Policymakers are exploring models to move away from traditional top-down economic strategies and embracing community-led, place-based approaches. California’s $600 million Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative, launched in 2022, is a compelling example of how states can invest in regional economic transformation. By prioritizing community and worker-centered planning, the initiative plans to chart the course for equitable, resilient, and carbon-neutral economies that create good jobs and prosperous communities in each of the state’s 13 regions. Through coalitions and governance structures that ensure balanced representation and elevate the voices of disadvantaged communities, each region has developed an investment plan that will guide the implementation of viable projects.

A Regional Approach to a Climate-Forward Economy

As part of the initiative, the Central Valley Community Foundation leads the Sierra San Joaquin Jobs (S2J2) coalition, partnering with local conveners and more than 100 organizations across Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties. After a year of planning, the coalition has built a cross-sector network of partners, robustly assessed regional conditions, explored economic frameworks and industries, engaged more than 4,300 community members, and developed a draft regional investment plan. The coalition is now moving toward implementing its road map for a “community-led, climate-forward economy.”

The Urban Institute’s Support

Urban provides evidence-based recommendations and technical assistance to help the S2J2 coalition advance equity, economic resilience, and climate action, including by

• developing a baseline assessment of the region’s economy, labor markets, overburdened communities, and public health;
• reviewing external evidence on how alternative economic frameworks can be leveraged to meet these goals;
• identifying and assessing industry clusters aligned with economic, equity, and climate goals;
• supporting community-based data collection and synthesis; and
• offering evidence-based recommendations to support the coalition in developing the regional investment plan.