Award List and Project Summaries

The California Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) announced today it has awarded $182M from the Regional Investment Initiative: Catalyst Phase to each of the 13 regional Jobs First organizations. Awardees are listed below. Funding decisions are final.

Jobs First Collaboratives – Catalyst Phase Awardees and Project Information:

To ensure the Regional Investment Initiative effects systemic changes in regional economies, the Catalyst Program reserves up to $14 million for each California Jobs First region to bridge the gap between each region’s Jobs First Strategy and implementing projects designed to achieve outcomes that align with those strategies. Catalyst funds will support each region’s Jobs First Collaborative 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 government funds, as well as private and philanthropic investments.

North State

  • North State Jobs First Collaborative
  • Fiscal Agent: North State Planning and Development Collective – Chico State Enterprises

Capitol

  • We Prosper Together
  • Fiscal Agent: Valley Vision, Inc.

Redwood Region

  • Redwood Region Rise
  • Fiscal Agent: Arcata Economic Development Corporation

Bay Area

  • Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative
  • Fiscal Agent: San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development

North San Joaquin Valley

  • North Valley Thrive
  • Fiscal Agent: Merced Community College District

Eastern Sierra

  • Eastern Sierra Jobs First Collaborative
  • Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener: Sierra Business Council

Central San Joaquin

  • Valley Jobs First
  • Fiscal Agent: Central Valley Community Foundation

Orange County

  • Orange County Jobs First Collaborative
  • Fiscal Agent: Charitable Ventures of Orange County

Los Angeles County

  • Los Angeles County Jobs First Collaboratives
  • Fiscal Agent: California Community Foundation

Kern County

  • Kern Coalition
  • Fiscal Agent: Kern Community College District

Central Coast

  • Uplift Coalition
  • Fiscal Agent: Economic Development Collaborative

Inland Southern California

  • Inland SoCal Thrive
  • Fiscal Agent: Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF)

Southern Border

  • Southern Border Jobs First Collaborative
  • Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener: San Diego State University (SDSU