North Valley THRIVE Catalyst Fund

Transforming the Future of the North San Joaquin Valley

North Valley THRIVE is proud to introduce the Catalyst Fund, a grant opportunity designed to support original, transformative projects that will ignite economic growth and resilience in the North San Joaquin Valley. With $9 million in funding, we are seeking proposals that align with our Regional Strategic Plan and demonstrate the potential to create lasting economic impact.

Who Should Apply?

The Catalyst Fund is open to public and private incorporated entities, government organizations, and Tribal entities capable of entering into contracts, administering funds, and ensuring project compliance. If your organization is working on a project that aligns with regional priorities and can be completed within the funding period, we encourage you to apply.

Regional Priorities

Projects should align with one or more of the priority sectors and cross-cutting strategies outlined in the NSJV Strategic Regional Plan.

Funding Phases & Ranges

We support projects at various stages of development, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale and succeed.

  1. Idea Stage (Up to $50K)
  • Early-stage concepts focused on feasibility and prototype testing.
  • Example activities: feasibility studies, pilot programs, initial data collection.

Developmental Stage (Up to $500K)

  • Projects refining, scaling, and preparing for broader implementation.
  • Example activities: prototype optimization, securing additional resources, environmental inspections.

Investment Stage (Up to $2M)

  • Projects ready for full-scale implementation and final hurdles before launch.
  • Example activities: final testing, troubleshooting, stakeholder buy-in.

Timeline

  • February 28, 2025 – Webinar
  • March 7, 2025 - Solicitation Opens
  • April 11, 2025 – Application Deadline
  • April 11 - May 27, 2025 – Evaluation & Workshop Period
  • May 29, 2025 – Award Announcements
  • June 10, 2025 – Contracts Approved
  • Fall 2025 – Second Round of Solicitations Opens

Catalyst Framework

The framework provides additional information on eligibility, timelines, considerations, and the components of the Catalyst Fund.

Download the Catalyst Framework Here 

How to Apply

Start Application

Questions

For questions regarding the Catalyst Fund, please contact Yolanda@northvalleythrive.org before April 10, 2025. Responses will be posted on this page.

Resources

Implementation Fund 

  1. RII Implementation Phase RFP Webinar Recording 
  2. RII Implementation Phase RFP FAQ 
  3. RII Implementation Phase RFP Errata 

If you plan to submit a project for the Implementation Fund, please reach out to the North Valley THRIVE team at: yolanda@northvalleythrive.org and Erick.Serrato@countyofmerced.com and include "Implementation Fund Intent [your organization name]" on the subject line.

Notice of Intent Submission 
For the convenience of eligible lead entities representing a project cluster, we’ve provided the following template to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI). The NOI should outline the targeted sector and the region(s) anticipated for inclusion in the cluster. Each lead entity may submit only one NOI per review cycle.

Submission Details:

  • Email the completed Notice of Intent to regionalinvestment@gobiz.ca.gov

  • Deadlines:

    • Round 1: March 26, 2025, by 5:00 PM PT

    • Round 2: March 20, 2026, by 5:00 PM PT

  • Late submissions will not be accepted.

Required Information:

  • Lead Entity (organization name)

  • Primary Point of Contact (name and email address)

  • Identified Sector

  • Identified Region(s)

The Notice of Intent must be no longer than one page, using Century Gothic, 12-point font. You can download this template to get started.

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Contact usfor more information

For more information please contact Yolanda Meraz at yolanda@northvalleythrive.org

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