1. Planning Phase
Redwood Region RISE’s Convening Team–like the twelve other California Jobs First regions in the state–received $5M to create a Collaborative to guide an inclusive, diverse, and accountable regional Planning Phase. At the end of the Planning Phase, in late August 2024, our Collaborative will deliver our Regional Roadmap–a regional strategy and recommended investments to grow sustainable industries, diversify regional economies, and increase access to high-quality jobs. Additionally, a $25 million competitive funding opportunity for California’s federally recognized tribes has been announced: the Tribal Funding Opportunity. The State has promised more information on this soon.
2. Catalyst Program
To help get the 13 regions ready to be eligible to receive the Implementation funds, the State launched a Catalyst Program, which kicked off in May 2024. In contrast to the competitive Implementation funds (read more below), the Catalyst “pre development” program has allocated a guaranteed $14 million (totaling $182M statewide) for each of the 13 regions to bridge the gap between planning regional economic development strategies and implementing projects designed to achieve outcomes that align with those strategies. More information on this will follow shortly.
3. Implementation Phase
Directly following the Planning Phase and concurrent to the Catalyst Program will be the Implementation Phase, in which the State Interagency Team will release rolling competitive grants between winter 2022-winter 2027 to fund projects put forward by each Region’s Collaborative. Criteria such as demonstrated community support, alignment with climate goals, adherence to labor standards, and access to high-quality jobs with clear employment pathways for underserved and incumbent workers are required elements of project applications.
