The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, founded in 1978 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, represents more than 360 of Silicon Valley’s most respected employers on issues, programs and campaigns that affect the economic health and quality of life in Silicon Valley, including energy, transportation, education, housing, health care, tax policies, economic vitality and the environment. Leadership Group members collectively provide nearly one of every three private sector jobs in Silicon Valley and contribute more than $3 trillion to the worldwide economy.

Silicon Valley Leadership Group 2012 – 2014 Work Plan

Education

1. Educare of Silicon Valley- Manage/support $14 million Capital Campaign for state-of-the-art early childhood education facility.
2. Math Initiative- Train more than 100 Silicon Valley teachers in partnership with SC and SM County Offices of Education.
3. Statewide Education Ballot Initiative- Potential policy and/or revenue reforms on Nov. 2012 ballot; TBD
4. School District Governance- Work with partners on community education and public policy effort to reform local school governance.
5. Education Finance Reform- Secure passage of state legislation to make funding for K-12 education more transparent and tailored to the needs of individual students.
6. Higher Education Task Force- Protect higher education funding and access for California’s UC, CSU, Community College and private college systems
7. IISME- 130 summer teacher fellowships; at least 35 member companies.
8. Women and Girls Leadership Summit- Convene Summits in Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties, linking girls in disadvantaged schools with women tech leaders.
9. College Day- Expand the program from one serving primarily schools in San Jose to schools across Silicon Valley.

Energy

1. Clean Energy- Promote renewable energy and green technologies by securing passage of two state energy bills and deploying solar on 100 homes through SunShares.
2. Energy Efficiency- Help member companies achieve energy cost savings and feature six end user case studies at Energy Summit.
3. Data Center Efficiency- Develop two demonstration projects in partnership with Lawrence Berkeley Lab and recruit 12 case studies for 2012 Data Center Efficiency Project.
4. Smart Grid – Advocate for smart meters, electric vehicle infrastructure and smart grid technologies by organizing Smart Grid Task Force and becoming a part of two CPUC proceedings.

Environment

1. Support Corporate Environmental Sustainability – Engage at least five member executive teams in order to identify best practices that can be applied to help our membership drive cost savings and revenue growth in a resource constrained world.
2. Promote Environmentally Sustainable Products – Advance sustainable product principles and programs that support industry efforts and showcase how ICT helps promote environmental sustainability.
3. State Climate Change Policy Advocacy – Advocate for members’ interests as AB 32 implementation continues to move forward.
4. Scale Market – Oriented Clean Energy Solutions Across Bay Area: Advance market-oriented clean energy solutions in key domains (EVs, LEDs, EE, DG) via the Bay Area Climate Collaborative.
5. Promote Water Conservation – Help state realize its 20 percent per capita urban water conservation by 2020 goal.
6. Promote Co-Equal Goals of Reliable Water Supply & Ecosystem Health – Help advance the Bay Delta Conservation plan and financing mechanism(s) to support needed infrastructure improvements.

Federal Issues

1. Comprehensive Corporate Tax Reform/Repatriation/Deferral (shared with tax)
2. Immigration Reform- Increase availability of and improve process to obtain H-1B visas and green cards (see tax)
3. Federal Energy Policies (see energy)
4. Cyber security- Increase security and establish industry protocols while minimizing regulations that would burden the flow of business.
5. Regional Patent Office- Advocate for a Silicon Valley office.

Government Relations

1. Silicon Valley Legislative Caucus- Enhance and strengthen participation of CEO’s , LR’s, legislators/staff.
2. Annual Advocacy Trips: D.C. – Engage more DC-based, CEO & SV public officials. Sacramento – Expand CEO, LR participation.
3. Governance and Fiscal Reform Statewide Ballot Measure- Statewide performance-based budgeting measure on Nov. 2012 ballot.
4. Strengthen Ties with Governor- Continue to fortify outreach through round tables with Senior Advisor on Jobs and Governor’s senior team.
5. Breakfast Club- Increase participation for federal, state and local public official staff members; 2 per year.
6. Legislative, Statewide and local Candidate Forums- seek CEO hosts for key, major party candidates
7. Local Government Days- Continue to foster regional approach by meeting with every Silicon Valley city and county.
8. Voter Registration Outreach- Launch a strong voter registration community program with local universities & community colleges.

Health

1. Improve Health Care Reform Implementation- Minimize time and cost burdens to employers while ensuring access to health insurance plans at a reasonable cost.
2. Prevention and Wellness- Help employers start or improve wellness programs and benefits including a partnership with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative.
3. Water Fluoridation – Advocate for water fluoridation with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and other key players.

