The methodology for the Regional Summary: Part 1 can be summarized as follows. More detailed processes can be found in the Introduction, Appendices, and within various chapters. 

SBC completed the majority of the data collection, analysis, and narrative to ensure findings are relevant to the region, reflect the lived experience of residents and stakeholders, and can be used to form strategies and identify projects that support the region’s needs. Data sources that meet the required analysis and are endorsed/published/used by state and federal agencies were heavily utilized, including Cal-Adapt; American Community Survey five-year estimates, 2017–2021; and Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

Research experts were brought onto the SBC team to inform the “Climate and Environmental Analysis” (Dr. Daniel McEvoy) and “Economy and Economic Development” (Dr. Jon Haveman) chapters. 

SBC contracted with two rural California Jobs First regions to share the research burden and develop apples-to-apples data reports and narratives. The Eastern Sierra region provided “Climate and Environmental Analysis” chapters to the Redwood Coast and North State regions. The Redwood Coast region provided “Public Health Analysis” chapters to the Eastern Sierra and North State regions. The North State region provided data and narrative within the “Labor Market” and “Industry Clusters” chapters to the Eastern Sierra and Redwood Coast regions.

The methodology for the Regional Summary: Part 2 is currently under development and will be posted here once finalized. It is known that the process will be heavily influenced by strategies in existing regional plans like the two subregional CEDS, and by the Governing Council and Subcommittee Members through working groups and strategy modules.