About One Voice

Why “One Voice”?

One Voice is a coalition of business representatives, elected officials, and city and county staff, who travel to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. to present issues of regional significance to federal and state legislators.

Due to its smaller population, the San Joaquin Valley has rarely been able to secure needed funding from state and federal programs, which are usually paid on a per capita (population) basis. But, with growth for the valley projected to double or, in some areas, even triple, the Governing Board of the Merced County Association of Governments decided it was time to be more proactive in legislative affairs. The Board asked staff to develop a program where all Merced County interests could combine their efforts to advocate for issues of regional importance.

In August 2004, ”One Voice” was born. Representatives from the public and private sectors were invited to help form a program where our combined efforts would build awareness of Merced County among state and federal legislators, and where we could bring much-needed funding to our county.

One Voice Purpose:

• Communicate Merced County’s legislative priorities clearly and succinctly
• Obtain more state and federal funding for our priorities
• Advocate for legislation or changes to existing legislation that will benefit Merced County
• Support our legislators by meeting with their peers and garnering wider support for Merced priorities

How are issues chosen?

Issues are chosen through brainstorming sessions at our meetings, interviews with various groups in the county, and a consideration of what types of programs are likely to be funded. Out of an initial list of 100 possible projects, 7-8 are chosen for the year.

Has the program been successful?

In 2005, our Congressman and Senators placed requests for $13.4 million in appropriations. Not all projects were accepted into the appropriations bills, but we did receive:

• $1,500,000 for engineering on the Campus Parkway project in Merced. This was an earmark in SAFETEA-LU, a 6 year transportation bill.
• $1,400,000 for an environmental study on the Hilmar Interchange, also from SAFETEA-LU.
• $125,000 for small business training throughout the county, a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• $1.67 million for the Grasslands Drainage Project to save 100,000 acres of farmland near Los Banos and Dos Palos, from the Bureau of Reclamation.
• $4 million for the Upper San Joaquin River storage project, from the Bureau of Reclamation.

A couple of these projects had been advocated by other county groups and elected officials, and One Voice was glad to lend our combined voices to help these efforts.

In 2006, we only received one appropriations request:  $400,000 for the next phase of studies on Campus Parkway. According to MCAG’s federal lobbyist, not only were fewer requests granted, but the bulk of appropriations were granted to those legislators who faced a challenge in the upcoming election. 

In 2007, we received $500,000 for the Los Banos Bypass.

Who can join One Voice?

One Voice is open to all residents of Merced County. We begin our year’s program in August and meet monthly through December. Those who wish to travel to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. pay their own travel expenses. Sponsors pay for many of the meals and receptions to which legislators and staff are invited. During the visits and at any other time the One Voice name is used, delegates must agree to promote only those issues chosen by the One Voice group.