Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two local nonprofit organizations, the American Institute of Architects Central Valley and Valley Vision, have been awarded $10,000 (jointly) of grant funding from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, D.C. for an ambitious and collaborative initiative entitled “Partnership for Prosperity: Identifying the Best Civic Amenities for the Future of the Sacramento Region.”

The AIA Central Valley, a Sacramento-based nonprofit corporation, represents the interests of nearly 800 architects and associated professionals in a 17-county area. Valley Vision, a nonprofit corporation, is devoted to securing the social, environmental and economic health of the Sacramento region.

With a focus on providing support and resources to advance the development of livable communities throughout the nation, the AIA earmarked grant funds available through a competitive bid process to support the efforts of regional architect member groups to engage in community-based work. Phyllis Newton, Executive Director of the AIA Central Valley, states, “We are very pleased with the announcement of our grant and the ability to pool it with the substantial contributions of the other vested partners in this venture and the support provided by Valley Vision.”

In 2003 and 2004, Valley Vision, working in concert with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and others, including the AIA Central Valley, brought together thousands of Sacramento region citizens, community groups and business leaders to develop a long-term (50-year), preferred land use and transportation plan: the Blueprint Project for the Sacramento Region. The Partnership for Prosperity Plan project builds on this base by developing a unified funding strategy for civic infrastructure with entertainment, arts, sports, science, recreation and cultural attractions. As such, the plan seeks the creation of a vibrant downtown, promotes economic growth and development, and supports the building of an internationally acclaimed reputation for the Sacramento region. Susan Frazier, CEO and Managing Partner of Valley Vision, states, “We’re putting our heads together with elected officials, nonprofit organizations, the media and community-based groups to be proactive, ensuring that the region’s civic infrastructure is consistent with the regional vision as we grow.”

Frazier and Newton add that while the Sacramento region has a number of attractive quality-of-life features, a lack of noteworthy civic amenities dilutes the overall draw to the region and minimizes the region’s identity against competitors. For this reason, Valley Vision and the AIA Central Valley have partnered with those who are committed to the growth and development of the communities embedded within the six-county, 26-city region.

Grant funding awarded by AIA will be pooled with other funding sources from Valley Vision, the Urban Land Institute of Sacramento and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, for a total budget project of $55,000. The projected outcomes are:

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