Bakersfield, CA – Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), today introduced the complete membership of the 2022 Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility Task Force (EEMTF) at the California Economic Summit organized by California Forward.

With the support of CalOSBA, the mission of the 2022 Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility Task Force (EEMTF) is to propel inclusive entrepreneurship by recommending policies and programs to ensure that all California small businesses have access to the resources they need to grow and scale.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to tap into the experiences and perspectives of these thirty-four Task Force members to help address the challenges faced by small business owners,” said Director Gray. Our roster has been carefully curated to truly represent the diversity of background, geography and perspective that make California so powerful on the global stage. Together we will form a bridge to small businesses and help California maintain its entrepreneurial and innovation leadership.”

Additionally, during the California Economic Summit, Director Gray facilitated a plenary panel discussion about California’s economy featuring Task Force members Carolina Martinez, CEO of CAMEO, Jason Paguio, President and CEO of the Asian Business Association San Diego and the Asian Business Association Foundation, and Lorraine Salazar, 2nd generation partner of Sal’s Mexican Restaurants in the Central Valley.

“As a second-generation family business entrepreneur, I look forward to working with leadership and my fellow task force members to inform policy that helps small business entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and build and protect generational wealth,” said Lorraine Salazar, regarding her role as a new member of the 2022 Entrepreneurship and Economic Mobility Task Force.

The activities and deliverables of the 2022 Entrepreneurship and Economic Mobility Task Force will expand upon the work completed by the 2019 Entrepreneurship Task Force and focus on three main subject areas:

• Democratizing Access to Capital
• Diversifying the Innovation Economy
• Driving Economic Mobility through Entrepreneurship

CalOSBA had previously announced the selection of Task Force leadership: Chair Lenny Mendonca, former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and small business owner in Half Moon Bay, as well as Vice-Chairs Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and Gurinder S. Ahluwalia, Director of Hightower Advisors and a co-founder of fintech capital markets company 280 CapMarkets.

To recognize the new members, CalOSBA and CDFI Access Plus Capital hosted a breakfast for the 2022 EEMTF members, local Chambers of Commerce and small-business owners who attended the California Economic Summit.

For more information about the Task Force, including the names and bios of its members, please click 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.

About CalOSBA
The Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs have the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient. The CalOSBA serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed. For more information visit the website.

Heather Purcell
Deputy Director of Communications
Email Heather, HERE

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

First round of Community Economic Resilience Fund awards provides $5 million each to regional economic planning entities to chart equitable, resilient future for California’s economy

SACRAMENTO – State leaders today announced the first round of awards for the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF), a new state initiative supporting innovative plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create family-sustaining, broadly-accessible jobs for all Californians. As part of CERF’s initial planning phase, 13 economic development entities known as High Road Transition Collaboratives will receive $5 million each to develop roadmaps, including a strategy and recommended series of investments, for their region. Following this planning phase, the program’s implementation phase will begin in 2023 and provide $500 million to fund projects identified by the High Road Transition Collaboratives.

High Road Transition Collaboratives represent California’s 13 distinct regional economies and bring together diverse community, labor, industry, and business interests. Awardees were selected through a competitive bidding process based on their readiness and commitment to conduct inclusive planning processes that engage various community groups, including voices that have been traditionally left out of economic planning.

CERF was created by Senate Bill 162 and is administered by an interagency leadership team that includes the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and the Labor & Workforce Development Agency.

“We have an incredible opportunity to harness once-in-a-generation Federal and State investments to build a low carbon economy that creates family-supporting jobs,” said Samuel Assefa, Director of the Office of Planning and Research. “We are thrilled to announce the CERF planning phase partnerships with organizations representing labor, community, business, and industry leaders to chart an inclusive and equitable economic future for all Californians.”

“This announcement signifies a major step forward in economic development, as regional coalitions have come together across California ready to roll up their sleeves and build regional economic development strategies that will create more inclusive and vibrant economies built on a foundation of equity,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development. “As California and our federal partners work collaboratively to make significant investments to support local economies, these High Road Transition Collaboratives will play a major part in guiding these dollars to ensure the greatest impact for all Californians.”

