North Valley THRIVE is a regional coalition of community organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and economic development partners across Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties. The coalition works to advance a shared vision for a resilient regional economy that fosters innovation, supports quality jobs, and expands opportunity for all who call California’s North San Joaquin Valley home.
California Jobs First is a new $600 million California State funding opportunity to support an equitable and sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin together comprise the Northern San Joaquin Region
North Valley THRIVE was awarded a
$5 million two-year planning grant. This is enabling the collaborative to develop a proposal compete for a share of
$500 million in statewide implementation grants.
California Jobs First is a once-in-a-generation chance to create a shared vision for our region's future and create space for Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin Counties to work more closely together to benefit each other.
Inclusive engagement across diverse regional stakeholders will be a foundational step in the diversification of California’s economies and the creation of high-quality and broadly accessible jobs
California Jobs First planning grants will allow for flexible economic analysis at various geographic scales, including economic flows between different regions, and implementation grants will allow for projects that cross regional boundaries
California Jobs First will leverage state investments (e.g., High Road Training Partnerships, capacity building programs), federal investments (e.g EDA BBB Challenge), and philanthropic and private-sector investments to maximize recovery
Create a broad and inclusive proposal development and planning process to diversify and strengthen our local economies and grow sustainable industries that create high-quality jobs for all.
Reflect the needs and priorities of communities and stakeholders across the region and generate ideas and project opportunities to build community wealth for years to come.
The North San Joaquin Valley has long been a region that makes and moves things. Now, a new strategy is helping us build on that strength.
The NSJV Translation Destination Framework is a practical roadmap for turning the region's deep industrial roots into better jobs, stronger industries, and long-term economic stability. Rather than chasing outside investment or competing with coastal innovation hubs, this framework focuses on what our region already does well — scalable production, logistics, and operational expertise — and creates the conditions for those strengths to grow.
By aligning workforce training, infrastructure investment, and industry support, the Framework helps businesses take ideas from concept to full-scale production right here in the Valley.
Read the framework to learn how the NSJV can lead the next chapter of American manufacturing — and what it means for your community.
This summary serves as a gateway to understanding the rich tapestry of data and analysis contained within the full report. From demographic shifts to economic trends, from infrastructure assessments to workforce dynamics, this summary distills complex information into actionable knowledge, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions that drive progress and prosperity.
To keep informed and engaged in the California Jobs First proposal development process, please share your name, organization, and email address. You will receive a survey asking about your priorities, the level of time you would like to dedicate to this process, and how to continually expand the Northern San Joaquin Valley CJF collaborative to better represent regional needs and opportunities.