Need and Opportunity

Why the San Joaquin Valley?

Among the world’s most productive agricultural regions, the SJV’s population of four million residents exceeds 24 states and is expected to double to over eight million by 2060. Though slated for billions in public and private investment, persistent disparity in the region takes a human and economic toll, with many SJV families and businesses faring worse than their counterparts in the state and nation.

These conditions create the need for targeted investment along with grant and policy efforts. Often, financing partners exist and simply need capital to expand their efforts in the region. In rural communities, access to capital is typically lower than for urban areas. Even among the SJV’s strong Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), per capita loans are much lower in the state’s urban versus rural areas.

Persistent Need in the San Joaquin Valley

• SJV poverty and unemployment levels are higher than elsewhere in the state, while business ownership rates are disproportionately lower among entrepreneurs of color – many of whom are interested in creating jobs.

• Life expectancy varies by as much as 21 years by SJV zip code--from 69 years in some areas to 90 years or more in others. While obesity, diabetes, heart disease and childhood asthma levels are among the worst in the state, access to quality healthcare is limited.

• Affordable housing remains challenging, with many families paying well over 30% of their incomes for substandard and unhealthy housing.

• More than 30% of the SJV population lives in unincorporated areas with limited infrastructure for clean drinking water and other services. Families travel to fill containers with filtered water and may spend 10% or more of their income on safe drinking water. Despite the region’s agricultural abundance, many low-income communities lack access to healthy food. Increased financing for enterprises in the regional food value chain can help to address this need.

• The Environmental Protection Agency describes SJV air quality as the worst in the country, estimated to cause hundreds of premature deaths per year, an asthma epidemic and over a billion in health care expense.

• Some 30% of the region’s adults lack a high school diploma, while area youth urgently need education linked to job opportunities.

CDFI Loans Per Capita ($)

Funding Systemic Change

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and similar, mission-driven funds are actively engaged in successfully lending to underserved business, organizations and households in the San Joaquin Valley.  The San Joaquin Valley Impact Investing Fund will harness investment capital to build on this success, unlocking opportunity for communities across the region. Dignity Health and Sierra Health Foundation are serving as lead investors, joining the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund, other foundations, banks, health systems and socially motivated households and organizations to invest in the region.

Capital In Short Supply in SJV