“CERF embodies the recognition that California’s diverse regions each have their own challenges and opportunities and, as such, require a tailored approach to economic and workforce development,” said Stewart Knox, Secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency. “Through this first-of-its-kind state investment, California is empowering regions with the tools and funding to chart their own futures in a manner that is inclusive and equitable.”

High Road Transition Collaboratives – Planning Phase Awardees:

North State
Fiscal Agent: North State Planning and Development Collective – Chico State Enterprises
Regional Convener: Partnership between Sierra Institute for Community and Environment And North State Planning and Development Collective – Chico State Enterprises

Sacramento
Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener: Valley Vision, Inc.

Redwood Coast
Fiscal Agent: Arcata Economic Development Corporation
Regional Convener: California Center for Rural Policy at CalPoly Humboldt

Bay Area
Fiscal Agent: Bay Area Good Jobs Partnership for Equity, with the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development as the Fiscal Lead
Regional Convener: All Home

Northern San Joaquin Valley
Fiscal Agent: Merced Community College District
Regional Convener: County of Merced, Department of Workforce Investment

Eastern Sierra
Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener: Sierra Business Council

Central San Joaquin Valley
Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener: Central Valley Community Foundation

Orange County
Fiscal Agent: Charitable Ventures of Orange County
Regional Convener: Orange County Business Council

Los Angeles County
Fiscal Agent: California Community Foundation
Regional Convener: The Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County

Kern County
Fiscal Agent: Kern Community College District
Regional Convener: Kern Coalition, a partnership between Better Bakersfield and Boundless Kern, Community Action Partnership of Kern, Kern Inyo and Mono Central Labor Council, Building Healthy Communities, and Kern Community College District

Central Coast
Fiscal Agent: Economic Development Collaborative
Regional Convener: Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH)

Inland Empire
Fiscal Agent: Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF)
Regional Convener: Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) & Inland Empire Labor Institute (IELI)

Southern Border
Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener: San Diego State University (SDSU)

For more information on each of the High Road Transition Collaboratives, please see the CERF Round 1 Planning Phase Awards – Executive Summaries.

In response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2021-22 Budget included $600 million for CERF to ensure that California’s economy creates high-quality, family-supporting jobs, advances California’s climate agenda, and helps the state’s industries to build long term resilience against climate-caused and other economic disruptions.

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.

About the Labor & Workforce Development Agency
The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency oversees seven major departments, boards and panels that serve California workers and businesses by improving access to employment and training programs, enforcing California labor laws to protect workers and create an even playing field for employers, and administering benefits that include workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, disability insurance and paid family leave.

About the Office of Planning and Research
The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research serves as California’s Comprehensive Land Use Planning Agency. OPR studies future research and planning needs, fosters cross-agency collaboration, and provides guidance and support to state partners, local communities, and California Native American Tribes with a focus on land use and community development, climate risk and resilience, and equity.

Media Contact:
Emily Breslin, Deputy Director of Communications and External Affairs
Emily.breslin@opr.ca.gov
916-601-3236

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

Long Beach, CA – Today, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), Labor, Renewables 100, alongside state and local officials, formally announced the formation of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a shared not-for-profit LLC public-private partnership designed to accelerate hydrogen’s contribution to decarbonizing the economy in California and beyond.

The Alliance has been designed as a flexible structure with two complementary, interconnected objectives: establish a federally co-funded renewable hydrogen hub in the California region, and create an economically sustainable, and expanding, renewable hydrogen market in California and beyond. ARCHES will be governed by a representative board and key advisory committees, including environmental justice, organized labor, cities and public sector projects, who, along with industrial sector representatives, will have seats on the board.

