California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced $80 million in new funding to support 11 projects across seven regions and 18 counties, aimed at creating more than 23,000 jobs and driving long-term economic growth.
The investment, part of the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative, targets key industries including 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.
Funding allocations include nearly $17 million for aerospace projects on the Central Coast, $28.6 million for agtech initiatives across five regions, $10.3 million for bioeconomy infrastructure in the North San Joaquin Valley, and $23.9 million to expand life sciences in Los Angeles County.
Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to the governor and director of GO-Biz, and Stewart Knox, secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, called the awards “a major milestone” for the state’s Jobs First plan. “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,” they said in a joint statement.
The initiative builds on $182 million already distributed to regions for pilot projects and planning. A second round of funding, originally scheduled for 2026, will now launch in October 2025 to accelerate progress.
California, the world’s fourth-largest economy, continues to lead the nation in venture capital, manufacturing, and business starts. State officials say the Jobs First investments are designed to sustain this position while expanding opportunities for high-quality, family-supporting jobs.
