SACRAMENTO CA – The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) today announced the award of $27 million to support data system development and interoperability across California’s five containerized ports, the first-ever state-level funding in the country focused on improving data functionality across a statewide network of ports.

As the nation’s premier gateway for international trade, California and its ports are essential to the smooth functioning of the global economy. The state’s containerized ports, which include the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, and Hueneme, handle a staggering 40% of all U.S. containerized imports, supporting millions of jobs and generating billions in economic activity.

“California’s ports are critical to the stability of our national and global supply chains, as well as the health of our worldwide economy,” said GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers. “These historic, first-of-their-kind awards will allow us to use data to improve the functionality of our supply chain, and we look forward to working with our ports to further the momentum that these projects will generate across the state.”

The awards will fund ten innovative projects across the five ports that address key challenges in port operations and foster long-term statewide freight resilience. These projects encompass a wide range of solutions including optimization of cargo-routing, deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, implementation of climate resiliency and emissions reductions measures, adoption of trucking appointment systems, and the development of new data standards for cargo.

“This milestone marks significant progress in the Governor’s vision to improve California’s supply chain, powering us into a more equitable and economically prosperous future,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Through this critical funding and strong collaboration between California’s ports, key operators will now have essential data to help move goods using a more efficient, reliable and resilient transportation network. Together with our recent Port and Freight Infrastructure Program investments, these groundbreaking awards will help leverage innovation and new approaches, continuing to advance CalSTA’s Core Four priorities of economic prosperity, equity, climate action and safety.”

 The grant program and awards also mark a significant milestone in the Governor and Legislature’s historic investment in supply chain and goods movement, aimed at building long-term resilience in the wake of global supply chain challenges just years ago.

“As Chair of the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, I am happy to see all of California’s containerized ports continue to modernize their infrastructure and benefit from this $27 million for data system development,” said Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson). “I am dedicated to ensuring a continued, collective partnership between the Legislature, State, and ports. Ports are a vital part of California’s economy, and I will work to ensure that California is doing everything to support our ports.”

The funds follow the signing of a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last spring that formed the California Port Data Partnership between the five ports. Both the MOU and the awards are expected to yield significant economic, environmental, and transportation benefits for the State.

What the Ports Are Saying

“This unprecedented level of funding is crucial for California’s containerized ports as it will enhance the sharing of supply chain data to improve information flow. With the state’s investment, the Port of Hueneme will support collaborative efforts to bridge data gaps in the regional, state, and national supply chain. The funding will also accelerate the Port’s data strategy enhancing commercial, operational, and financial data sharing systems. We appreciate the State’s commitment to resiliency and its significant investment in goods movement.” – Port of Hueneme CEO & Port Director Kristin Decas

“With six marine terminals at the Port of Long Beach now connecting to a beta version of the Supply Chain Information Highway, we’ve entered a crucial phase of development. We are grateful to the State of California and GO-Biz for their continued leadership in supporting data modernization to bolster goods movement. This funding will be important as we roll out these new enhancements to increase cargo velocity and tighten coordination across modes of transportation.” – Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero

“California is the first state to step up with policy and funding to enhance supply chain digitalization. This GO-Biz funding will help the Port of Los Angeles accelerate our proven technology, the Port Optimizer, to further improve efficiency, lower impacts on our communities and make us more competitive.” –  Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka

“The California Port Data Partnership is a monumental and strategic achievement. This grant allows the Port of Oakland to further expand its current data environment, as well as improve the trucker appointment system in Oakland to allow for a more seamless user experience. These enhancements are critical in improving overall supply chain visibility, efficiency and planning at the local, state and national levels.” – Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes

“We are grateful to the Governor’s Office for prioritizing data partnerships among California’s ports. We are eager to upgrade our technology and create an interoperable system where we can share information and collaborate to further improve our maritime operations, increase cargo throughput, and enhance customer service, as we promised our constituents. Together, we’re modernizing our seaports to strengthen the supply chain and to be greener and cleaner overall.” – Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Frank Urtasun

Full Program Report

GO-Biz Supply Chain Webpage

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

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GO-Biz International Affairs and Trade Team continues effort to market California to international businesses, including at the 10^th annual SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C.

