CVEP wishes to extend a big THANK YOU to all everyone who attended the Annual Economic Summit yesterday. We had a great turn out with very interesting speakers and a few interesting announcements. Among them.....the Goldenvoice Concert Series which announced that in 2012 their concerts, including Coachella Fest weekends 1 and 2 and Stagecoach, generated over $254.42 million in spending in the Coachella Valley.

There were a few articles in The Desert Sun covering the morning event and on KESQ. To read more about the Coachella Valley Concert Series (click) or to read more about the Summit click here or here. 

The Economic Annual Report completed by Dr. John Husing is now available online - click on the picture to access. 

Another highlight of the Summit was the announcement by Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Anderson of an initiative to send more local kids to college and a better connection to local careers. CVEP has facilitated this initiative in partnership with the region's business and education leaders. For students to be fully prepared for college and career experiences, the Palm Springs Unified School District, Desert Sands Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District and the Riverside County Department of Education, the Valley's higher education institutions, Cal State San Bernardino, College of the Desert, and UC Riverside, as well as local business leaders have come together to develop a Regional Plan for College and Career Readiness. The regional plan could not have completed without the valuable contribution of the Ford Motor Company Fund, who has been a valuable catalyst for completion of the plan.  Through its Next Generation Learning initiative, the Ford Fund has provided CVEP with strategic guidance, technical assistance and funding to accomplish this goal. The announcement at the Summit included praise from the State Superintendent for this regional initiative.  More details will be announced in the coming months about the roll out of this regional partnership.  Stay tuned....