The Alliance’s first task is to submit California’s single, state-wide application for federal hydrogen hub funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). $8 billion in funding is available to fund between six to ten hubs nationally, with a maximum award of $1.25 billion. If awarded, these funds will be a lynchpin in California’s nation-leading climate commitments, including our record five-year, $53.9 billion climate package achieved through partnership between the Governor and legislative leaders. This includes $100 million allocated in the 2022 Budget to advance the demonstration and scale-up of hydrogen projects that produce, process, deliver, store or use hydrogen from renewable energy resources. These projects will help reduce sector-wide emissions in geographically diverse areas of the state and prioritize air quality, equity, health, and workforce benefits.

“California is leading the nation – and the world – in the fight against climate change,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re more prepared and better positioned than any other state to build a federal hydrogen hub to continue our rapid progress toward a carbon neutral economy. We look forward to working with our critical partners to deliver lasting results that will be felt by every family in California – clearer air, better jobs, and greater resilience as we face climate change head-on.”

“This an opportunity for California to again create new markets that spring from our robust environmental policies,” said GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers. “Having one state-wide application sends a signal to DOE—California is serious about working together to build our hydrogen economy.”

Success on this project means that hydrogen will accelerate electrification across multiple sectors while opening opportunities to bring zero-emission solutions to multiple, hard to electrify sectors, including heavy industry. It means the ARCHES system will increase confidence, enabling exponential growth in private capital—the capital ultimately needed to scale the market and drive costs down for everyone. And it means clean air, especially for those who have suffered the most, along with the creation of green jobs and economic growth across the state.

“Hydrogen provides an extremely promising pathway to eradicate toxic and carcinogenic diesel emissions and the burden they create on frontline communities throughout the state,” said Eli Lipmen, Executive Director of Move LA, a coalition building nonprofit. “We look forward to continue working with ARCHES to further build a coalition that will ensure these historic investments deliver direct benefits to our most impacted communities.”

This partnership relies on the globally recognized intellectual capital of the entire University of California (UC) System and the three National Labs that the UC oversees—in partnership with the State of California, leading cities, organized labor, industry, and NGOs—with a foundation of strong state policies, in collaboration with the communities all of us serve.

“Today, the University of California is building on a strong commitment to climate action by co-leading the new, public-private Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems,” said University of California President Michael V. Drake. “For decades, UC faculty have worked to advance clean hydrogen technology as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. We’re grateful that the federal government is making substantial investments in these solutions, and we’re thrilled to partner across sectors to ensure a just, equitable energy transition for Californians.”

“One of the key lessons we’ve learned in the more than twenty years of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (now the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership) is that success requires active collaboration between government, industry, NGOs, and communities,” said Joe Cappello, Chair, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership and CEO of Iwatani of North America. “ARCHES is set up to foster partnerships like we have, and our members are committed to its success in California and beyond.”

The California State Legislature is committed as well.

“California’s budget action that enabled ARCHES gives us the potential to go big on clean hydrogen with the help of federal dollars,” said State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). “A federal hydrogen hub grant could mean hundreds of millions of dollars or more for cleaner air in California through replacing dirty diesel trucks, port equipment, and more with clean, renewable hydrogen. And my bill, SB 1075, shows that California is ready to lead the nation in planning for a robust, clean hydrogen future.”

Local leaders, including the City of Los Angeles and Long Beach, are actively supporting ARCHES.

“Here in California, we know that our leadership in clean energy is a down payment on the health and well-being of local families, workers, and communities for generations to come,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Los Angeles is ground zero when it comes to new solutions to combat the climate crisis, and through this collaboration with ARCHES, our City will be well-positioned to continue leading the transition to a zero-carbon future.”

“Hydrogen power represents a tremendous opportunity—both for our state and for cities like Long Beach,” said Long Beach Mayor Garcia. “We’re looking forward to California leading the way through investment in sustainable technology.”

A successful building of renewable hydrogen generation, distribution, storage, and end-use infrastructure relies on a robust, diverse, and well-trained workforce.

