Visions for the Future
We need to think big. We need to think beyond the streets and neighborhoods that we have here today. Every community needs to try to have a guide to the galaxy, a universe road map as it were. It we set big goals, plan for the possibilities, what could we become. We asked a few of our local leaders to put their future goggles on and tell us what they see.
Jim Christiansen
Artist – mercenary_graphics@yahoo.com<mailto:mercenary_graphics@yahoo.com>
Think the murals and art related businesses, creative spaces will expand and fill out more of the Arts Block areas. If the City of Modesto took a more direct funding interest, in consultation with the artists, musicians, performers as well as venues supporting the creative arts, over directing a rote schedule of events, we would see more inviting spaces. At present, its been the creative community and partner venues that have generated a living scene. Modesto View a big sponsor in this. Some items a good idea, but need some follow up, more durable paint to the Gallo Center crosswalks, Some rework or rebuild of the Tenth Street planters falling apart, so it reflects the area in a state of good repair. A couple of decades in the making, the arts scene beginning to really flourish.
David White
CEO – Opportunity Stanislaus
dwhite@opportunitystanislaus.com<mailto:dwhite@opportunitystanislaus.com>
Opportunity Stanislaus is looking forward to a great 2019. We intend to expand VOLT Institute to add new programs in advanced manufacturing as well as offering new training opportunities to in-demand industries.
We are intensifying our focus on attracting good fit companies from higher cost areas of California and organizationally, also looking at taking a greater interest in participating in community development projects across our County.
Amy Vickery
Director of Legislative Affairs & Communications, Stanislaus County
VickeryA@stancounty.com<mailto:VickeryA@stancounty.com>
In the new year and years to come, we’ll start to see fascinating changes in how we live based on advances in technology, particularly in transportation. Electric and even autonomous vehicles will become mainstream, innovations in public transportation like high-speed rail, electric scooters, e-bikes and, transportation sharing options will be everything. People will Uber everywhere. Eventually kids won’t need to get a driver’s license. In business, people will favor new ways to prioritize their health, our environment and efficiency. Can I get from here to there, while I answer emails, join a conference call and maybe squeeze in a mini work out? Yes, please!
Elliot Begoun
Founder, Intertwine Group
www.theintertwinegroup.com
I believe Modesto can/will become the Silicon Valley of food. We are at the intersection of growers, processors and venture capital just over the hill. We need to establish a culture of entrepreneurialism, teaching our kids how to be the future founders of companies. We also need to create a hub for innovation building commercial kitchens and co-working space for creators. If we do that, Modesto has all the tools needed to become the leader in the new food economy.
Ruhi Sheikh
Co-founder ModShop and Ill List Co-host
www.modshop209.com
There needs to be a bigger focus on protecting our environment. We need to make sure we have a healthy Earth left for our kids and their future. I hope to see more incentives to go Electric and Solar. I’d love to see more Electric vehicles on the road and for them to be affordable for everyone. We can’t come up with fancy tech and move into the future without a safe planet to live on.
Ann Endsley
www.greensontenth.com
Greens on 10th, community volunteer and so much more.
Modesto will embrace its rich multi-generational agricultural heritage and become the Valley’s premier destination for agritourism and artisan food products. Our community will have access to the bounty of goodness produced right in our area and we will have a community kitchen for entrepreneurs to develop new products from the abundance coming from our fields.
Lynn Dickerson
CEO Gallo Center for the Arts
ldickerson@galloarts.org<mailto:ldickerson@galloarts.org>
Downtown Modesto will continue to improve and thrive with new businesses, restaurants and urban living spaces. The current courthouse location will be repurposed in a way that adds to the vibrancy of downtown -perhaps a satellite campus for UC Merced or CSUS. Modesto will become the artisan food capital of California.
Robert Fores
Fores and Macko Law Firm
rfores@foresmacko.com<mailto:rfores@foresmacko.com>
Business will increase its reliance on cell phones to conduct business. Driverless vehicles will become the norm resulting in lower road maintenance and transportation costs, fewer accidents and better use of our time. Employers will tap into Millennial energy and improve work place communication, work-life balance, and foster innovative work environments.
Chris Murphy
ModestoView and Sierra Pacific Warehouse Group
chrism@modestoview.com<mailto:chrism@modestoview.com> www.spwg.com
Modesto’s creative side will grow with Modesto’s technical side creating a culture that interests the next generation. In just a few years, we will have a great rail hub downtown Modesto that will allow even better connections for our citizens to bring workers and jobs both ways right to our downtown core creating a new gateway at 9th and J Streets. Downtown will be a place for live music culture and the arts as that quality of life is key to new business attraction and the creation of downtown residential living. Large local companies will invest in downtown living spaces to attract new recruits and support even more local restaurants. Our local city and county government will realize that the cultural investment in downtown will create a healthier city from edge to edge and encourage infill development to make it easy for transportation and access to jobs.
Chris Murphy
Chrism@modestoview.com
