California Jobs First (CJF) Regional Investment Initiative - Tribal Investment Phase

California Jobs First (CJF) Regional Investment Initiative - Tribal Investment Phase is sponsored by California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), in partnership with the Employment Development Department (EDD). This initiative supports tribal-led economic development through funding for planning, predevelopment, and implementation projects that contribute to a resilient economy.

California Jobs First | LWDA Regional Investment Initiative Charting California’s Economic Future in Partnership with Communities The Regional Investment Initiative is a new approach to economic development that seeks to center disadvantaged communities as part of California’s transition to a clean energy, carbon neutral economy, creating good-paying jobs and prosperous communities for all.

Over the last few decades, economic wealth generated in California has not been shared equally, with many communities and families feeling the squeeze of low-paying jobs and rising costs. At the same time, California is on an accelerated path to transition to a clean energy economy, with the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045.

The goal of the Regional Investment Initiative is to ensure that as California’s economy grows and adapts to climate change and other challenges, that good-paying jobs and prosperous communities are created for the benefit of all Californians. Key to the program is empowering the state’s diverse regions and residents to meaningfully participate as leaders in this process.

Invest $5 million into each of the 13 regions to (i) establish regional inclusive economic planning entities, (ii) lead research and development activities to inform economic development strategy and (iii) define the regional economic plans. Period of Performance : Mar. 2023-Sept.

2024 SFP materials: NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS – Community Economic Resilience Fund Program Program Year 2022-24 List of Regional Collaboratives Press release: State Announces Funding to Support Sustainable and Resilient Regional Economies Across California Publication of Regional Plans: posted September 2024 Invest in ready-to-launch projects that align with Regional Investment Initiative objectives to serve as demonstration projects for Implementation Phase.

Period of Performance : September 2023 – September 2025 SFP materials: NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, Economic Development Pilot Program Year 2022-23, SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS Press release: State Announces $50 Million in Funding to Advance Economic Development Pilot Projects Press release: California Awards Nearly $40 Million for Communities to Build Industries of the Future Catalyst Predevelopment Phase Invest up to $14 million into each of the 13 regions to (i) strengthen sustainability of regional inclusive economic planning entities and (ii) build a pipeline of viable projects that align with Regional Investment Initiative objectives.

Period of Performance : September 2023 – June 2027 SFP materials: CERF Catalyst Program – Final Framework Press release: California Jobs First: State Launches First-of-its-Kind Council to Create Thousands of More Jobs Across All Regions Publication of Project Pipelines by Region: List regions and link to each document from the regional convenor North State: Catalyst Projects (Chico State) Redwood: RRRISE Projects | Cal Poly Humboldt Capital: Catalyst Pre-Development Projects – We Prosper Together Sierra: Projects – Sierra Jobs First Bay Area: Projects » All Home Northern San Joaquin: Catalyst Fund – North Valley Thrive Central San Joaquin: Catalyst Partners | S2J2 Initiative Kern County: Kern County Moves Forward Los Angeles County: Catalyst Projects (LA Collaborative) Inland SoCal: CATALYST FUND | Thrive Inland SoCal Orange County: CJF – Orange County Business Council (OCBC) Southern Border: Catalyst Phase | SDSU Tribal Investment Initiative Invest in economic planning, pre-development, and implementation projects in partnership with California Native American Tribes.

RFP : Released in February 2025 Period of Performance : October 2025 – October 2027 RFP Materials: Tribal Investment Phase RFP Press release: California awards $15 million to support economic growth in tribal communities across the state (June 25, 2025) Tribal Investment Phase Award Recommendations ALLOCATION: $128. 5 million Invest in ready-to-go projects that align with regional Jobs First Strategies.

Round 1 – See Award Memo Here Round 2 – Anticipated in Summer 2026 RFP Materials: Implementation Phase RFP Press release: California announces statewide plan for economic growth (February 26, 2025) Press release : California awards $80 million to drive economic growth and spur job creation across the state (August 29, 2025) All approved regional plans can be found HERE .

Establish & maintain 13 regional governance bodies, called ‘Jobs First Collaboratives’ responsible for bringing together diverse partners and organizations and delivering the work products across the Planning Phase, Catalyst Fund, and Implementation Phase.

Develop regional economic plans that chart the economic development strategies for each of California’s 13 economic regions, including priority industries, projects, and other investments. Evaluate and examine the quality of the Regional Investment Initiative outputs and outcomes via an independent evaluation. Here are some resources: CERF Program Evaluation SFP PY 22-23 , CERF Program Evaluation Award PY 22-23 .

Create a portfolio of ready-to-go programs and projects that accelerate California’s progress to a carbon neutral economy while creating good-paying jobs and prosperous communities for all Californians. Bring to life projects and programs identified throughout the Regional Investment Initiative process that create good-paying jobs, address economic disparities, and support California’s transition to a clean energy economy.