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ABOUT FRESNO DRIVE
ABOUT FRESNO DRIVE
OUR MISSION
We are residents and partners working in Fresno to reimagine and create an economy that works for everyone.
OUR VISION
All Fresnans are growing and thriving together. Our people - artists, employers, community leaders, activists, heads of institutions, small business owners - are powering Fresno and inspiring the country.
OUR VALUES
EQUITY
We work tirelessly to make sure all people, especially those left out of the economy historically, have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
IN IT FOR THE LONG TERM
We invest in long term connection, acknowledgement, and trust to heal and help our community move forward.
BELONGING FOR ALL
We create spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, and able to fully participate.
MEASUREMENT
We are accountable to our community to demonstrate measurable impact, deliver real value, and continuously adapt based on what people need most.
THINKING BOLDLY
We believe in big, transformative ideas to get to fundamentally different outcomes.
PEOPLE AND PLACE MATTER
We are deeply committed to our community and what happens here.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY AN
ECONOMY FOR EVERYONE?
PEOPLE ARE THE ECONOMY
The economy isn’t something distant or beyond our control - people are the economy. When everyone is healthy, has access to opportunity, and can contribute their talents, we strengthen both our economy and our community.
Because the economy is made by people, it’s something we can shape, through our participation in decision-making, through the choices we make each day, and by how we show up for one another. This is the future we are building: Fresno inspires the country because everyone is shaping - and benefitting - from the economy.
SHOWING UP FOR EACH OTHER
When neighbors come together, they shape local economies to reflect their vision and needs. When an entrepreneur starts a business that hires local talent, they create jobs, build skills, and keep resources circulating in the community. When farmers and innovators reimagine agriculture, they strengthen the foundations of the economy so it nourishes people, communities, and the planet. And when people show up to expand opportunities for young people or decide how city planning and budgets take shape, they’re actively shaping the community - and economy.
PROSPERITY FOR ALL PEOPLE
People are the engine of progress and prosperity in our economy. When we commit to making sure every person can live well, be healthy, contribute their ideas, and shape their own future, we build a stronger economy and a more vibrant Fresno. Thriving people = thriving economy.
FRESNO DRIVE'S HISTORY
5 YEARS OF PROGRESS
Fresno DRIVE launched in 2019. That year, a research study ranked Fresno 59th out of 59 large California cities in economic equity, revealing that many in our community lacked a fair chance to participate in and benefit from the economy. The study exposed the deep divisions that had shaped Fresno for decades, igniting a powerful movement for collective change.
More than 300 community leaders, organizations, and advocates came together to reimagine an economy that puts people, especially those historically excluded, at the center of decision-making and opportunity. They created a 10-year plan focused on long-term investment and policy change to drive innovation in the regional economy, support the small business community and access to housing, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and ensure everyone could participate in shaping Fresno.
With support from the James Irvine Foundation, Kresge Foundation, the California Governor's Office, and other investors and partners, Fresno DRIVE launched 14 initiatives across agriculture technology, housing, transportation, education, job training, small business health, civic infrastructure, and other areas. Since then, as an impact program of the Central Valley Community Foundation, the Fresno DRIVE coalition has helped secure more than $650 million and continues working hand in hand with residents and partners to build lasting, inclusive change.
2018
The Kresge Foundation convenes the Shared Prosperity Partnership roundtable bringing together dozens of civic business leaders, education leaders, and community activists to plant the seeds of a shared vision for inclusive economic growth. The Urban Institute releases a report ranking Fresno 59 out of 59 large California cities for economic inclusivity.
2019
300 community leaders from Fresno come together to create an investment plan with a shared vision: to ensure Fresno's economy benefits all Fresnans.
2020
Fresno DRIVE launches as an impact program of the Central Valley Community Foundation with support from the James Irvine Foundation, alongside initiatives outlined in the 2019 Investment Plan.
2020
DRIVE's Executive Committee commissions a dedicated Race Equity Committee which partners with Sankofa Consulting on a Theory of Change and Race Equity Plan to guide the development of DRIVE.
2021
DRIVE’s community mobilization work launches with a survey that gathers input from over 1,000 residents to better understand barriers to participation in civic and community life.
2022
DRIVE launches Neighborhood Hubs part of its Civic Infrastructure Initiative to support residents from across Fresno in advocating for positive change in their own communities.
2022
DRIVE launches Community Innovation Events to bring bold ideas into public conversation and foster shared learning across Fresno. Initial speakers include Dr. Matthew O. Jackson, Richard Rothstein, and author Heather McGhee who share insights on economic mobility, housing equity, and the power of multiracial coalitions.
2022
New leaders join Fresno DRIVEs governance, creating a new 38-member Executive Committee with community and institutional representation and 11-member Race Equity Advisory Committee with community racial equity experts.
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2023
DRIVE launches Facing Fresno to expand learning about racial equity across the entire community of Fresno.
2023
One of DRIVE's initiatives, the F3 (Farms Food Future) Initiative, wins $65.1 million, the nation's largest Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant. The State of California commits $250 million to rebuild Downtown Fresno. The James Irvine Foundation renews its funding commitment to Fresno DRIVE.
2024
DRIVE’s initiative partners begin to reach major milestones. Across the Civic Infrastructure, Opportunity Corridors, and Housing initiatives, more than 10,000 residents are engaged and served. In addition, over 50 individuals receive support through programs like Betting Big and BTAC to grow their small businesses and earn contractor licenses.
2025
DRIVE celebrates its 5-year anniversary, announcing significant progress made in Fresno's ranking for racial and economic inclusion.