Congresswoman Lee Announces East Bay’s Innovation 2.0 Plan Roll Out
Oakland, CA – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier joined East Bay business leaders in celebrating the release of the Innovation 2.0 Action Plan, a strategy drafted by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA) to promote STEM education and tech job growth in the East Bay.
“Today’s announcement is the result of our sustained efforts to ensure our community is prepared to succeed in the 21st century economy. This plan will help create a pipeline of diverse tech employees – something that has been an afterthought far too long,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Now, we must double down on our efforts to ensure access to STEM education opportunities to make certain our children are equipped with the skills to fill the high-paying jobs of the future.”
This plan was inspired by Innovation 2.0, a national initiative led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, to build on the success of the original House Democrats Innovation Agenda from 2007. The original Innovation Agenda led to 21 provisions that were signed into law to enhance competitiveness and promote innovation within our economy. The East Bay EDA’s Innovation 2.0 Action Plan is a set of tangible actions that local businesses will take to ensure that the East Bay is prepared to take advantage of the growth in tech jobs in the coming years.
“Representatives Barbara Lee, Mark DeSaulnier, and Eric Swalwell’s leadership in creating an innovative agenda for the East Bay will surely contribute in special ways to enhance a national effort to improve the lives of all Americans,” said Congresswoman Eshoo.
Last year, Congresswoman Lee, Congressman DeSaulnier and Congressman Swalwell hosted a listening session with key businesses, educators and community stakeholders to identify priorities for Innovation 2.0. Following this session, the East Bay EDA’s employer advisory committee was tasked with crafting this regional action plan to be used as a blueprint for potential legislative resolutions and business engagement with education.
“This regional action plan smartly focuses on STEM education to ensure that our students are prepared for a changing economy and that our businesses have access to the local, qualified talent necessary to continue to spur innovation in the Bay Area,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I commend the East Bay EDA for their leadership, and look forward to sharing this important work with my colleagues on the Education and Workforce Committee.”
“This report – the only one of its kind in the nation so far – results from hard work done before, at, and since our Innovation 2.0 roundtable with key East Bay stakeholders in business and education about a year ago,” said Congressman Swalwell. “The East Bay will benefit from having this guide for marshaling our resources and uniting the community to keep the region and our nation on the economic cutting edge.”
About the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA): The East Bay EDA is a high level, cross-sector membership organization dedicated to growing the economy through support for business development, education that leads to careers and sustainable employment, region-specific research, regional marketing and direct services to cities and the business community. Click here for more information.
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