March 24, 2014

The Latest from LA n Sync A public-private-philanthropic consortium is born in Los Angeles to reinvigorate one of our region’s key industries;; new research puts our work in perspective – nationally and locally; and we review the lessons we learned during our first year.

Reminder: LA n Sync Annual Summit

Our Annual Summit is scheduled for May 9. We will be in touch with more details, but for now,

please mark your calendar and plan to have lunch with us as we take a look back in order to leap

forward.

Collaboration Seeks Federal Designation Worth Up to $1.3 Billion

Imagine getting the federal government to help fund and facilitate the revitalization of the

aerospace and defense industries in Los Angeles.

Envision the creation of jobs in advanced manufacturing; training for veterans, the unemployed

and young people; technological innovation; and green construction practices.

These are the aims of a new cross-sector consortium called the Advanced Manufacturing

Partnership for Southern California (AMP SoCal) which has brought together more than 30

partners across three counties to win a new federal designation.

What’s at stake?

The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) is an Obama Administration

initiative intended to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in regions across the country. As

part of IMCP, in December 2013, the Obama Administration launched a national competition to

designate “manufacturing communities.” The manufacturing community designation is similar to a

Promise Zone designation, but it focuses on the collaboration of community and industry to boost the economy. The designation would give AMP SoCal “elevated consideration” for $1.3 billion

in future federal grants as well as offering unique assistance from 10 separate federal

departments and agencies.

What does AMP SoCal want to achieve?

The partnership would create “next generation” advanced manufacturing jobs while making

strategic investments in the industrial ecosystem that supports our aerospace and defense

industry. In addition to big companies, the supply chains of small and medium-sized

manufacturers would be included in the project. AMP SoCal would also offer education and

workforce training to help residents qualify for new jobs.

Who makes up the partnership?

AMP SoCal is a broad-based consortium comprised of industry, local and regional government,

economic development organizations, community colleges, universities, workforce investment

boards and philanthropy. Led by the City of Los Angeles and the USC Center for Economic

Development, the project unites three counties in an effort to transform Southern California’s

aerospace and defense industry into a foundry for innovation without equal in the United States.

Orange and San Diego Counties are both partners in the plan, indicating the breadth of the plan’s

economic impact.

What is being done?

A strategic convening of key leaders is being held April 3, 2014. These leaders will include

representatives from industry; from federal, regional and local government; from

research/academic centers and from philanthropy. We want to communicate and develop an

implementation strategy and further executive-level commitment for AMP SoCal.

In Los Angeles County, the aerospace industry employs around 38,000 people. But 23 years ago,

the same industry employed 130,000. This new consortium – and the new federal designation it

seeks – can help us get this important industry growing again.

If you would like to participate in this convening, please email Ellah Ronen at

eronen@annenberg.org for details.

New Research About LA n Sync

New research, commissioned by LA n Sync from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA),

indicates there is no other region-wide program in the U.S. focused on building a collaborative

platform to help win more federal and philanthropic dollars. In other words, we are unique!

RPA also conducted interviews with local funders and nonprofits to gauge response to LA n Sync.

Here are just a few of their findings:

x Los Angeles leaders responded positively to LA n Sync, but they wanted to know more.

What is the project’s structure? What role might they take? What commitment would be

required and over what period? Communication and will be crucial in LA n Sync’s second

year.

x The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City was cited as a regional philanthropic

collaborative that focused on specific issues. Many interviewees indicated that LA n Sync

should move in a similar direction – emphasizing the direct community benefits being

sought in grant applications, rather than just “winning money.”

x Respondents’ feedback was united in supporting the continuation of LA n Sync. Most

thought that the program should be incubated for at least another year before determining its long-term status.

Lessons Learned

Check out our expanded February newsletter to see what lessons LA n Sync gathered from the

milestones of our first year.

May 28, 2014

Unprecedented Coalition Supported by LA n Sync Wins Major Federal Support

for Southern California Manufacturing On Wednesday, the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Southern California (AMP SoCal)

won a federal designation that gives the region’s Aerospace and Defense industry preference in

accessing $1.3 billion in assistance from 11 federal agencies. LA n Sync is pleased to have

played a key role in assembling the coalition and developing the application that won this highly

competitive designation.

AMP SoCal was one of 12 communities, from a national pool of 70 applicants, designated as a

Manufacturing Community by the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of the Obama

Administration’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative. With the

University of Southern California Center for Economic Development serving as the lead agency,

AMP SoCal brings together an unprecedented consortium of 86 organizations including

aerospace businesses, JPL, community colleges and universities, and government entities from

Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties.

