Governor Gavin Newsome | Facebook Website
The United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) has endorsed all 13 of California's Jobs First regional plans as Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), a step that extends new opportunities for economic investments across the state. This approval marks a milestone as for the first time, California's 482 cities, 58 counties, and every community possess a federally recognized strategy.
Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This is a significant milestone for communities up and down the Golden State – giving our regional partners access to additional federal funds, in addition to state, private, and philanthropic resources, that will help us grow and strengthen California’s world-leading economy. This is the Jobs First vision of an inclusive, bottom-up economic development strategy come to life."
The EDA and other federal agencies often require an approved CEDS for communities to qualify for various funding programs aimed at economic, infrastructure, and workforce development. These approvals enable California to pursue financial resources from diverse entities such as philanthropic organizations, private investors, and banking institutions involved with Community Development Financial Institutions and the Community Reinvestment Act.
Over the past two and a half years, communities have developed these plans, transitioning now from planning to action. Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, remarked, "We look forward to supporting our regional partners as they work to attract more investment and economic activity to their communities in the coming years."
In 2022, California invested in the regional initiatives with $5 million per each of the 13 Jobs First entities, creating collaborative teams composed of various stakeholders including local governments, business and labor leaders, and environmental advocates. These teams crafted data-driven, community-led strategies focused on generating accessible jobs and fostering sustainable growth.
According to Stewart Knox, Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development, "Having led the development of local and regional CEDS across California, I can attest first-hand how incredible it is for all our communities to have received this acknowledgement. Now, it’s time for us to get to work on making sure these new opportunities result in good-paying jobs up and down the state."
The CEDS endorsement complements the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, a plan leveraging these regional strategies to drive sustainable economic growth and job creation. By identifying ten strategic industry sectors, the state aims to accelerate economic, business, and workforce programs to bolster job creation swiftly.
As the world’s fifth-largest economy, California is distinguished for its new business starts, venture capital funding, and robust industries including manufacturing, high-tech, and agriculture, amidst a growing population and record-high tourism.
More information about California Jobs First and the Economic Blueprint can be accessed online, with updates available via LinkedIn and X.
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