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 during 2025 to support workforce training and job creation across the state’s 13 economic regions. According to state officials, these efforts trained more than 142,000 workers and led to the creation of over 61,000 new jobs.
The event also marked the celebration of Orange County’s Jobs First regional plan, which aims to strengthen sectors such as life sciences, high-tech industries, advanced manufacturing, 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 in 2023 after a statewide planning process initiated in 2021, California Jobs First established regionally-led collaboratives involving labor groups, businesses, government entities, educational institutions, environmental justice advocates and other community organizations. These groups developed economic plans tailored to their areas’ strategic industry sectors.
In early 2025, the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint was introduced to provide a statewide vision focused on ten strategic sectors informed by regional plans. Funding began flowing into communities soon after.
Among notable investments in 2025:
– The Regional Investment Initiative awarded $80 million for implementation funding across seven regions targeting aerospace and defense, life sciences, agtech and farm equipment.
– A separate $15 million supported projects with 14 Native American tribes focused on job training and business growth.
– The LA Jobs First Collaborative received $3 million for wildfire recovery efforts benefiting Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities.
– Through tax credits under California Competes program, 21 companies committed $2.56 billion in capital investment resulting in over 4,500 new jobs.
– Film & Television Tax Credits went to 155 projects expected to generate nearly $5 billion in economic activity and create more than 33,000 cast and crew jobs.
– Over $82 million was invested through Employment Training Panel contracts supporting training for more than 70,000 workers.
– Apprenticeship expansion saw over $91 million awarded to benefit more than 69,000 apprentices statewide.
– High Road Training Partnerships received $18.5 million aimed at underserved populations seeking career advancement.
– STEP grants assisted over 200 small businesses with export activities generating $33 million in sales.
California also invested further into emerging “bet” sectors such as quantum technology through initiatives like Quantum California launched in November 2025.
“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, and we look forward to supporting the next wave of high-impact projects across all thirteen regions.”
“Through California Jobs First, we’re strengthening the pathways that connect people to stable careers in growing industries. In 2025 we expanded training apprenticeship and regional partnerships across California,” said Stewart Knox Secretary of the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. “This year we’re scaling that work so more Californians can access clear routes into good-paying jobs.”
Orange County’s plan focuses on medtech as a critical sector employing more than 21,000 locally; statewide there are over 13,600 medtech companies accounting for about one-third of U.S. medical device industry revenue.
The California Jobs First Council met throughout last year with leaders from four regions — Redwood Coast Bay Area Capitol Southern Border — discussing economic priorities including tribal needs. An Investment Summit held in San Francisco allowed project leads from across regions to pitch ideas directly to private funders.
Workforce alignment was strengthened through release of a Master Plan for Career Education designed by the Labor & Workforce Development Agency aiming at serving half a million apprentices by 2029.
Governor Newsom signed legislation (AB130/SB131) intended to streamline construction processes including those affecting advanced manufacturing projects while updating General Plan Guidelines via his Office of Land Use & Climate Innovation. The Business Ready Sites Program now offers an online tool showing available sites suitable for industrial or research facilities.
Looking ahead into summer 2026 another round of Regional Investment Initiative funding will distribute $45 million while a second investment summit will invite pitches from all regions seeking additional private support.
California remains ranked as one of world’s largest economies with leadership positions nationally in business starts venture capital manufacturing high-tech agriculture — bolstered by recent record-high tourism spending.Newsom has engaged with communities across California promoting unity effective governance; he draws on experience from both business local government backgrounds.He was elected governor in 2018.He supports initiatives that strengthen community unity opportunity throughout California.
