Agenda Item Wording:
title
Recognition of City of Visalia Innovators by Design Award
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Prepared by: Jason Serpa, Public Works Manager, jason.serpa@visalia.city, (559) 713-4533 Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, nick.bartsch@visalia.city, (559) 713-4052
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends Council receive a presentation on the Eco-Program’s Innovators by Design Award awarded to the City of Visalia on October 8th, 2025, for exceptional partnership and commitment to strengthening the workforce of Tulare County.
Summary:
On October 8th, 2025, the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County held the Innovators by Design conference at the City of Visalia Convention Center that focused on fostering cross-sector collaborations and ways to ignite innovative ideas and strategies to strengthen the workforce in Tulare County and beyond. Many businesses and non-profits were invited to participate in sessions that offered ideas to align people and purpose meant to inspire action and drive meaningful change.
In addition to having a keynote speaker who was an expert in generational differences in the workplace, the event included awards for individuals and partnerships that fostered change within the communities present. One such award was awarded to the City of Visalia for the Eco-Program, the collaborative program that is co-funded by the City of Visalia and the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and run by Community Services and Employment Training, Inc. (CSET).
Background Discussion:
In 2017, the City of Visalia and the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) established a program that would allow members of Visalia's homeless and low-income population to acquire the work skills necessary to obtain gainful employment while simultaneously addressing a community need, cleaning up illegally dumped material and recycling appropriate materials. Program participants are vetted and referred to the program by community partners.
This program has been a resounding success and has not only been touted as a model for other communities but has been a showcase when presented to others.
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Prior Council Action: Council has annually reauthorized the program to continue, with the most recent contract being granted a longer term of 3 years.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: N/A
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
No motion necessary.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 11/3/2025
Attachments: Video Presentation at https://youtu.be/7QFoUkry-sY <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F7QFoUkry-sY&data=05%7C02%7CJason.Serpa%40visalia.gov%7C9b6aa2d88981428ad33a08de1003058c%7Ce489c096dc4c4c25a985bc420f160fa2%7C0%7C0%7C638965802334061719%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0E8b9tM%2BHAB7MpIgkGNEZhRvHV1L6EopsUFUMWc0Wd4%3D&reserved=0>