Green Valley Initiative Backs Schwarzenegger`s Request for Funds

Governor urged to use part of President-Elect Obama`s stimulus package to
promote clean and green technologies in inland Southern California.
CORONA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
The Green Valley Initiative supports California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger`s
request for $11.8 billion in clean- and green-tech funding from President-Elect
Barack Obama`s proposed economic stimulus plan, representatives announced
Monday.

As proposed, the money received would be spent promoting clean and green
technologies in California, industries now being advanced in inland Southern
California through the Green Valley Initiative, a regional economic development
strategy being implemented in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The Green Valley Initiative (GVI) has urged the governor to allocate an
unspecified portion of funds received from the stimulus package to the
two-county area, a region called the Inland Empire.

"The green economic stimulus that you request for California can be used
effectively for green business development, green transportation, and placing
solar on rooftops of warehouses and distribution centers identified by the
businesses engaged in the Green Valley Initiative," GVI Chairman Ali Sahabi
wrote in a letter last week to the governor. "Each of these uses is included in
a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy report prepared by the Green
Valley Initiative and recently approved, qualifying the region for funding
through the U.S. Department of Commerce`s Economic Development Administration."
(A copy of the letter is viewable online at www.greenvalleynow.org.)

GVI has helped to facilitate communication between Inland Empire cities and the
regional representative of the Economic Development Administration to get both
sides engaged in establishing clean and green projects within the region.

The Green Valley Initiative is an unprecedented regional and collaborative plan
to promote green technologies, renewable energy, alternative transportation and
sustainable lifestyles to the Inland Empire. Launched in 2007 as a project of
the Green Institute for Village Empowerment, (GIVE), the Green Valley Initiative
began with 100 stakeholders from the region, and now boasts the involvement of
more than 500 people representing government, education, business,
transportation, utilities, environmental groups and the community-at-large. The
effort has been formally endorsed by both counties, most of the Inland Empire`s
51 area cities, many government agencies and community groups.

GIVE is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 to promote balance in the
way people live, how their choices impact the environment and others in their
community. For more information visit www.giveforthefuture.org

The Green Valley Initiative (www.greenvalleynow.org) is an unprecedented
regional and collaborative plan to promote clean and green technologies in
inland Southern California. Launched in 2007 as a project of the Green Institute
for Village Empowerment, (GIVE), the Green Valley Initiative began with 100
stakeholders from the region, and now boasts the involvement of more than 500
people representing government, education, business, transportation, utilities,
environmental groups and the community-at-large.

Green Valley Initiative
Ali Sahabi, chairman, 951-667-6200
or
Deniene Husted, media coordinator, 714-423-9753
dhusted@sdrpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009