developed by Ripke, will be a Web site providing economic developers throughout California with access to a large, well-developed user-created online community of information, resources and expertise. The presentation was made on June 7.

While California has numerous economic development professionals, many are geographically isolated, limiting their access to the resources they need to solve local problems. Many organizations within the state lack the funding and time to meet with colleagues and discuss solutions. California’s immense geography creates physical barriers that can prevent collaboration and the development of solutions across the state. The online community will fill this need and will bridge these physical barriers by making communication easier and more efficient.

The online community site will allow the target population of economic and community development professionals to assist their colleagues by providing a venue for peer-to-peer development. The purpose of the online community will be to implement innovative strategies that will increase the number of clients served, increase outreach capabilities and potentially increase the economic vitality of the communities served. The project will be coordinated by Ripke and staff at the CED.

The Center for Economic Development is a community outreach and technical assistance organization of the California State University, Chico Research Foundation. As an agent of the University, the center supports, expands and re-emphasizes the University’s role in the regional economic development process. CED’s mission is to educate and build the knowledge and capacity of California economic development professionals and enhance the well being of the region’s citizens by facilitating sustained, long-term and coordinated economic development strategies.

For more information contact Dan Ripke, director of CED, at 530-898-4598.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 21st, 2005 at 8:30 am and is filed under 2005 Spring.