“Labor has been with ARCHES since the beginning. We have the skilled and trained workforce required for this opportunity, and beyond,” said Chris Hannan, Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. “ARCHES’ efforts will not only deliver clean energy for the future, but it will also deliver lifelong careers for this and our next generations.”

This initiative also has bipartisan support.

“It is an honor to be a part of such a dedicated group that shares our vision for a sustainable future. It takes a team to change the world and I am confident that the ARCHES consortium will accelerate the development and deployment of clean, renewable hydrogen projects and infrastructure with the full support and commitment from the City of Lancaster,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “Thank you to GO-Biz for gathering us all together. I look forward to a hydrogen-powered future!”

As next steps in the application process, hydrogen hub concept papers are due to the U.S. DOE by November 7, 2022, and full proposals are due by April 7, 2023.

More information about ARCHES can be found online 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.

Heather Purcell
Deputy Director of Communications
Email Heather, HERE

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

Sacramento, CA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that a grant totaling $600,000 has been awarded to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) as part of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) – a federally funded grant program that aims to increase export activities among small businesses. The STEP program has helped thousands of small businesses across California obtain grants and identify customers in the global marketplace by covering various costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.

For the first time, the California STEP grant will be overseen and administered exclusively by the GO-Biz International Affairs and Trade team. Since the inception of the program in 2011, the State of California has received approximately $8.5 million in STEP funding. “As Governor Newsom’s representative for international affairs and trade development, I know how critical the STEP program is to helping California’s small businesses. In the past decade, more than 1,200 California small businesses have participated in overseas activities through STEP, which has generated more than $85 million in export sales – a true indication of the economic resiliency that exporting can support,” said California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Emily Desai, Deputy Director of International Affairs and Trade at GO-Biz noted, “Exporting businesses grow their sales faster, create more jobs, and pay their employees more than non-exporting businesses. With this new round of STEP funding, we are looking forward to working with our partners across the state to ensure those benefits are made available to even more California small businesses, particularly those that have historically lacked access to economic opportunity.”

Visit GO-Biz’s new California STEP website for more information and review the Program Details page to learn about how California small businesses can qualify for up to $10,000 in funding for export promotion activities.

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.

Heather Purcell
Deputy Director of Communications
Email Heather, HERE

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

Sacramento, CA – Today, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced a new Space Industry Task Force, to be led by GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers.  

The announcement first came from Governor Gavin Newsom at yesterday’s All California Defense Leadership Summit, hosted by the Association of Defense Communities with the California Defense Communities Alliance and California Governor’s Military Council in Sacramento. There, more than 200 military, defense and community leaders and stakeholders throughout California gathered to share challenges and solutions to national security issues throughout the state. Key leaders at the event targeted opportunities to grow the space industrial sector in the state and discussed initiatives to enhance existing defense capabilities.

As a global leader in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, California will pursue opportunities to improve its position and harness future growth in the space industry, both commercial and military, with the formation of this new Task Force. Partnering with GO-Biz in this work will be leaders from the Governor’s Military Council, the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

“California is truly a star when it comes to aerospace. We have a long list of unique assets that make us the perfect home for this critical and exciting industry, and we are committed to taking the nation’s space program to the next frontier,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

California is already home to nearly one-third of all American space tech companies, and more than one in ten of those globally. In the last 11 years, California has attracted nearly half of the nation’s space tech investment capital. This year alone, California has brought in more than 85% of the total capital invested in United States, space-related companies.

“America’s best-trained and most-experienced aerospace and technology workforce lives and works here. In total, we are home to the nation’s largest concentration of military personnel. I know this task force will create amazing opportunities for all Californians,” said GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, Dee Dee Myers. “This industry provides more than 500,000 high-paying jobs and generates more than $66 billion in annual economic activity. That’s more than the agricultural and entertainment industries combined – and it generates more than $7 billion in state and local taxes.”

Director Myers, as the daughter of a Naval aviator, has experienced firsthand the sector’s deep roots in California and what it means for the state’s families and economy.

