California will award $80 million to fund 11 projects aimed at creating jobs and spurring economic growth across the state, with announcement of the funding made recently by Governor Gavin Newsom. The investment is part of California Jobs First and its Regional Investment Initiative.
The projects, spread across seven economic regions and 18 counties, are expected to support more than 23,000 jobs. Funding is aligned with four strategic sectors: aerospace and defense, agtech and farm equipment, bioeconomy, and life sciences.
“We’re not just talking about creating jobs and growing our economy – we’re putting real dollars to work right now in communities across California,” Newsom said. “These investments will build momentum and deliver measurable progress in the months and years ahead.”
Breakdowns of the awards include:
Aerospace & Defense: $16.9 million for two Central Coast projects.
Agtech & Farm Equipment: $28.6 million for four projects in multiple regions, including the North and Central San Joaquin Valley.
Bioeconomy: $10.3 million for a project in the North San Joaquin Valley.
Life Sciences: $23.9 million for four projects in Los Angeles County.
Officials said the initiative reflects a “bottom-up, community-driven approach” to strengthening industries statewide.
“These awards reflect our shared commitment to a bottom-up, community-driven approach that builds on local strengths, drives innovation, and ensures every region across California has the opportunity to thrive,” said Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to the governor and director of GO-Biz, and Stewart Knox, secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency.
This funding is part of a two-phase plan that will distribute $125 million statewide. Round two of implementation funding is expected to launch in October, ahead of schedule.
California Jobs First builds on the state’s broader workforce goals, including Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Career Education, which aims to serve 500,000 apprentices by 2029.
California remains the fourth-largest economy in the world, leading the nation in new business starts, venture capital funding, and several major industries.
