Planning Phase Fund
During the Planning Phase, $5 million was allocated to each of the 13 regions under California Jobs First to:
1. Establish a collaborative network of regional stakeholders and community members,
2. Conduct research and lead community engagement activities, and
3. Define Regional Economic Plans.
Our region’s Planning Phase, led by our Collaborative with representation from diverse community partners—including labor, business, local government, education, environmental justice advocates, and community organizations—spanned from March 2023 to June 2024. Through a combination of quantitative research, meaningful community engagement, and conversations with economic development partners and industry leaders, we successfully developed a data-driven, community-led Regional Plan.
Catalyst Phase Fund
In the Catalyst Phase, Valley Vision is soliciting competitive proposals for pre-development project activities. There is $9 million dedicated for funding projects that align with our high opportunity industry sectors outlined in the Regional Plan.
The goals of the Catalyst Phase are to:
- Invest in industries that will advance sustainable, future-focused, high-quality job opportunities.
- Fund projects that ensure workers and disinvested communities are the primary beneficiaries.
- Advance projects toward implementation readiness, positioning them to compete effectively for future federal, state, or private funding.
In the first round of the Catalyst Phase, $5 million was awarded to pre-development projects that advance our regional goals. A second $4 million round of Catalyst funding will be announced soon. Click below to view the awarded projects for the first round of Catalyst.
Implementation Phase Fund
The Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) is making up to $125 million available across two rounds of grant funding for the Implementation Phase of the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative program.
Within each round of the Implementation Phase, there will be a two-phase competitive grant process.
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- Phase 1 selects regional coalitions that include three to eight interconnected ready-to-go projects (project clusters) organized under a singular vision to grow a specific tradable sector (as identified in the “Accelerate” or “Bet” categories within the State Economic Blueprint).
- Phase 2 evaluates and funds individual projects within those clusters.
Tribal Funding Opportunity
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), in partnership with the Employment Development Department (EDD), and on behalf of the Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), and the California Jobs First Council, announces the availability of up to $15 million from the Regional Investment Initiative (RII, formerly the Community Economic Resilience Fund) for the Tribal Investment Phase. The Tribal Investment Phase supports tribal-led economic development through funding for planning, predevelopment, and implementation projects that support a resilient economy.
Important Dates
- March 26, 2025: Tribal RFP Notice of Intent (NOI) letter due
- April 16, 2025: Tribal RFP FAQ will be posted
- April 30, 2025: Tribal RFP Application due