Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced that the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) committee approved $57 million in tax credits for 29 companies projected to create 3,105 jobs and make $336 million worth of new capital equipment investments across California. View the complete list of approved companies and award amounts.

“In the last four years, over 900 companies have made commitments to expand in the state with the help of the California Competes Tax Credit.” said Will Koch, GO-Biz Deputy Director and Chair of the California Competes Tax Credit Committee. “This credit encourages companies from around the world to locate, expand and add good paying jobs in California, and GO-Biz will continue to educate and work with our regional and local partners to ensure companies of all sizes know about this important resource.”

GO-Biz Deputy Director Will Koch convened the committee, which includes Treasurer John Chiang, Director of the Department of Finance Michael Cohen, and Senate appointee Denise Zapata and Assembly appointee Madeleine Janis, in Sacramento.

In 2013, Governor Brown created the California Competes Tax Credit to focus on helping businesses grow and stay in California. Since 2014, GO-Biz has allocated $759 million to 957 companies projected to create 93,109 new jobs and make $17.4 billion in new investments.

About the California Competes Tax Credit
The California Competes Tax Credit is part of the Governor’s Economic Development Initiative (GEDI) which Governor Brown signed legislation to enact in 2013 (AB 93 and SB 90). GO-Biz evaluates the most competitive applications based on the factors required by statute, including total jobs created, total investment, average wage, economic impact, strategic importance and more.

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, www.business.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Address:
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 1-877-345-4633
Email Us

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Washington D.C. – For the fifth year running, the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) will lead a state-wide delegation of nine city and county economic development organizations to attract foreign direct investment to California at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2018 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, on June 20–22, 2018.  The theme for this year’s Summit is “Invest Here. Grow Here. Succeed Here,” focusing on bolstering the crucial connections between U.S. economic developers and international business investors.

GO-Biz is participating in this year’s annual SelectUSA Investment Summit with one of its largest and most diverse delegation to date. GO-Biz and its California delegate partners view the summit as a unique platform to connect with potential new business partners and showcase California’s exceptional value-proposition to the international marketplace. 

“The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier annual global event for engaging with high-caliber international companies and investors from around the world,” said Awinash Bawle, GO-Biz Deputy Director for International Affairs and Business Development. “The Summit provides an optimal opportunity for our local regions to present their individual assets, as well as work together with GO-Biz to highlight the resources and reasons why California is the number one destination for foreign direct investment in the United States.”  

Spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the summit is designed to attract and retain foreign investment in the United States in order to create jobs, spur economic growth, and promote American competitiveness.  The summit expects to welcome more than 3,000 participants to Washington, DC from approximately 64 countries and every corner of the United States. 

In conjunction with the larger SelectUSA Summit, GO-Biz will be hosting a separate—but related—Second Annual Select California event in partnership with the state-wide economic development network, in an effort to showcase the many advantages of investing in the Golden State. These sessions will offer potential investors a more intimate and in-depth learning opportunity as well as the chance to speak with representatives from GO-Biz and its partners one-on-one.

“California is a gateway for global growth and the 2nd annual Select California Investment Summit serves as an entry point for international businesses to connect with California investment opportunities and assets,” said Jason Law, GO-Biz Special Advisor for Foreign Investment and Affairs. “Our goal is to convene expansion ready businesses and local economic resources to catalyze interactions that deliver economic results.”

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in California plays an important role in catalyzing job growth, igniting innovation, increasing productivity and generating additional exports for the state’s economy.  Foreign investment supports over 5.1% of private industry employment—over 715,800 jobs in California. With California being a leader in cross-border international business projects, GO-Biz is dedicated to attracting businesses and investors looking to succeed in the state, which will create jobs and accelerate economic growth.  

For information on the Select California event, please contact Jason Law. 

Participating Organizations Include:

• Bay Area Council
• East Bay Economic Development Agency
• Fresno County Economic Development Corporation
• Greater Sacramento Economic Council
• Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation
• Madera County
• Rural County Representatives of California
• San Bernardino County
• World Trade Center Los Angeles

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, www.business.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Address:
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 1-877-345-4633
Email Us

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Sacramento, Calif. – As the 2018 California Cyber Innovation Challenge approaches, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo today announced the 20 teams of high school students that qualified to compete in the statewide challenge scheduled for June 23 and 24 at the University’s California Cybersecurity Institute  in San Luis Obispo, California.  

“As cybersecurity becomes increasingly important to protect public and personal data, these 20 teams from all over California represent the state’s ongoing investment in this field,” said Panorea Avdis, Director of GO-Biz. “GO-Biz is proud to join with our partners at California Workforce Development Board and Cal Poly and host an event for these students to demonstrate their talent and skill.”