Sacramento, CA – The GO-Biz International Affairs and Trade team recently participated in a series of high-level initiatives across the state and country focused on highlighting opportunities in California for expanding international businesses.

California, as the world’s fifth largest economy, plays an outsized role on the global stage – whether it’s our shared border with the country’s most significant trading partner or our strategic position on the Pacific Rim. With more than 800,000 jobs, the Golden State continues to lead the nation in jobs supported by foreign direct investment. What’s more, foreign direct investment supports $84.3 billion in wages for Californians.

This series of foreign investment attraction events underlined the incredible opportunities in California for foreign businesses and allowed for engagement with key international partners from around the globe. They included:

• The SelectUSA Investment Summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., to which GO-Biz led a delegation of local economic developers from across the state.
• The Cleantech and ZEV Ecosystem Tour, hosted by the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
• The SelectLA Investment Summit in Long Beach, hosted by the World Trade Center of Los Angeles.
• POWER CA, a renewable energy conference hosted by Humboldt County.

Each event allowed the GO-Biz International Affairs and Trade team to advertise opportunities and available support for international businesses interested in establishing operations in California, with the goal of bringing investment, jobs, and innovation to the state. Throughout these events, GO-Biz engaged with more than 250 international businesses and organizations to promote business expansion in California.

The 10^th annual SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C. is the preeminent foreign investment attraction event in the U.S. hosted by the Department of Commerce and was the keystone event in this series. The Summit was the largest ever, with more than 5,000 individuals from 96 international markets in attendance. California brought a delegation of 28 local economic organizations from across the state. Representation included:

• Stephanie Hsieh, BioscienceLA
• Claudia Diaz, California Association of Realtors
• Jaclyn Chiyo Funasaki, East Bay EDA
• Connie Stopher, Economic Development Coalition
• Swan Asbury, City of Eureka
• Will Oliver and Lauren Nikkel, Fresno EDC
• Alicia Ramirez, City of Fresno
• Soua Vang and Jenny de la Mora, City of Glendale
• Terri Batch, GlobalLA
• Troels Adrian and Hayden Kandul, Greater Sacramento Economic Council
• Scott Adair, Humboldt County
• Patrick Ellis, Impact SW Riverside
• Tim Kelley and Sean Willcock, Imperial Valley EDC
• Bo Martinez, City of Long Beach
• Leah Goold Haws, Long Beach Economic Partnership
• Alex Andrade and Michael Thomas, City of Milpitas
• Scott Agajanian, Murrieta Innovation Center
• Alan Wapner and Jennifer McLain Hiramoto, City of Ontario
• Michael Foote, REACH Central Coast
• Kimberly Wright, Riverside County
• Tony Yung, Sac China Trade Office
• Ryan Niesen and Derek Armstrong, San Bernardino County
• Jey Wagner and Ondre Seltzer, Santa Clarita Valley EDC
• Hala Madanat and Natasha Bliss, San Diego State University
• Robin Reimold, TeamCA
• Frank Rexach, UC Riverside
• William Powles and Olivia Zhang, World Trade Center Los Angeles
• Felipe Cusnir, World Trade Center Long Beach
• Lucas Coleman and Emily Irion, World Trade Center San Diego

GO-Biz hosted a Meet California Breakfast at the Summit, which featured opening remarks from SelectUSA Executive Director Jasjit Singh, as well as a fireside chat between GO-Biz Senior Deputy Director Emily Desai and Lane Dilg, Head of Strategic Partnerships on the Global Affairs Team at OpenAI. More than 150 international businesses registered to network with the California delegation and learn about how California’s unique business climate drives innovation.

