In 2021, Governor Newsom launched the $600 million Regional Investment Initiative (formerly the Community Economic Resilience Fund, or CERF) to create high-quality, accessible jobs and help build resilience to the effects of climate change and other global disruptions impacting the state’s diverse regional economies. This investment has supported the creation of Jobs First Collaboratives in each of the state’s 13 economic regions, with representation from a wide variety of community partners including labor, business, local government, education, environmental justice, community organizations, and more. These Collaboratives are in the process of developing roadmaps, including a strategy and recommended series of investments, for their respective regions.

Governor Newsom has now announced that the state has awarded $14 million to each of the 13 Jobs First Collaboratives – $182 million total – to invest in sector-specific pre-development activities, enabling regions to take projects from exploratory and last-mile to ready-to-go projects that can access local, state, and federal funds, as well as private and philanthropic investments. The 13 Jobs First Collaboratives cover every region of the state: North State, Capitol, Redwood Region, Bay Area, North San Joaquin Valley, Eastern Sierra, Central San Joaquin Valley, Orange County, Los Angeles County, Kern County, Central Coast, Inland Southern California, and the Southern Border.

“California Jobs First represents a very intentional, inclusive approach to economic and workforce development,” said Stewart Knox, Secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency. “By maximizing state resources and investments, the state is empowering communities to chart their own futures in a manner that is inclusive and equitable.”

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California Jobs First: State Launches First-of-its-Kind Council to Create Thousands of More Jobs Across All Regions

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Governor Newsom announced last week, the creation of a new state council focused on creating jobs and the awarding of $182 million in grants to jumpstart the Governor’s Regional Investment Initiative to accelerate economic and workforce projects throughout the state. The California Jobs First Council and operational plan focused will focus on streamlining the state’s economic and workforce development programs to create more jobs, faster. The Council and operational plan will guide the state’s investments in economic and workforce development to create more family-supporting jobs and prioritize industry sectors for future growth.

WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAID: “California has created more opportunities, more jobs, and more businesses than any other state, but we need to ensure that we’re all moving forward together. Through this new council and these investments, we’re aligning all of our economic resources to create more jobs, faster for Californians in every community.”

STATEWIDE ALIGNMENT ON TRAINING CALIFORNIANS FOR FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBS

Co-chaired by Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development, and Stewart Knox, Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development, the California Jobs First Council will bring together various state entities, including:

• Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research: promoting alignment with General Plan guidelines and land use policies

• Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency: representing nature-based solutions and clean energy industries

• Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture: representing the agriculture industry

• Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency: representing the circular economy

• Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency: representing the healthcare industry and promoting jobs for disabled and disadvantaged workers

• Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs: representing the more than 1.6 million former service members that reside in the state

• President of the Public Utilities Commission: representing opportunities to advance California’s clean energy workforce of the future and economic opportunities for communities

The Council will coordinate the development of a statewide industrial strategy that includes a statewide economic snapshot and identification of priority sectors, a statewide projects portfolio, a business expansion, attraction, and retention strategy, and a workforce development strategy. The California Jobs First Council will also support the regional Jobs First Collaboratives to expand industry and create jobs locally.

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As valued partners of the Los Angeles High Road Transition Collaborative, we are pleased to extend an opportunity for you to actively participate in shaping the future of our communities.

We have recently received an overwhelming response with 216 applications for our Subregional Table Lead Funding Opportunity. This initiative, spearheaded by California Jobs First, aims to establish Ninety Service Planning Area (SPA)-Based Subregional Table Leads across Los Angeles County. These leads will receive funding to champion various thematic areas, including Youth, Families, Economic Development, and more, within their respective regions.

To ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process, we are seeking dedicated individuals to join us as evaluators. As an evaluator, you will play a crucial role in assessing applications based on our established criteria. Training sessions will be provided to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to our collective mission of fostering positive change and promoting community development. Your expertise and insights will help us identify the most deserving organizations to receive funding and support.

If you are interested in becoming an evaluator, please submit your application by Friday, March 15th, 2024, at 5 PM. To apply please visit the link below. 

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared goals.

Apply

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Affinity Hub Lead Convenings

The Affinity Hub Leads have initiated their convenings as part of our Collaborative's outreach and engagement efforts. These Leads will gather within their thematic areas across the county to offer feedback on research, processes, and strategies, enhance engagement with community benefit organizations and members, co-develop strategies based on gathered data and personal expertise/experience, and provide insights from existing research, strategies, and initiatives. These meetings will directly contribute to our deliverable: Strategic Regional Plan Pt. 2.

To learn more about their work, please visit our Affinity Hub Lead page.