Workforce Innovation

Community Partner

Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Anyone who has spent time in Silicon Valley knows that the environment and climate make it a wonderful place to be, but the extraordinarily high cost of living and the challenges pertaining to housing and transportation can make it difficult to effectively live and work. Silicon Valley Leadership Group (formerly Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group) is committed to working to find solutions to counter these challenges and is therefore a fundamental partner for any business interested in proactively advocating for a more conducive business environment within the region.

Founded by David Packard in 1977, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group brings together leaders from the diverse pool of Silicon Valley industries and organizations to work with local and state government to find “...innovative solutions to issues like transportation, housing, permit streamlining, education, and the environment.”

Membership is comprised of a veritable “who’s who” of leaders of business, education, and the community. Committees comprised of representatives from such organizations as Google, eBay, Stanford University, and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital focus on such pertinent topics as education, transportation, the environment, and a number of other issues. The group also hosts a variety of events that provide opportunities for the community to discuss relevant public policy topics. Recent events have included an affordable housing tour, a “Vision and Values Solutions Summit,” and a “New Utility Energy Incentives” workshop.

Silicon Valley Leadership Group was recently instrumental in establishing the “SolarTech” partnership, which has been established to form the blueprint for achieving the vision of a solar “Silicon” Valley. This group, consisting of representatives from regional utilities, private sector businesses, and the workforce development community, seeks to target seven specific policy areas:

developing standards for installation;
equipment performance;
utility interconnection;
streamlined building permitting;
adequate workforce training;
access to business models that enable project financing and new technology development; and
market dispersion.

For more information about the Silicon Valley Leadership Group or the SolarTech initiative, please visit www.svlg.org.