Fresno County Campus Opens in Clovis, Regional Counties Join CSAC Credential Program

Fresno County has launched a new local campus of the California Counties Foundation and CSAC Institute in Clovis, bringing 56 county leaders and staff together for a regional professional development program aimed at strengthening county governance and services. Fresno County Chief Administrative Officer Paul Nerland opened the program on Jan. 22, 2026, as the first cohort began coursework that will span the next 10 months.

The campus kicked off with the course Leadership Fundamentals and Public Service Values, taught by CSAC Foundation leadership. That session is the first of ten courses planned for the Fresno County site; participants who complete the full program will earn the CSAC Executive Credential. The initiative positions Clovis as a local hub for training that otherwise would require travel to Sacramento or other regional centers, reducing time away from county operations for participants from Fresno and neighboring counties.

Beyond Fresno County, the program emphasizes a regional partnership that includes Kings, Madera and Tulare counties. County officials from across the four-county region are participating, reflecting growing interest in cross-jurisdictional cooperation in the Central Valley. Local officials say the credential program is designed to create shared knowledge and standardized leadership practices among county administrators, department heads and emerging managers.

For residents, the immediate impact will be seen in how county services are delivered. Professional development for county staff can translate into more efficient permitting, clearer communication during emergencies, and smoother inter-county coordination on transportation, public health and social services. Hosting the campus in Clovis also signals an investment in local workforce development, making it easier for frontline supervisors and mid-level managers to access sustained training without long commutes.

The program’s structure - ten courses over 10 months - allows participants to apply lessons between sessions and bring real-time challenges from Fresno County offices into classroom discussion. Completion of the CSAC Executive Credential offers a recognized benchmark for county leadership, which county HR directors commonly use when assessing promotion readiness and succession planning.

Looking ahead, the Fresno County campus will continue to roll out remaining courses through the coming months, offering further opportunities for staff across the participating counties to enroll. As the cohort progresses, county leaders will be watching for measurable changes in management practices and service outcomes that can be traced to the training. For residents of Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties, the program promises to build a deeper bench of locally trained leaders who can respond to the valley’s distinct challenges with shared expertise and regional coordination.