The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Tuesday to enter a $100,000 agreement with the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) to offset county staff time spent on a regional submission to the California Jobs First initiative.

County administrative staff said the funding covers work by the four-county Sierra San Joaquin Jobs coalition (Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare) to prepare applications and materials for state competitive funding. Half of the $100,000 will be paid on contract approval and the remaining $50,000 will be paid in January 2026, staff told the board.

County staff described two principal efforts tied to the money: (1) a regionwide energy analysis as counties and state leaders discuss future renewable-energy siting and goals, and (2) preparation for the state's regional investment initiative, a competitive grant process the county described as requiring shovel-ready projects and job-creation commitments. Staff said the county has worked with CVCF since 2022 on related regional projects.

The board voted unanimously to accept the agreement. Supervisors expressed general support for participating in regional planning on energy and economic development, and board members asked only clarifying questions about expected returns and coordination among county departments.

County staff cited the North Fork Community Power Group and a potential local energy project as an example of a shovels-ready project that has been included in regional pre-applications.