Housing & Land Use

1. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Modernization- Pass meaningful CEQA reform to allow the timely construction of infill development and renewable energy facilities.
2. Legislative and Policy Advocacy- Clarify legality of inclusionary zoning; support higher conforming loan limits; streamline State housing agencies.
3. Housing Trust Funds of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties – Ensure effectiveness of both organizations and assist in fundraising efforts.
4. Community Education to Combat Opposition to Housing- Host two housing tours, 20 community forums, four luncheons for elected officials and four dinners for neighborhood leaders.
5. Project Advocacy- Review, endorse and advocate for quality housing proposals.
6. Support Implementation of SB 375/Regional Planning- Shape “One Bay Area” Grants, monitor/implement planning efforts of regional significance including North San Jose.
7. Resolve Conflicts Between Housing & School Capacity – Develop report on student generation rates for different housing types.

Tax Policy

1. Comprehensive Corporate Tax Reform/ Temporary Repatriation at a Lower Tax Rate- Advocate in support of lower corporate tax rate .
2. State Tax Incentive Package- Advocate to increase state R&D Tax credit to federal conformity, favorable single sales factor apportionment, broad-based tax exemption for mfg; and R&D.
3. Strengthen a Permanent Federal R&D Tax Credit- Reinforce importance to Administration & Congress.
4. Business Taxes Regulations- Defend against unreasonable spikes in corporate Tax Liability- (e.g. split roll property rate and burdensome reporting).
5. Sales and Use Tax Fairness for Technology Transfer Agreements- Work with state on simple and fair application of tax to software.
6. Property Tax Fairness for Embedded Software- Work with Assessors to apply industry data for assessments.

Transportation

1. Airport- Increase direct domestic and international flights to Silicon Valley (SJC) to better link the region and support the fiscal sustainability of the airport.
2. Caltrain and High Speed Rail – Maintain and enhance Caltrain commuter rail service, advocating for electrification in conjunction with High Speed Rail.
3. Green Vehicles- Promote the adoption of electric vehicles and other efforts to “green” vehicle fleets.
4. BART to Silicon Valley- Break ground on Phase 1 of the Extension. Work to ensure the FTA’s Full Funding Grant Agreement is approved.
5. Connectivity: Transportation/Land Use Integration- Improve connectivity and provide more urban living/working options.
6. Active Transportation- Promote active transportation modes like biking and walking.
7. Transportation Financial Sustainability- Increase the attractiveness, efficiency and flexibility of transit and raise revenues sufficient to support it.

Community

1. Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot- Race raises money for health, hope and a home. Goal of 25,000 participants for 2012 to raise $700,000-$750,000 to benefit needy families.
2. King of the Mountain Ride- Charity cycling ride to raise money for Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Fit for Learning program. Goal of 185 riders in 2012.
3. 1,000 Hearts for 1,000 Minds- Encourages volunteerism at Silicon Valley schools serving disadvantaged students. Goal of 200 volunteers by February 2012 and 400 by December 2012.
4. Oakland A’s to San Jose Stadium Effort: Secure support for a ballot campaign for a downtown San Jose Stadium.
5. Pasta Bowl Community Partnership w/ 49ers- Raises money for two youth organizations; CityYear and Fresh Life Lines for Youth. Raise $150,000.
6. Shattering the Glass Ceiling – Gala Reception- Honors prominent women business and political leaders in the community. Goal of 200 attendees in 2012.

 

2012 Top 10 Priorities

Tax Policy: Comprehensive Corporate Tax Reform/ Temporary Repatriation at a Lower Tax Rate- Advocate in support of lower corporate tax rate.

Federal Issues: Immigration Reform- Increase availability of, and improve the process, to obtain H-1B visas and green cards.

Education: Educare of Silicon Valley- Manage/support $14 million Capital Campaign for state-of-the-art early childhood education facility.

Health: Improve Health Care Reform Implementation- Minimize time and cost burdens to employers while ensuring access to health insurance plans at a reasonable cost.

Housing: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Modernization- Pass meaningful CEQA reform to allow the timely construction of infill development, transit-oriented development and renewable energy facilities.

Govt. Relations: Silicon Valley Legislative Caucus- Enhance & Strengthen participation of CEO’s , LR’s, legislators/staff to champion issues to strengthen California’s innovation economy.

Energy: Clean Energy – Promote renewable energy and green technologies by securing passage of two state energy bills and deploying solar on 100 homes through SunShares.

Transportation: Airport- Increase direct domestic and international flights to Silicon Valley (SJC) to better link the region & support the fiscal sustainability of the airport.

Environment: Support Corporate Environmental Sustainability – Engage at least 5 member executive teams in order to identify best practices that can be applied to help our membership drive cost savings and revenue growth in a resource constrained world.

Community: Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot- Race raises money for health, hope and a home. Goal of 25,000 participants for 2012 to raise $700,000-$750,000 to benefit needy Silicon Valley families.