California Jobs First - Sierra Region
Sierra Jobs First
Building a Community-Led, Climate-Forward Economy
in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties
Industry sector coordinators
Visit the Team page to contact our ISCs about ongoing industry sector working groups.
What is Sierra Jobs First?
Sierra Jobs First is our new name for this regional initiative, which was shortened from “California Jobs First Eastern Sierra Region” in the Spring of 2024. Not only is it easier to say, Sierra Jobs First reflects the streamlined, collaborative effort to create strategies for job growth, climate resilience, and economic prosperity for our unique region.
California Jobs First (formerly the Community Economic Resilience Fund or CERF) is a Statewide Investment in job creation, industrial strategy, and economic development initiatives to create a greener and more equitable economy.
The state is divided into thirteen separate regions, each with its own process. Sierra Business Council (SBC), a Sierra-based nonprofit, was selected as the convener for what the state defined as the Sierra (formerly “Eastern Sierra”) region, comprising the seven counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne.
Where are we at in this process?
The Region’s Strategic plan was submitted to the State on August 29, 2024. It was co-created by the Sierra Jobs First Governing Council, subcommittee members, and community partners that form our regional Collaborative, and Sierra Business Council’s staff, partners, and contractors.
This critical milestone marked the end of the strategic planning phase and the start of the Catalyst funding phase for California Jobs First, a historic, state-led initiative to create economic resilience and a community-led, climate-forward future for California.
In Fall, 2024, we entered the much-awaited project application phase to identify the projects that meet California Jobs First selection criteria for Catalyst funding to create high-quality jobs, benefit disinvested communities, and advance climate goals.
Nearly 50 projects representing key industry sectors and core issues in our region applied for Catalyst funding by the close of the RFP on December 15.
In March, 2025, the Governing Council voted to award funding to 40 projects. Read the announcement here.
Between March and November, 2025, the team worked to complete contracting and projects began the tactical work of turning the vision of these mission-aligned projects into reality for the greater good of all communities in the Sierra region! For topline details on the projects that have completed contracting, visit the project page, and follow the News & Updates page for project updates.
Subscribe to the newsletter for opportunities to get involved, project updates, and to participate in forging our path forward as we prepare for the sunsetting of State funding in September, 2025, and transition the historical work done back into the hands of the Collaborative to ensure a lasting vision for equitable prosperity in the Sierra region!
Our team is currently revising the Regional Summary: Part 1. We plan to re-release this summary of the region as soon as it is available.
About this report: This regional data summary of the Sierra Jobs First region lays the foundation for the development of an inclusive regional economic plan for our region.
This document was written to inform the strategic planning phase that is beginning in early 2024. As the conveners of the Sierra Jobs First region, Sierra Business Council was required to submit this document to the state by December 31st, 2023.
Join Us In Creating A More Resilient Sierra.
To learn more about this program, contact:
jobsfirst@sierrabusiness.org
530.582.4800