The Great Valley Center, a Modesto-based nonprofit, is combining its networks of community leaders, nonprofits and businesses with the research capabilities of UC Merced's faculty and students to tackle issues affecting counties in the Central Valley.
The advocacy center is also hoping UC Merced's name recognition and optimistic future will reverse the center's current fortunes and stop a decline in funding.
"We are transitioning from our past life to our new life," said Carol Whiteside, president of the Great Valley Center.
The center will shrink its Board of Directors from 18 to 12 members and its current chairman will step down and allow UC Merced Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey to take the helm as chairwoman.
However, the center will continue to be operated by Whiteside and her support staff.
The center's board voted unanimously Thursday to approve the partnership, which is effective Jan. 1. Whiteside said the center had been in serious negotiations with UC Merced since July to work out the partnership.
UC Merced hopes to gain a stronger foothold on regional issues by utilizing the center's informational and civic engagement resources, along with developing new research and recruitment opportunities.
"That regional focus is important to us," Tomlinson-Keasey said.
She said working together to improve the region's economy and educational attainment, can help the Central Valley make positive and long-term public policy choices.
Faculty members and students will be incorporated in research and leadership projects in conjunction with the center.
"This university is big on getting its students involved in community service. We know a lot of communities that will benefit from that service," Whiteside said. "This helps us be relevant with fresh new ideas."
Since its inception in 1997, the center has brought together the region's leaders to identify problems and find solutions that affect the entire region like air quality, land usage, water rights, better Internet connections and improvements to Highway 99.
But the center has had some financial difficulties and had to reduce its staff in the past year to overcome those funding limits, said Whiteside, a former Modesto mayor.
The foundations that funded the center's launch eight years ago are now looking to other priorities.
UC Merced's ability to draw funding support is expected to change things for the Great Valley Center. The new campus has brought in more than $15 million in grants and contracts for research and other university programs, mostly from federal agencies.
UC Merced and GVC fundraisers will combine their efforts in seeking new financial support from foundations, private donors, corporations, philanthropists and government contracts.
The partnership will not change the center's nonprofit status and donations remain fully deductible for individuals and corporations. It also doesn't prevent the center from working with other higher education institutions.
Two California foundations that helped establish the center -- the James Irvine Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation -- have pledged financial support to the center through this transitional phase.
Stephen Toben, president of the Flora Family Foundation, said the center has had a remarkable run of support.
"It's the perfect next step," Toben said of the merger.
Reporter Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at 385-2477 or rahumada@mercedsun-star.com.