“The SelectUSA Investment Summit and surrounding events are a priority for our team because of the outcomes they deliver for California communities. We are proud to partner with economic developers from across California to amplify the unmatched resources they have for growing businesses,” noted GO-Biz Senior Deputy Director Emily Desai.

“Greater Sacramento is a market rising in global importance. We have seen major investments from Korea’s SK hynix and Samsung as well as Germany’s Bosch in recent years, and almost 40% of the companies we work with are international. Accordingly, the SelectUSA Summit is a touchstone opportunity for our region. I commend Director Dee Dee Myers and the GO-Biz team for their leadership in promoting California globally and look forward to partnering on the many opportunities we secured at this year’s conference,” said Greater Sacramento Economic Council President and CEO Barry Broome.

“Each year, the opportunities to connect with global investors at the SelectUSA Summit grow exponentially. The Murrieta Innovation Center has cultivated some amazing relationships that are beginning to flourish in our community,” said Impact Southwest Riverside CEO Patrick Ellis.

You can follow the GO-Biz International Affairs and Trade team’s foreign investment attraction efforts by subscribing to their newsletter, following @CAGoBiz on X, and searching for #GoBizInternational across social media platforms.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

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SACRAMENTO, CA – The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has awarded more than $2.3 million to ten local governments under the state’s second round of the Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant (LIIIG) program. This follows last year’s awarding of $6.1 million to twelve local governments—California’s first-ever grants to support local governments’ efforts on immigrant integration.

California’s immigrant population makes up 27 percent of the state’s total population, and nearly 10 percent of those individuals reside in rural regions. Immigrants in California are long-settled residents powering the state’s workforce and small businesses and supporting economic growth. Their ability to navigate services where they live, and work is important for the health and success of local communities. This new round of funding prioritizes support for local governments in rural regions with large immigrant populations and where services to effectively reach diverse immigrant communities are limited due to language barriers and resources. This includes Imperial, Kern, Monterey, Napa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Tulare, and Ventura counties.

“GO-Biz is proud to award a second round of state funding to local governments who are prioritizing immigrant integration efforts in rural areas,” said Emily Desai, GO-Biz Senior Deputy Director for Global and Strategic Program Planning and External Affairs. “We know there are unique challenges in reaching and supporting immigrant communities in the underserved parts of our state. These grants represent our commitment to empowering local governments to foster economic mobility and social inclusion among California’s immigrant populations, no matter where they reside.”

The LIIIG program is the first-ever state funding focused on local government immigrant integration efforts. These grants enhance local governments’ abilities to serve their immigrant communities, intending to help immigrant families thrive and build community trust.

Eligible activities for LIIIG funding include:

1. Economic Development: Supporting immigrant entrepreneurs with creating and scaling businesses.
2. Social Services Navigation: Helping immigrants access essential public programs, such as healthcare, housing assistance, legal services, education services, and food programs.
3. Intergovernmental Technical Assistance: Developing and implementing policies and best practices to serve the immigrant population.

Additional details about the award recipients and future announcements are available on the LIIIG website and in the table below.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: As part of the continued effort of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is investing $17.5 million in innovative companies to bolster the economy and create more than 630 new jobs across California.

SACRAMENTO – This latest round of California Competes Tax Credit awards will continue to support the business community across California, bringing family-supporting jobs and investment that would otherwise go someplace else to the state.

The four companies – which span industries from food manufacturing to clothing design – are expected to create 636 new, full-time jobs that have an average salary of nearly $107,000. Collectively, these companies have committed to making more than $67.4 million of investments in communities up and down the state as a result of their awards.

