California Jobs First

Name

California Jobs First

Legal name

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

Website

https://jobsfirst.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Jobs First is a California state economic development initiative administered by GO-Biz, coordinating nine agencies and 13 regional collaboratives to distribute state funding, CalCompetes Tax Credits, and workforce training across California's regions and strategic sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Economic Development

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL)

Keywords

• State economic development
• Workforce development programs
• Regional investment initiatives
• Tax credit programs
• Community-led economic planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

1. State Economic Development Funding: California Jobs First is funded through state appropriations and administered via the Regional Investment Initiative. The initiative distributes grants, tax credits, and workforce training funding to support regional economic development across strategic sectors.
2. California Competes Tax Credit (CalCompetes): Tax credit program administered by GO-Biz that awards credits to companies expanding or relocating in California, creating jobs and generating private investment. Since 2019, CalCompetes has awarded credits to 271 businesses generating more than $37 billion in private investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

California Jobs First is a State of California government economic development initiative that invests in key sectors to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, and access to good-paying jobs across 13 economic regions. It distributes grants, tax credits (via CalCompetes), and workforce training funding through the Regional Investment Initiative, while coordinating nine state agencies via the California Jobs First Council. Core offerings include the Regional Data Tool, the California Economic Blueprint, the Regional Investment Initiative, and the Business Ready Sites Program.

Product overview

California Jobs First is a government economic development initiative comprising a website portal and interconnected programs. The core offerings include the main informational portal at jobsfirst.ca.gov providing access to all resources, the Regional Data Tool (an interactive web-mapping platform with demographic and economic data), the California Economic Blueprint (a 10-year strategic roadmap), and the Regional Investment Initiative (the flagship funding program). Supporting programs include the California Competes Tax Credit program, Sector Strategies Program, Investment Playbook, and Business Ready Sites Program. The initiative covers 13 economic regions across California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Regional Investment Initiative: Flagship program under California Jobs First driving local economic development through regional collaboratives
• California Competes Tax Credit (CalCompetes)
• California Jobs First Council

Products and services

• California Jobs First Website Portal Main informational portal at jobsfirst.ca.gov providing access to the California Economic Blueprint, regional information, news updates, investment initiatives, and resources for economic development across California's 13 economic regions.
• Regional Data Tool Interactive web-mapping platform containing up-to-date demographic, business, economic, industry, and community data across California's thirteen economic regions, integrated with the Business Ready Sites Program.
• California Economic Blueprint California's 10-year economic roadmap identifying strategic industry sectors organized into four categories (Strengthen, Accelerate, Bet, Anchor) to guide sustainable economic growth, innovation, and access to good-paying jobs statewide.
• Regional Investment Initiative Flagship funding program driving a community-led approach to local economic development, distributing implementation funding to projects aligned with strategic sectors across the state's economic regions.
• California Competes Tax Credit (CalCompetes) Tax credit program administered by GO-Biz that awards credits to companies expanding or relocating in California, supporting job creation and private investment across key industry sectors. Since 2019, has awarded credits to 271 businesses generating more than $37 billion in private investment.
• Sector Strategies Program GO-Biz develops sector-specific strategies for life sciences, semiconductors and microelectronics, aerospace and defense, agtech and farm equipment, quantum, and clean economy sectors through stakeholder input forms.
• Business Ready Sites Program Interactive web-mapping tool allowing eligible organizations to submit fully zoned and entitled sites suitable for headquarters, research & development, and industrial manufacturing, helping businesses and site selectors find ready-to-develop sites.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61,000+ new jobs created in 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2024Co-chair of California Jobs First Council. Serves as the state's leader for job growth and economic development, administering CalCompetes Tax Credits, Regional Investment Initiative, and business assistance services.
• Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2024Co-chair of California Jobs First Council. Oversees workforce development programs including Employment Training Panel, apprenticeships, and High Road Training Partnerships.
• California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member agency supporting agricultural production, food processing, and agtech sectors in the economic blueprint.
• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member supporting clean economy, carbon management, and environmental sustainability initiatives.
• California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member supporting healthcare sector and workforce development alignment.
• California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member supporting outdoor recreation, working lands, and natural resource management.
• California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member supporting infrastructure, broadband, and transmission initiatives.
• Governor's Office of Land Use & Innovation (LCI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member focused on land use, climate innovation, and streamlining development.
• California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobs First Council member supporting veteran workforce development and employment.
• California Strategic Growth Council (SGC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided $1.5 million in Regional Climate Collaboratives Program funding for Yreka Carnegie project. Council works to achieve sustainability, equity, and economic prosperity for all Californians.
• 13 Regional CollaborativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning bodies with representation from labor, business, local government, education, environmental justice, and community organizations. Includes: North State, Redwood, Capital, Sierra, Bay Area, Northern San Joaquin, Central San Joaquin, Central Coast, Kern County, Los Angeles County, Inland SoCal, Orange County, Southern Border.
• Siskiyou Economic Development Council (SEDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the Yreka Carnegie rehabilitation project, serving as headquarters for SEDC and housing the Shasta-Cascade Small Business Development Center.
• THRIVE Santa AnamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization leading La Colmena community land trust project, receiving $3.8 million pilot project funding through California Jobs First.
• 14 California Native American TribesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partners receiving $15 million in grants for economic development, job training, environmental stewardship, business growth, and R&D. Includes Berry Creek Rancheria, Mechoopda Tribe, Kashia Band, and others.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Greater Washington Partnership: Regional business-civic coalition coordinating workforce, infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth across the DC-Virginia-Maryland corridor. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder economic development coordination body with workforce pipeline focus.

Direct peers

• Empire State Development (New York): New York's primary state economic development agency, administering tax credits, grants, and regional economic development programs. Directly comparable to GO-Biz/California Jobs First as a large-state economic development authority with similar tools (Excelsior Jobs Program, START-UP NY) and mandate.
• Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office: Texas's state economic development office offering tax incentives (Texas Enterprise Fund, Chapter 313) and workforce programs. Comparable to California Jobs First as a major-state economic development competitor using tax credits to attract business expansion.
• New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA): New Jersey's state economic development authority administering Grow NJ, NJ Aspire, and tax credit programs for job creation. Comparable as a state-level authority using tax credits and place-based funding to drive regional economic growth.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT): Colorado's primary state economic development agency offering tax incentives (Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit) and sector-focused strategies. Comparable as a state-level economic development office with sector strategy and tax credit programs similar in scale and intent.
• Massachusetts MassDevelopment: Massachusetts's quasi-public state economic development finance agency administering tax credits, brownfields financing, and workforce programs. Comparable to California Jobs First in structure and use of tax-credit-driven attraction programs.
• Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development: Pennsylvania's state economic development department administering Keystone Opportunity Zones, workforce programs, and regional grants. Comparable as a state agency delivering coordinated economic development across multiple regions with workforce training components.

Regional players

• Invest Atlanta: Atlanta's municipal economic development authority offering tax incentives, workforce funding, and job creation programs. Comparable in function (regional tax credits + workforce) but operates at city rather than state level.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): Federal-state economic development partnership for the Appalachian region, administering grants and place-based economic programs. Comparable in structure as a multi-jurisdiction funding body focused on under-resourced regions.
• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): Federal agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce that administers CEDS, Public Works grants, and regional economic development programs. Comparable as a funder/partner of California's CEDS-accepted regional plans and as the federal layer of the U.S. economic development ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAJobsFirst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCregW8KZRE4k1sXVZs2bPxw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-jobs-first

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Jobs First