CHICO, Calif. — In an April 10, 2025 announcement, Governor Newsom and the California Jobs First Council Co-Chairs announced that the United States Economic Development Administration, or EDA, has formally accepted all thirteen Jobs First regional plans as Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies, or CEDS.

This acceptance marks the first time in California’s history that all 482 cities, 58 counties and every community have a federally recognized strategy, creating new opportunities to attract and leverage investments in the implementation of these plans.

The announcement includes the North State Regional Strategic Plan developed by the North State region of Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties.

In a letter to the North State Planning and Development Collective (the Collective) at Chico State from Jeffrey A. Hays, Economic Development Representative for Arizona/California (Seattle Regional Office), Hays wrote, “We commend your collaboration for its good efforts, and we look forward to working with you as you continue to address the economic development planning and implementation needs of the North State Region.”

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment and the Collective were awarded $5 million in 2022 to serve as Co-Conveners for the CA Jobs First North State region, guiding input and collaborative sessions across the North State to develop roadmaps for the region, resulting in the North State Regional Strategic Plan.

The plan will complement and work in tandem with the existing CEDS developed by 3CORE, Inc. (Butte, Glenn, Tehama counties), Superior California Economic Development Corporation (Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity counties) and the Sierra Economic Development District (Plumas, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, and Sierra counties) to support the region and leverage additional funding opportunities.

“Collaboration is key to successful, regional economic development,” said Jason Schwenkler, executive director for Collective. “The EDA’s acceptance of the North State Regional plan reinforces the hard work our region has put into unifying for the good of the region. We look forward to working alongside our regional Economic Development District Partners and agencies to support existing strategies as we move forward as a region to further economic prosperity in the North State,” he said.

The U.S. EDA, along with many other federal agencies, requires an approved CEDS for communities to be eligible for funding from a wide variety of programs that promote economic, infrastructure, and workforce development.

The approval of these plans also positions California’s regions to further advocate for financial resources from many funders, including philanthropy, private investors, Community Development Financial Institutions, and Community Reinvestment Act bankers.

For additional information about the CA Jobs First in the North State Region, visit www.nspdc.csuchico.edu.