In partnering with the space industry, the Task Force will work to bring incredible opportunities to California, including:

• Attracting and catalyzing new businesses, including international businesses
• Expanding existing aerospace and space businesses
• Growing California’s workforce and providing more well-paying jobs
• Expanding research and development in aerospace and advanced manufacturing
• Building more testing and launch capability
• Working with California’s higher education system to create potential new career paths and fill the expanded need for skills such as quantum physics and AI; and
• Creating new models for public/private cooperation, such as allowing private investments in Department of Defense infrastructure

Additionally, California is proud to offer significant financial incentives to industry leaders. GO-Biz’s signature investment program, CalCompetes, has awarded close to $200 million in tax credits and grants to aerospace companies since 2019.

With the state’s support, Relativity Space leased a former Boeing manufacturing facility in Long Beach and committed to creating over a thousand new jobs there and at their second launch site at Vandenberg. Their massive 1 million square foot Long Beach facility has the largest 3D printers in the world, which will produce the full-scale space technologies necessary to make a Mars mission possible. CalCompetes also provided Astra with the capital needed to expand both manufacturing and research-and-development capabilities at their facility in Alameda. ​

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.

Heather Purcell
Deputy Director of Communications
Email Heather, HERE

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

August 1, 2022, Sacramento, CA — One hundred low-income electric vehicle (EV) owners in the San Joaquin Valley are receiving reloadable contactless debit cards to use at EV charging stations as part of a demonstration project launched today by Valley Clean Air Now (Valley CAN) and the State of California.

Funded by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), this nine-month Universal ZEV (Zero-Emission Vehicle) Equity Charging Card demonstration project plans to increase equitable access to EV charging stations and help remove barriers to EV ownership while building off the efforts of Valley CAN, a non-profit organization that works to improve air quality and quality of life in disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley, stretching from Lodi to Bakersfield.

“Valley CAN is committed to reducing carbon emissions in our region, which has some of the worst air quality in the United States,” says Tom Knox, Executive Director of Valley CAN. “We know the average EV driver saves money by driving electric, from lower fuel costs to lower repair and maintenance costs. But not everyone can install a charging station at home. Helping our EV-owning low-income residents access the public EV charging infrastructure with a prepaid contactless debit card is an equitable way to ensure the success of Drive Clean in the San Joaquin and Clean Cars 4 All.”

The initial participants purchased their EV through the Valley Air District’s Drive Clean in the San Joaquin vehicle replacement program and qualify for the state’s $1,000 EV public charging credit—funds that could be used for installing a residential charger or for using public charging stations, but only if a participant has a contactless bank card that works at any charging station. Valley CAN is sending each participant a Mastercard debit card—preloaded with $50 in charging credit—issued by Prepaid Technologies. Each card is reloaded with an additional $50 per week, up to a total of $1,000 in benefits, and carries a maximum balance of $250 at any time.

“The Universal ZEV Equity Charging Card demonstration project bridges the equity gap, enabling participants to have more choice and convenience in how they receive their state benefits as an EV owner,” says Gia Vacin, Assistant Deputy Director of ZEV Market Development with GO-Biz. “Each EV helps us reach the state’s goals of 5 million ZEVs on California roads by 2030 and 100% of new cars sales by 2035; a healthy, equitable used ZEV market is also key to achieving these.”

As the implementing agency of the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) successful Clean Cars 4 All initiative to take older gas-powered vehicles off the road, the Valley Air District works with program administrator Valley CAN to match low-income residents with up to $9,500 toward the purchase of a used plug-in battery electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). To qualify for Clean Cars for All, an applicant’s household income must be at or below 400% of federal poverty level.

Drive Clean in the San Joaquin is one program under the state’s Clean Cars 4 All program. Clean Cars 4 All is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment, and providing meaningful benefits to the most disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households.