• Skydio, a drone manufacturer, will use a $10 million award to create 441 new jobs and make $19.26 million in investments across their San Mateo and Hayward facilities.
• Liberated Brands, a clothing designer, will use a $3 million award to create 109 new jobs and make $16.5 million in investments in Costa Mesa and Orange County.
• CSC Manufacturing, a carboard manufacturer, will use a $2.5 million award to create 51 new jobs and make $20.9 million in investments in Modesto.
• Teasdale Foods, a food manufacturer, will use a $2 million award to create 35 new jobs and make $10.8 in investments in Atwater.

“Doubling down on ingenuity and innovation works, and no place does it better than California,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of GO-Biz. “These types of investments in the state’s diverse economy ensure that California will continue to remain a global leader in the industries of both today and tomorrow.”

List of Awards and Funding

How we got here

In March, Governor Newsom announced the creation of the California Jobs First Council focused on streamlining the state’s economic and workforce development programs to create more jobs, faster – including through the California Competes program.

The California Competes Tax Credit was created in 2013 to help businesses grow and stay in California. In 2022, the program was extended for an additional five years with at least $180 million in tax credits available for allocation to businesses each year through 2028. To date, California Competes has awarded tax credits to nearly 1,200 businesses, creating more than 159,000 jobs, and resulting in $50.58 billion of private investment in the state.

Bigger picture

The Golden State, which has the most equitable tax system in the entire country, is #1 in the nation for new business starts, #1 for access to venture capital funding, and the #1 state for manufacturing, high-tech, and agriculture.

Last month, Governor Newsom announced that California’s travel spending reached an all-time high of $150.4 billion last year. This comes after the state’s population increased for the first time since the pandemic and the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook noting that California remains the 5th largest economy in the world for the seventh consecutive year, with a nominal GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion in 2023 and a growth rate of 6.1% since the year prior, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. California’s per capita GDP is the second largest among large economies.

And just last week, Fortune announced that for the first time since 2014, California is home to the most Fortune 500 companies in the country – beating out Texas, Florida, and all other states. From tech to finance to entertainment, the state’s diverse economy has 57 companies on the list, while Texas and New York are tied in second with 52 companies each.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: From building a sustainable lithium production campus to constructing California’s first steel mill in over 50 years, the state is investing $120 million in innovative businesses and creating thousands of new jobs.

SACRAMENTO – As part of the California Jobs First initiative, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that the state has awarded $120 million in tax credits to eight innovative companies. It will generate more than 2,100 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of over $100,000 and bring in an estimated $15.5 billion in private investment over the next five years.

WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAID: “California’s economy is the fifth largest in the world and we’re supporting workers and businesses as they reach success. This funding will help businesses create good-paying jobs — from steel manufacturing in Kern County to sustainable lithium production in Imperial Valley — and support the state’s economic dominance for years to come.”

The funding, from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development’s (GO-Biz) California Competes program, is going to companies expanding their operations in California and supporting the type of cutting-edge industries that are the hallmark of the Golden State.

“California Competes continues to be a critical program within the California Jobs First portfolio that attracts and retains businesses, who in turn create family-supporting jobs and economic opportunity for workers across our state,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of GO-Biz. “We’re excited to build on the success of this program, investing in companies that are building the industries of today and tomorrow.”

🔋SECURING THE EV BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN

Lithium Valley is on track to become one of the world’s largest sources of lithium, the essential material for EV batteries – positioning California to be a global hub for battery production and a leader in securing a clean energy future.

Controlled Thermal Resources received a $30 million tax credit to help construct a facility near the Salton Sea to sustainably extract lithium and other critical minerals from geothermal brine in Imperial County.

In exchange for this tax credit, the company is expected to make capital investments of more than $14.7 billion and create nearly 450 new, full-time jobs in Calipatria and Imperial.

Governor Newsom at Controlled Thermal Resources last year

⛏️ CONSTRUCTING THE STATE’S FIRST STEEL MILL IN OVER 50 YEARS

Pacific Steel, which is poised to construct the first steel mill in California in more than 50 years, received a $30 million tax credit to hire employees and invest in manufacturing equipment as part of its expansion in Kern County.

