The Bay Area Jobs First Catalyst Application closed on Friday, September 20, 2024. We expect to announce which projects were selected for funding in November.

Background: In 2021, Governor Newsom launched the $600 million Regional Investment Initiative (formerly known as the Community Economic Resilience Fund, or CERF) to support California’s 13 regions to create quality jobs and bolster their resilience to climate and global challenges impacting the state’s diverse regional economies. As part of this program, each of the 13 regions has built a California Jobs First Collaborative tasked with developing a clear vision for their region’s economic future.

California Jobs First will support high-road economic development plans to create equitable access to quality jobs. High-road economic development supports environmentally sustainable businesses that pay living wages and create opportunities for career growth. As California recovers from the economic distress of COVID-19, California Jobs First aims to ensure that the state’s economy works for all California residents, particularly those who have historically been marginalized.

What is Catalyst program funding? Regional Collaboratives were awarded $9 million in Catalyst funding dedicated to investing in project development, enabling them to fund the design of projects that align with the region’s economic vision. The purpose of this funding is to move projects from ideas/pilots (“pre-development activities”) to ready-to-go projects that can then compete for other funding opportunities from federal, state, and private sources. 

What projects is the Catalyst program designed to fund? The Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative is looking to distribute $9 million of Catalyst funding for development/design activities for initiatives that will help build a long-lasting regional economic development infrastructure in the Bay Area. We are looking for proposals that center and empower communities and workers, create quality jobs, and address long-standing inequalities and climate vulnerabilities. Applicants can apply for up to $1 million for single-county projects and $1.5 million for multi-county projects.

What are the Catalyst program’s priorities and vision for proposed projects? Submissions should be aligned with the Collaborative’s vision and guiding principles:

  • Climate resilience led by frontline communities and workers
  • Lift up job quality, grow high-road jobs, elevate racial equity and worker voice
  • Honor local without losing the power of the region 
  • Inclusive, democratic, grassroots governance 
  • Take action towards transformational change

Projects should also adhere to existing California Jobs First priorities of equity, sustainability, job quality and access, economic competitiveness, and economic resilience. 

Please visit the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page, which will be updated regularly with any and all questions and answers the Collaborative receives from applicants. Applicants can also submit questions to [email protected]

We hosted a Bidder’s Conference (information session for applicants) on Thursday, August 29th. View the recording or see the slides

Resources – Below is additional information regarding the Catalyst Program.

  • Catalyst 2.0 Framework – an overview of the State of California’s Catalyst program.
  • California Jobs First Readiness – defines “pre-development activities” and offers further explanation of Catalyst funding.
  • Catalyst 2.0 Evaluation Criteria – the criteria by which the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative will evaluate Catalyst Program applications. Note: the scoring criteria percentages listed in this document are slightly outdated. Please refer to scoring percentages listed in the application instructions.