top of page
GreenIE-MainImageSlide4.jpg

CA Jobs First Initiative

Catalyst Funding Process

Round One

Awardees

Background

In 2021, Governor Newsom launched the $600 million Regional Investment Initiative to create quality jobs and bolster California's resilience to climate and global challenges.

What is Catalyst Funding?

Thrive Inland SoCal received $14 million in Catalyst Funding,

$9 million of which goes to advance sector-specific pre-development projects from early and near-completion stages to "ready-to-go" status, facilitating access to various funding sources.

Project Decisions

Thrive Inland SoCal co-conveners IEGO and the Inland Empire Labor Institute have relationships with a wide range of organizations outside of the work we do through California Jobs First. We do not have decision making authority with regard to Catalyst funding nor are we able to give preferential points to any project. Read the evaluation and approval process below to understand how project decisions are reached. 

Funding Rounds

Round 3

Coming

2025

Utilization of Funds

All funds must be expensed by September 2026

Application Stages

Stage 1:

Idea submissions are made online, requiring a brief narrative and checklist for self-evaluation against relevant criteria.

Stage 2:

Submissions are reviewed by an external organization and sorted into three funding lanes based on self-selection and external assessments, with reviewers deciding the final placement.

Funding Lanes:

Lane A:

Exploratory

(Up to $25k per project)

  • Early phase ideas

 

Lane B:

Planning

(Up to $250k per project)

  • Ready for investment, job creation started

 

Lane C:

Last-mile

(Up to $1 mil. per project)

  • Needs final funding to begin development

Evaluation & Approval

01

3rd Party Evaluation

  • Categorization based on stage, capital needs, funding sources, and strategy relevance

02

Review Committee

  • Composed of 3-5 volunteers per group.

  • Conflict-of-interest declaration required

03

Final Approval

  • Top projects go to Inclusive Planning Council

  •  Simple majority needed for approval; Governance Committee handles appeals

GreenIE-MainImageSlide4.jpg

Questions?

Please contact: Esmeralda Vazquez at evazquez@ielaborinstitute.org

Resources and Tools

Visit our resource and tools list to learn more about how to build an inclusive economy. There are data bases, reports, access to grants.

Have Questions

Contact us via the form.

Thanks for submitting!

Be In The Know

Sign up to receive news about regional updates.

Thanks for submitting!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
GreenIE-MainImageSlide3.jpg

Catalyst Awardees

ROUND 1

A.

$25,000

Workforce Mental Development Program

B.

$25,000

Thrift and Thrive Donation Center

C.

$219,849.60

Practically sustainable community growth through backyard urban farming with permaculture and composting in palm springs

D.

$50,000

FAME House

E.

$246,350

CORE Academy

F.

$250,000

Littlest Big Farms in the Inland Empire

bottom of page