Since GO-Biz announced the statewide competition earlier this year, teams of high school students from across California have competed in regional cybersecurity challenges in order to qualify for the statewide competition. These regional events were designed to replicate the many different threats that cybersecurity professionals face, from attacks on critical infrastructure to attempted breaches of consumer data on connected devices. Qualifying teams either won designated regional cybersecurity competitions or submitted applications to participate. In some cases, two teams from the same high school qualified for the statewide event. The participating teams include:

Central Coast 
Coast Union High School (Cambria)

Central Valley
Bakersfield Christian High School & Liberty High School (Bakersfield)
Centennial High School (Bakersfield)
Turlock High School (Turlock)
CART (Clovis)

East Bay
TriValley Coder Dojo (Dublin)
Amador Valley High School (Pleasanton)
The Athenian School (Danville)

South Bay
Lincoln High School (San Jose)

Inland Empire 
Martin Luther King High School 1 (Riverside)
Martin Luther King High School 2 (Riverside)

Los Angeles 
North Hollywood High School 1 (Los Angeles)
North Hollywood High School 2 (Los Angeles)

Orange County
Troy High School 1 (Fullerton)
Troy High School 2 (Fullerton)

Sacramento
Jesuit High School (Carmichael)
Monterey Trail High School (Elk Grove)
Monterey Trail High School (Elk Grove)

San Diego
Del Norte High School (San Diego)
Oak Valley Middle School, Design 39 Campus and Del Norte High School (San Diego)

The statewide competition expands access to technology career pathways and allows businesses to proactively support education and training for future cybersecurity leaders.

“Hosting the 2018 Cyber Innovation Challenge at Cal Poly’s California Cybersecurity Institute allows these students to test their skills at a world class training facility for Californians by Californians,” said California Cybersecurity Institute Director and Vice President of Information Technology William J. “Bill” Britton.

GO-Biz is partnering with several institutions dedicated to reinforcing California’s leadership position in cybersecurity to host the California Cyber Innovation Challenge. The California Workforce Development Board provided the seed funding for this event and has helped to fund the competition for the past two years. Other partners include Cal Poly, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Technology, and California Cyberhub.

NOTE: The California Cyber Innovation Challenge is free and open to the public. To attend, please register.

About Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, four-year, comprehensive public university located in San Luis Obispo, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California’s Central Coast. It’s a distinctive learning community offering academically focused students a hands-on educational experience that prepares them for today’s scientific and technical world. Cal Poly is consistently ranked a top university for academics, value and graduates’ salaries.

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, www.business.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Address:
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 1-877-345-4633
Email Us

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Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced that the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) committee approved $76 million in tax credits for 63 companies projected to create 6,166 jobs and make $490 million worth of new capital equipment investments across California. View the complete list of approved companies and award amounts.

“The California Competes Tax Credit encourages companies from around the world to locate, expand and add good paying jobs in California,” said Panorea Avdis, GO-Biz Director and Chair of the California Competes Tax Credit Committee. “In the last four years, hundreds of companies have made commitments to expand in the state and GO-Biz will continue to host informational workshops and work with our regional and local partners to ensure companies of all sizes know about and apply for these tax credits.”

GO-Biz Director Panorea Avdis convened the committee, which includes Treasurer John Chiang, director of the Department of Finance Michael Cohen, and Senate appointee Denise Zapata and Assembly appointee Madeleine Janis, in Sacramento. 

In 2013, Governor Brown created the California Competes Tax Credit to focus on helping businesses grow and stay in California. Since 2014, GO-Biz has allocated nearly $700 million to 928 companies projected to create 89,580 new jobs and make $16.2 billion in new investments.

“As a growing, woman-owned business, I look for opportunities to expand the capacity of our core operations so we can compete on a global scale,” said Mina Doshi, President, INTA Technologies. “The California Competes tax credit we were just awarded gives us the ability to invest back into the company by hiring staff, buying equipment and offering additional services to our customers.”

About California Competes

The California Competes tax credit is part of the Governor’s Economic Development Initiative (GEDI) which Governor Brown signed legislation to enact in 2013 (AB 93 and SB 90). GO-Biz evaluates the most competitive applications based on the factors required by statute, including total jobs created, total investment, average wage, economic impact, strategic importance and more. 

Companies are exempted from paying state income taxes in the amount awarded.

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, www.business.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Address:
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 1-877-345-4633
Email Us

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San Luis Obispo, Calif. – As part of California’s continued leadership in strengthening career pathways for cybersecurity, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and Cal Poly today announced the 2018 California Cyber Innovation Challenge, set for June 22-25. Twenty teams of high school students will compete at the California Cyber Training Complex (CCTC) in San Luis Obispo, California, on June 23-25, following a cybersecurity workforce development summit on Friday, June 22.  

