At an Aug. 5 hearing, the Assembly Select Committee on Community Economic Mobility and Investment heard a broad argument for moving California away from one-off project grants and toward steadier support for regional workforce and place-based mobility systems.
Chair Dr. Joaquina Rambula opened the hearing by tying economic mobility to health, education and regional collaboration, according to the committee transcript. Witnesses then described local programs in the Central Valley, Stockton, rural Northern California and elsewhere that they said depend on braided public, private and philanthropic funding.
Adam Peck of the California Workforce Association said local workforce boards are the key link between employers, training providers and apprenticeship programs, but that state and federal workforce funding has eroded over time and needs stronger support. Barbara Foster of Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development said the office braids federal, state, private and philanthropic dollars to support small-business and workforce programs.
Kaiying Heng of the Central Sierra Health Foundation said partners in the Community Economic Mobility Initiative have pursued more than $400 million in grants and contracts since 2022, with about $178 million flowing back into California communities. The hearing summary also said witnesses from Fresno, Stockton, Siskiyou County and farmworker advocacy groups pointed to place-based projects and urged long-term, flexible funding rather than short-term grants.
The transcript and summary do not show any committee action or formal follow-up request coming out of the hearing.
