Inland Empire Unites Around Bold New Strategic Plan to Increase Postsecondary Attainment and Economic Opportunity
GIA’s New Strategic Plan Charts Course to 70% Postsecondary Attainment in the Inland Empire
Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has officially launched its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, a regionally developed blueprint aimed at transforming education and workforce outcomes across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Anchored in a shared goal to increase the Inland Empire’s postsecondary attainment rate to 70%, the plan reflects the collective voices of hundreds of regional leaders, educators, and community members who participated in a year-long planning process.
The plan is grounded in a formal Board resolution endorsing a regional goal of 70% postsecondary attainment among working-age adults, which is aligned with the State of California’s higher education and workforce objectives. It outlines a clear path toward this goal by targeting improvements across five critical cradle-to-career milestones: (1) early literacy and middle school math proficiency, (2) high school readiness through A-G completion and dual enrollment, (3) postsecondary enrollment and transfer, (4) postsecondary completion, and (5) successful transition to employment with a livable wage. GIA will support regional partners in advancing these outcomes through its CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research—and by implementing a collective impact framework that drives coordinated, data-informed action across sectors.
“This is more than a plan. It’s a regional commitment to our students, families, and future workforce,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “We are calling on every sector—education, business, philanthropy, and government—to join in advancing this vision. When more Inland Empire residents earn credentials of value, we strengthen families, drive economic growth, and position the region as a national model for equitable opportunity.”
Strategic Vision Grounded in Regional Voices
The 2025–2030 Strategic Plan was built through deep listening and broad engagement. GIA facilitated dozens of focus groups, one-on-one interviews, and stakeholder surveys over the past year to ensure the plan reflected regional priorities. The final product aligns with key state initiatives including the California Blueprint for Higher Education, the Vision 2030 roadmap for community colleges, and regional P-16 efforts.
Regional stakeholders coalesced around a shared understanding: long-term progress toward goal attainment depends on improving student outcomes at every stage of the educational journey. The plan elevates five interconnected cradle-to-career milestones and ties them to goals, annual benchmarks, and shared metrics—creating a structure for accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
A Plan That Belongs to the Region
“This plan reflects the aspirations of our entire region, not just one organization,” said Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez, GIA Board Chair and Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District. “The 70% attainment goal is bold but achievable—if we work together. Every school, college, nonprofit, and employer has a role to play.”
GIA’s role moving forward will be to support partners in turning strategy into action. Through the CAIR strategy, GIA will strengthen regional coordination, advocate for policies that remove systemic barriers, invest in initiatives with potential for broad impact, and deliver timely research to inform decisions and track progress.
“Whether you’re a school counselor, business leader, or elected official, this plan offers a roadmap for how we can work together to expand opportunity,” added Paul Granillo, GIA Board Member and President & CEO of Inland Empire Economic Partnership. “It’s an invitation to contribute to the future of our region.”
Get Involved
To view the full plan and explore ways to engage, visit:
https://bit.ly/giastrategicplan2030
GIA welcomes opportunities to present a strategic plan overview at community meetings, business roundtables, or public forums. To schedule a presentation, contact Viri Saldana-Borden at viri@inlandempiregia.org.
Community members are also encouraged to:
- Sign up for GIA’s email updates to stay connected on progress, events, and opportunities
- Save the date for GIA’s 2025 Toward a Shared Vision Summit, GIA’s annual regional convening on October 28-29, 2025, at the Riverside Convention Center.
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