In exchange for this tax credit, the company is expected to make capital investments of more than $540 million and create nearly 450 new jobs.

⚡DEVELOPING NEXT-GENERATION ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS

Two California businesses will be advancing their efforts to design and manufacture battery energy storage systems – a technology that is critical to ensuring the state meets its world-leading climate goals.

Moxion Power, which develops mobile energy storage products and technologies that accelerate last-mile electrification, received a $25 million tax credit to expand its manufacturing capabilities in both Richmond and Los Angeles.

Paired Power, a commercial solar and battery energy storage system manufacturer, received a $3.5 million tax credit to expand its operations in Campbell as well as the Central Valley.

Collectively, these two companies will make nearly $130 million in capital investments and create more than 540 new, full-time jobs across California.

Governor Newsom at Moxion last year

🚗DESIGNING THE ELECTRIC MOTORS OF THE FUTURE

Tau Motors received a $7 million tax credit to further its R&D capabilities in Redwood City as it continues to partner with leading automakers, suppliers, and industry to rapidly design and deploy advanced technologies across a wide range of platforms and powertrains. In exchange, they will create more than 150 new jobs and invest nearly $60 million.

BIOTECH AND MORE

• MicroVention, based in Aliso Viejo, will use their award to further develop, manufacture and market medical technology products focused on the treatment of neurovascular diseases and cerebral aneurysms.
• Elve, headquartered in Davis, will use their award to expand manufacturing capacity for wireless communication networks.

List of Awards and Funding

Last month, Governor Newsom announced the creation of the California Jobs First Council focused on streamlining the state’s economic and workforce development programs to create more jobs, faster – including through the California Competes program.

The California Competes Tax Credit was created in 2013 to help businesses grow and stay in California. In 2022, the program was extended for an additional five years with at least $180 million in tax credits available for allocation to businesses each year through 2028. To date, California Competes has awarded tax credits to nearly 1,200 businesses, creating more than 158,000 jobs, and resulting in $50.5 billion of private investment in the state.

California’s economy is the 5th largest economy in the world. California, which has the most equitable tax system in the entire country, is #1 in the nation for new business starts, #1 for access to venture capital funding, and the #1 state for tourism spending, manufacturing, high-tech, and agriculture.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

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SACRAMENTO – In a return to pre-pandemic norms of stable job growth, California added 28,300 new jobs in March – the state’s seventh job gain in the last eight months. Seven of California’s major industry sectors gained jobs in March, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

March 2024 by the Numbers:

• California added 28,300 jobs in March – the state’s seventh job gain in the last eight months.
• Seven of California’s major industries added jobs in March, led by the private education and health services sector.
• Over the eight-month period from July 2023 through March 2024, California saw a net gain of 205,200 jobs–an average gain of 25,700 jobs per month.
• California’s jobs market expansion turned 47 months old in March and the state added 3,062,700 nonfarm jobs from April 2020 through March 2024, boosting total nonfarm employment 319,200 (1.8 percent) jobs above its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020.
• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.3 percent, which is in line with the state’s 5 percent average prior to the pandemic (2015-2019) and follows unemployment levels falling to historic lows during the post-pandemic recovery.

ICYMI:

• Unemployment insurance claims are down, company layoff notices are down, and California remains the world’s fifth largest economy—overperforming all but a handful of the world’s largest countries.
• California, which has the most equitable tax system in the entire country, is #1 in the nation for new business starts, #1 for access to venture capital funding, and #1 for tourism spending.
• Earlier this week, the Anaheim City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Walt Disney Company’s $1.9 billion DisneylandForward plan, which is estimated to generate $3.6 billion in economic output and create over 7,800 jobs over four years through new construction in California. Read Governor Newsom’s statement here.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

Explore more articles by category:  GO-Biz News  |  CalOSBA News  |  Press Releases  |  Opinion Editorials  |  Statements