Governor Gavin Newsom visited Orange County as part of his California Jobs First tour, highlighting the impact of nearly $1.6 billion in investments made in 2025 to train over 142,000 workers and create more than 61,000 new jobs across the state’s 13 economic regions. The initiative aims to support regional strategies, invest in high-growth sectors, and expand access to well-paying jobs.
The announcement coincided with the celebration of Orange County’s Jobs First regional plan, which focuses on advancing life sciences, high-tech industries, advanced and precision manufacturing, and travel and tourism.
“California is proving once again that when we invest in people and innovation, we build an economy that works for everyone. Jobs First is driving historic progress in every region of the state by backing regional priorities, doubling down on key industries, and creating opportunities for Californians where they live and work.
These plans were built from the ground up by local partners, for their communities. From tribal nations and rural regions to major economic hubs, California is leading the nation with economic development shaped by the people it’s meant to serve.”
— Governor Gavin Newsom
Launched as a statewide planning process in 2021 and formalized as California Jobs First in 2023, this effort created collaboratives within each region representing labor groups, businesses, local governments, education institutions, environmental organizations and other community partners. These groups developed data-driven economic plans targeting strategic industry sectors.
In early 2025, the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint was introduced based on these regional plans. Since then funding has supported projects throughout California.
Key activities from 2025 include:
– The Regional Investment Initiative awarded $80 million to projects focused on aerospace/defense, life sciences, agtech/farm equipment; $15 million went to Native American tribes for job training and business growth; $3 million supported wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
– The California Competes Tax Credit program provided incentives to companies expanding or relocating within California—generating $2.56 billion in capital investment and creating over 4,500 jobs.
– Film & Television Tax Credits were given to 155 productions expected to generate nearly $5 billion in activity and more than 33,000 cast/crew jobs.
– The Employment Training Panel invested over $82 million supporting training for more than 70,000 workers.
– Over $91 million was directed toward expanding apprenticeships benefiting about 69,000 individuals.
– High Road Training Partnerships received $18.5 million aiming at workforce development for underserved populations.
– STEP grants helped small businesses achieve $33 million in export sales while supporting or retaining over 250 jobs globally.
– New initiatives like Quantum California aim to boost innovation through partnerships between government agencies, academia and industry.
“This year showed what California can accomplish when state agencies, regional collaboratives and local partners rally around shared priorities,” said GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers. “Jobs First is aligning sector investments and business development in ways that create measurable lasting impact for communities up and down the state. The progress made in 2025 is only the beginning…”
“Through California Jobs First we’re strengthening pathways that connect people to stable careers in growing industries… In 2025 we expanded training apprenticeship… This year we’re scaling that work so more Californians can access clear routes into good-paying jobs,” said Stewart Knox Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development Agency.
Orange County’s medtech sector employs over 21,000 workers; statewide there are more than 13,600 medtech companies accounting for a significant share of national industry revenue.
Throughout last year members of the California Jobs First Council met with leaders from various regions including Redwood Coast Bay Area Capitol Southern Border—to discuss local priorities including tribal needs.
The council also hosted an Investment Summit where project leads presented ideas seeking private funding support.
A milestone was reached with release of a Master Plan for Career Education designed to align education/training with future job opportunities across all regions—with a goal of serving half a million apprentices by 2029.
Legislation signed by Governor Newsom aimed at streamlining construction processes included AB130/SB131 providing regulatory relief for housing/economic development projects including advanced manufacturing sites.
The Business Ready Sites Program launched an interactive mapping tool showing available sites suitable for headquarters R&D or industrial facilities.
Looking ahead another round of implementation funding totaling $45 million will be distributed this summer through Regional Investment Initiative grants; a second investment summit is planned for April next year.
California remains among world’s largest economies—with strong performance driven by population growth record tourism spending leadership in business starts venture capital manufacturing technology agriculture (https://www.gov.ca.gov/about/).
Newsom has engaged communities across California promoting unity effective governance (https://www.gov.ca.gov/about/). He draws on experience from business/local government roles emphasizing efficient service delivery innovation public safety social equity (https://www.gov.ca.gov/about/). Elected as governor in 2018 he continues supporting policies fostering opportunity throughout the state (https://www.gov.ca.gov/about/).
“California is proving once again that when we invest in people and innovation we build an economy that works for everyone…”
