February 28, 2025/JOHN COX

A years-long effort to create thousands of good-paying, sustainable local jobs took a significant step forward this week with the unveiling of a $245 million state fund that could lead to big investments in Kern County's economy.

Wednesday's announcement was accompanied by the Newsom administration's release of a report highlighting the county's assets and its most promising sectors — affirmation of the work of a local coalition that came together two years ago to compete for grants under the new fund.

Both actions came a week before the local group plans to begin soliciting applications for grants from a separate but related local fund of $9 million intended to pay for work such as feasibility studies and other analyses. Projects advanced by those awards could later compete for money from the larger, statewide fund.

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It's unclear how much of the $245 million might actually end up in Kern, but a member of the local collaboration, called the Kern Coalition, said every effort will be made to compete for as much as possible.

"You better believe it. The more we bring to Kern County, the better," said President and CEO Georgia Petropoulos of B3K Prosperity, which is one of five local organizations that have guided local efforts, along with the Kern Community College District and others. "This is an opportune moment for Kern County."

Coalition spokeswoman Norma Rojas-Mora, associate vice chancellor of public affairs and development at the Kern Community College District, said by email the group is pleased to have entered what's known as the catalyst phase of the administration's California Jobs First initiative. She said any grants from the state fund have the potential to attract public and private investments "even beyond the pool of money the state has allocated for this initiative."

Next week the coalition plans to launch a process that will include meetings across the county in which residents can introduce potential projects and learn how to make them a reality. Details of that process have not yet been disclosed.

A news release from the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was proud of the collaboration that went into Wednesday's California Jobs First Economic Blueprint.

"California thrives because we work together, despite adversity and even disagreement," Newsom stated. He noted the initiative has already spent $287 million on planning and supporting pilot projects for the initiative.

The blueprint describes a broad, 10-year economic development strategy that encompasses the priorities of 13 regions, one of which consists only of Kern County.

It says the plan for the next two years is to pilot replicable development models, design pathways to good jobs, lower barriers to career education, expand innovation and streamline siting of qualified projects while also maintaining strong environmental protections.

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The report made mention of promising local economic resources including Cal State Bakersfield, Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave Air & Space Port and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. It listed several sectors prioritized by the local coalition and the state initiative, such as precision manufacturing, agricultural production, food processing, transportation and logistics, aerospace and defense, clean energy and carbon management.