Caltrans’ California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP)—a statewide initiative to ensure that al Californians have access to mobility options and a contactless open-loop way to pay for them using a credit or debit card or mobile wallet—serves as project manager for this demonstration, having successfully led contactless open-loop payment demonstrations with public transit agencies in Monterey-Salinas, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara County.

The contactless debit cards help fill a gap for the more than a quarter of Californians who do not have a bank account (unbanked) or do not regularly use checks, debit, or credit cards for purchases (underbanked)—and would have no easy way to pay at EV charging stations. In 2019, 7% of California residents were estimated to be unbanked and 19% were estimated to be underbanked, statistics that mirror the national average of 25% of U.S. residents being unbanked or underbanked. Cal-ITP has been developing an approach to providing payment accounts to underbanked and unbanked Californians, effectively using the need to pay for EV charging as well as public transit as a catalyst for addressing financial inclusion in low-income and other target communities.

“As the state transitions to more secure contactless payment technologies, it is important that access and support during this transition is equitable. Our goal is to unlock this market, helping set the standard that contactless bank cards can be the payment method for all, including 10.3 million unbanked and underbanked California residents,” says Caltrans California Integrated Mobility Program Manager Gillian Gillett, who leads Cal-ITP. “The demand and the need are evident, and we’re excited to be working with payment solutions program managers and financial services companies to meet these needs for all Californians.”

“At Prepaid Technologies, we’re focused on helping our customers solve their payments challenges,” said Stephen Faust, CEO, Prepaid Technologies. “We’re proud to partner with Mastercard to provide Valley CAN a financially inclusive, contactless payment solution for these EV owners.”

Funding for this project is a part of the state’s $5 million investment from the 2021–’22 budget meant to accelerate implementation of the ZEV Market Development Strategy, which focuses on increasing awareness and access to ZEVs in the hardest to reach communities and expanding tools that help convert this awareness into decisions to drive or ride in ZEVs. In total, California is investing more than $10 billon to expand ZEV access and affordability and support the build-out of infrastructure across the state.

For more information about this demonstration project, contact Alexander.Guendulain@valleycan.org.

About this demonstration project’s stakeholders

Valley CAN
Valley Clean Air Now (Valley CAN), is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to quantifiably reducing air emissions in California’s San Joaquin Valley, an eight-county region with the worst air quality in the United States. Valley CAN seeks to improve public health and quality of life in disadvantaged communities by qualifying low-income residents for multiple incentive-based programs, including vehicle repair and replacement programs that aim to reduce air pollution, address climate issues, and reduce transportation costs. In 10 years, Valley CAN has helped 110,000 valley families repair and replace cars. valleycan.org

GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth, economic development, and business assistance efforts. GOBiz has a team dedicated to cultivating opportunities that accelerate zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) market growth to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals and deliver benefits to all Californians. You can follow the GO-Biz ZEV team’s efforts by subscribing to their newsletter, following @CAGoBiz on Twitter, and searching for #GOBiz across social media platforms. business.ca.gov/zev

CARB
The mission of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards. Learn more about Clean Cars 4 All and California Climate Investments.

Cal-ITP
The California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP) was established by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to both improve and encourage the use of multimodal travel throughout California—by enabling contactless open-loop payments, automating customer discounts, and standardizing information for easy multimodal trip planning. Learn more at calitp.org and on @California_ITP on Twitter,
or by subscribing to the Caltrans Mobility Newsletter. And visit Cal-ITP’s CAMobilityMarketplace.org for a catalog of code-compliant products and services for public mobility providers, including contactless payment acceptance hardware and software.

Prepaid Technologies
Founded and based in Birmingham, Alabama, Prepaid Technologies is a fintech solution and payments program manager with thousands of customers, providing innovative digital payment solutions, driven by a proprietary technology stack, including payroll, expense, gift, reward, and incentive card products to employers, financial institutions, and government agencies. Prepaid Technologies goes to market under the product suite name of Dash. Learn more at inprepaid.com.

Heather Purcell
Deputy Director of Communications
Email Heather, HERE

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