LA n Sync played an integral role in supporting AMP SoCal’s winning application. In addition to

holding a joint convening with City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, LA n Sync provided

funding for a grantwriter, and development and outreach support. To demonstrate the broad base

of support for the application, LA n Sync helped coordinate a letter signed jointly by 20 members

of Congress who represent Southern California. LA n Sync thanks Representatives Tony

Cárdenas (29th) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (40th) for championing the effort.

For more information on IMCP and the Manufacturing Community designation, please visit:

http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/.

June 2014

LA n Sync: Beats and Buzz

LA n Sync Pilot Year Recap

Click here to watch highlights of our pilot year briefing.

LA n Sync is indebted to everyone who contributed to our first year. Without the tremendous

support of the academic, civic, nonprofit, business and philanthropic sectors of Los Angeles, none

of the successes we've collectively achieved would have been possible.

In particular, we would like to thank those who contributed to our 2013 kick-off event. Their early

(and ongoing) support of LA n Sync has been invaluable. We’d like to acknowledge: Dr. John

Deasy, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District; Christine Devine, Anchor/Reporter,

KTTV and Co-Chair, The Good News Foundation; Dr. Manuel Pastor, Professor of Sociology and

American Studies & Ethnicity, USC; Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO, The California

Endowment; the Honorable Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of

Supervisors; the Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor, City of Los Angeles; and Dr. Ernest

J. Wilson, III, Dean, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, USC.

On May 9, 250 guests gathered at the California Science Center for an executive briefing on LA n

Sync’s pilot year moderated by Andy Goodman, Director of the Goodman Center.

In its first year, LA n Sync:

x Scanned 45 federal agencies searching for discretionary grants that fit the LA n Sync

criteria x Pursued 20 grants

x Won 7 grants

x Has 5 applications still pending

x In total, $51.5 million in grants were secured. Additionally, by winning a Promise Zone

designation for the City of Los Angeles and a Manufacturing Community designation for

Southern California, the region is now in a preferential position to apply for future grants potentially worth more than a billion dollars.

At the briefing, the Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles; the Honorable Don

Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and CSU Northridge President

Dr. Dianne Harrison explained how collaboration fostered by LA n Sync was already benefitting

the region. In a video, Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (40th District) and Tony Cárdenas

(29th District) jointly spoke of LA n Sync uniting Members of Congress within the LA County

Delegation. Representative Cárdenas’ Chief of Staff Sam Jammal was on-hand to offer insight as

to why a win in one District is a win for all.

Mitch Singer of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors then summarized the results of an independent

study which confirmed that LA n Sync is a unique success story. Finally, a robust Q&A session

ensued.

One theme united everyone who spoke: Regional collaboration helps federal, state and philanthropic decision-makers see Los Angeles as the most compelling destination for investment.

In closing, Leonard J. Aube, Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation, announced the

Foundation’s commitment to stewarding LA n Sync for another year while long-term governance

and other operational components are established.

Zoning In

In January, LA was one of three urban areas nationally to win a coveted Promise Zone

designation. Now we can speak up as a region to best position Greater Los Angeles to win

another Promise Zone designation. Through Monday, June 16, the public comment period is open

for the upcoming RFP for the second round of designations from the Department of Housing and

Urban Development. Accordingly, please consider sending a message to PromiseZones@hud.gov requesting that a metropolitan area should be both eligible and strongly considered for a second Designation.

It's A Match

LA-based foundations have pledged $1.245 million in matching funds to help the California

Community Foundation file a competitive application for a Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grant.

What’s at stake? Federal funding worth $3 million over three years and an overall investment in

South Los Angeles of almost $9 million.

The funding would support programs that help 14-18 year old Black males living in South LA who

are or have been under the supervision of the LA County Probation Department complete high

school and secure meaningful employment.

The following foundations made it happen: Annenberg Foundation, The Boone Family

Foundation, California Community Foundation, The California Endowment, The California

Wellness Foundation, Goldhirsh Foundation, Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation, Liberty Hill

Foundation, The McGrath Abrams Family Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and

Weingart Foundation.

We thank them for their support.

August 2014

Congratulations to two LA n Sync supported applicants

City of Inglewood

and

LA River Revitalization Corps

on your successful grant awards

from the State's

Active Transportation Program

LA n Sync wants to know what's going on in greater Los Angeles. Are you applying for a high-

dollar Federal or State grant? Let us know at info@LAnSync.org.

When we're in sync, we win!

Visit www.LAnSync.org to learn more.