Who is Sierra Business Council (SBC), and what is their role?

Sierra Business Council (SBC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation established in 1994 and has dedicated 30 years to enhancing the Sierra Nevada region’s communities, environment, and economies. The organization promotes sustainable regional growth by supporting small businesses, solving rural issues, and addressing climate change. SBC’s initiatives include economic empowerment through direct technical assistance and development strategies, climate action programs that enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, and regional advocacy to elevate the Sierra’s interests in policy discussions.

As fiscal agent and regional convener, SBC is responsible for reporting and deliverables to the EDD and also overseeing the Sierra Jobs First Collaborative, which includes setting and maintaining the governance structure to help balance interests across partners, representing regional and collaborative interests to the State, and disseminating information from the State, including the California Jobs First Council, to the region.

What is the role of the Industry Sector Coordinators?

Industry Sector Coordinators were selected based on deep, specialized knowledge and active engagement in the industries prioritized by the Governing Council and collaborative in the planning phase. They assist the Governing Council by cataloging and identifying proposed projects that support the goals of Sierra Jobs First within their industry and flagging projects as exploratory, last-mile, or non-viable. 

They also play a vital role enabling collaboration within industries, including finding and applying for additional sources of state, federal, and private grants and funding, liaising with workforce and economic development partners and organizations, and building an ecosystem of support within their industry sector. They also provide or procure technical assistance for project applicants on grant applications and administration.

To identify and contact Industry Sector Coordinators, visit the Team Page.

With State funding for California Jobs First set to sunset in Septemer, 2026, what is the future for Sierra Jobs First?

Since June, 2023, the Sierra Jobs First Collaborative—funded by California Jobs First and supported by Sierra Business Council as regional convener and fiscal agent— united diverse leaders to design and advance community-led, climate-forward, and economically resilient initiatives supporting our region’s core industries and most vital concerns.

The team is currently underway with planning for what comes next.

To guide this transition, Sierra Business Council, in partnership with Agnew::Beck Consulting, is leading a 10-month Transition & Future Planning process. Centered on input from partners and leaders across the seven-county region, this effort will explore the Collaborative’s future—whether continuing as is, evolving into a new structure, or reimagining something entirely different.

Visit the Transition Planning page to learn more or get involved.

When was the Catalyst RFP open and when were project funds made available? 

The RFP for the Catalyst Fund was open through December 15, 2024. This phase includes $9 million set aside specifically for the Sierra Jobs First region to build capacity, help with projects that are in the early stages of planning, and serve as a bridge to the Implementation Program. The council voted on project awards in March, 2025.

SBC, alongside the Sierra Jobs First Governing Council (formerly called the HRTC), established a process for distributing these funds in the summer of 2024. 

When was the Implementation RFP released and when were project funds available?

The Implementation Program consisted of $165 million, to be spent on “ready to go” or “shovel ready” projects that support the goals and priorities of California Jobs First and the regional collaboratives. These funds were competitive statewide, and the Implementation RFP process was led by GO-Biz. Visit their site for more details about how the Implementation funding was distributed.

Who was eligible to apply for Catalyst Funds?

Organizations and entities with a proposed project to create sustainable, high-quality jobs, benefit disinvested communities, and advance climate goals in at least one of the seven counties of the Sierra Jobs First region (Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne) were eligible to apply for Catalyst funding. Many of these projects serve multiple counties in the region. 

The lead applicant must have also attended at least one Sub-Regional Table meeting or one monthly Stakeholder Meeting between June 2023 and August 2024.

What kind of projects or work received funding? What kind of projects were encouraged to apply?

All projects funded by any portion of the California Jobs First program must create sustainable, high-quality jobs, benefit disinvested communities, and advance climate goals. Additionally, the Governing Council selected 5 target industry sectors for investment: Sustainable Recreation & Tourism, Natural & Working Lands, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, Clean Energy & Energy Resilience, and Community Healthcare. Projects needed to fall into one of these categories, however, it was SBC’s and the Governing Council’s intention to interpret these broadly.

Catalyst projects are exploratory or last-mile efforts that advance strategies in the Regional Strategic Plan and that have additional funding sources.

How can I submit a project or an idea?

The Catalyst RFP closed in December, 2024.

What were the differences between the Catalyst and Implementation phases (including funding and process)?

Catalyst awards were competitive within the seven-county Sierra Jobs First region. Proposals were voted on by the Sierra Jobs First Governing Council, whereas Implementation funds were a statewide competitive process and selected by/contracted with the state.

Catalyst awards funded pre-development and last mile projects, whereas Implementation awards are intended for shovel-ready projects.

What if my project was not awarded funding in the first round of Catalyst (October 15 – December 15, 2024)?

If your project did not receive funding and is applicable to regional priorities, the Sierra Jobs First Industry Coordinators are available to help projects identify other opportunities to fund their project.

Was match funding required in Catalyst applications?

Match funding, where there is another source of funding that is equal to the amount funded by Sierra Jobs First, was not required, but strongly encouraged. 

Catalyst and/or Implementation dollars were not intended to fully fund any one project 100%. California Jobs First dollars are meant to be “supplemental.” Projects with supporting monies were more competitive in the RFP process.

Other Questions?