Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Business Ready Sites topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
California launches Jobs First 'Business Ready Sites' tool to spotlight shovel‑ready parcels
Summary
State officials unveiled the California Jobs First Business Ready Sites program and a regional data tool (hosted with Feet Locations/Zoom Prospector) to identify and market shovel‑ready parcels for prioritized pilot sectors; the webinar detailed eligibility, technical criteria (including a 500 kW minimum power guideline and will‑serve letters), and outreach plans.
State officials on the Governor’s California Jobs First team on a webinar unveiled a new Business Ready Sites program and regional data tool designed to surface shovel‑ready parcels across California and speed business attraction.
Jolia Jackson, regional engagement development manager with the REDI team, said the tool is intended to make it easier for site‑selection consultants, investors and growing companies to find parcels that local jurisdictions have already prepared for development. "Today we launch the new California Jobs First business ready sites program and regional data tool," Jackson said during the presentation.
Derek Kirk, senior advisor for economic policy, placed the product in the larger State Economic Blueprint, noting Jobs First launched in 2021 and was refreshed in 2023 to prioritize sustainable, community‑led growth. He said the state will initially focus marketing and outreach on four pilot sectors — AgTech and farm equipment, life sciences, semiconductors and microelectronics, and the space/defense/satellite sector — while not excluding other industries.
Tiger (identified in the transcript as both "Tiger Nguyen" and later "Tiger Winn"), a business development analyst with the CalBiz team, described the site‑readiness criteria the state will use to vet listings. Required elements include full zoning and entitlements for intended use, environmental compliance, and infrastructure readiness. On utility requirements he said: "All utility access is a must. Within 500 feet or a formal plan must be in place to extend them," and that a will‑serve letter from utility providers may be required if service is not yet on site. Tiger also cited a minimum electrical service guideline of 500 kilowatts (three‑phase, 480 volts) as a typical threshold for industrial manufacturing uses.
Jeff Gunnison of Feet Locations demonstrated the regional data tool (referred to in the demo as Zoom Prospector and accessible via the Jobs First site), showing community infographics, heat maps, business and cluster reports, and talent data sourced from providers including Applied Geographic Solutions, Lightcast, Data Axle and the National Center for Education Statistics. Gunnison walked through how local users can add or import property records, complete a three‑part "more information" checklist, and submit sites for review; state staff will review submissions and flag those that meet the business‑ready criteria before they appear on the public tool.
Panelists sought to address concerns raised in Q&A about rural jurisdictions, utilities and RFIs. When an attendee asked whether the criteria disadvantage rural counties, Tiger and Jackson said communities from all regions are welcome to submit their best sites, acknowledging that some rural parcels may lack immediate utility access and that the team will consider representation from different regions when selecting which properties to publish. Julie Hurd said the tool is informational and that, for formal RFIs or site selection processes, the state expects local jurisdictions to take the lead on pursuing opportunities and to serve as points of contact.
On utility coordination, presenters said they have reached out to utilities statewide and received generally positive feedback; Gabrielle said some utilities are developing advanced modeling tools and the Jobs First team will coordinate with those efforts to assess both current constraints and short‑ and long‑term capacity.
The team said the platform and associated technical assistance are available at no cost for the coming year while the office pilots the approach, and that the state will evaluate continuation afterward. Jackson said the program will offer one‑on‑one technical assistance and monthly 30‑minute office hours (the first scheduled for August 19) and that attendees would receive a follow‑up email with a checklist, two‑pager, and the webinar recording.
The webinar closed with contact information for the Jobs First/GoBiz teams and encouragement to use the sharing features of the regional data tool for outreach to partners and developers.