“Every day, California companies deliver ground-breaking technological advances – from the Internet of Things to artificial intelligence, 3D printing and nanotechnology,” said GO-Biz Director Panorea Avdis. “This program will help students across California gain new technical skills to spur new innovation and strengthen cybersecurity.” 

“In addition to training students on cyber forensics, we will provide hands-on learning opportunities for the next generation of cyber defenders,” said Cal Poly Cybersecurity Center Director and Vice President of Information Technology William J. “Bill” Britton. “Being a part of the Innovation Challenge is a big step toward realizing that goal of strengthening cybersecurity.” 

Over the next few months, teams of high school students from across California will compete in timed cybersecurity challenges designed to replicate the many different threats that cybersecurity professionals face, including attacks on critical infrastructure and attempted breaches of consumer data on connected devices. Eight winners from designated regional cybersecurity competitions will earn automatic entry to the statewide tournament in San Luis Obispo, and the remainder will come from an “at-large” selection process that will draw teams from areas that do not currently have regional competitions.

The 2018 event will include a digital forensics challenge and other challenges with an overall focus on highlighting the importance of cybersecurity in healthcare. In addition, the Cyber Innovation Challenge will feature a new dual-division structure comprised of veteran and newcomer teams.

GO-Biz in partnership with Cal Poly will lead a half-day summit on workforce development and career pathway issues and opportunities around cybersecurity on Friday, June 22, in San Luis Obispo. Agenda details on the summit are forthcoming.

Register to attend the free California Cyber Innovation Challenge. 

High schools interested in joining the competition and sponsors seeking to support the competition can email Jesse Torres. 

About Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, four-year, comprehensive public university located in San Luis Obispo, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California’s Central Coast. Known for its Learn by Doing approach, small class sizes and open access to expert faculty, Cal Poly is a distinctive learning community whose 21,000 academically motivated students enjoy an unrivaled hands-on educational experience that prepares them to lead successful personal and professional lives. Cal Poly is consistently ranked a top university for academics, value and graduate’s salaries. For more information,
visit Cal Poly. 

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, www.business.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Address:
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 1-877-345-4633
Email Us

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Sacramento, Calif. – The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) today held its first Innovation Day bringing together key stakeholders from its statewide Innovation Hub (iHub) Network along with partners engaged in the U.S. Department of Defense funded California Advanced Supply Chain Analysis and Diversification Effort (CASCADE). GO-Biz also launched a California Cybersecurity Labor Market Survey to identify the cybersecurity workforce needs of employers in California.

“Every day people use technology that was developed in California,” said Panorea Avdis, Director, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “Today’s event will support the next generation of entrepreneurs who will impact the way we interact with one another and the world around us.”

Thirty stakeholders from across the state participated in a series of meetings with leaders from the California Assembly, Senate and various state agencies on topics ranging from cybersecurity, defense industry supplier diversification, economic development, startup support and workforce development. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure greater partnership development between the public and private sectors.

“As California seeks to grow our innovation ecosystem it is critically important that we develop and nurture a 21st century workforce to keep pace with our startups,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County). “It was valuable to speak with our iHub partners and stakeholders on this issue as part of Innovation Day, and I look forward to further analyzing the issue at our joint hearing today on Career Technical Education and Building a 21st Century Workforce.”  

Moreover, the day included a special training and overview on the CASCADE program, including interactions with University of California, California State University systems as well as Caltech and Stanford graduate students participating in the “California Council on Science and Technology.” 

In conjunction with the Innovation Day, GO-Biz also launched a California Cybersecurity Labor Market Survey in partnership with the California Community Colleges Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research (COE). The purpose of the survey is to allow the state to better understand the cybersecurity workforce needs of employers in California. 

GO-Biz Director Avdis concluded, “Ten years from now, multiple sectors from aerospace to defense to autonomous vehicles will rely on a cybersecure platform. For California to continue to be an industry leader, we must impress upon our business, education, and workforce partners the importance of cyber security and resiliency.” 

The California Cybersecurity Labor Market Survey can be accessed at https://www.CAGoBizCyberStudy.com. View the Innovation Day Agenda. 

About CASCADE
The California Advanced Supply Chain Analysis & Diversification Effort (CASCADE) is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Defense to bolster California’s defense supply chain cybersecurity resilience, innovation capacity and diversification strategies, and to support the growth and sustainment of California’s Cybersecurity workforce through cybersecurity-related education curricula, training and apprenticeship programs.

CASCADE is being led by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). The CASCADE program includes 15 funded projects in partnership with government, industry, community, and academic institutions.

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, www.business.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Address:
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: 1-877-345-4633
Email Us

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