Under the direction of Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez, JEDE began work on the California Economic Development Recovery Strategy in January 2009 in anticipation of the enactment of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Strategy includes both key information on available state and federal programs, as well as specific legislative and administrative actions the state should take to address the immediate economic crisis and provide for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Currently, California workers and businesses are facing some of the harshest economic conditions since the Great Depression. Unemployment in California has reached over 12% and is projected to rise to at least 13% before the current recession is over. Some areas of the state, however, are already experiencing unemployment rates of over 30%.
The California Economic Development Recovery Strategy sets forth a blueprint for state economic and workforce development actions over the next 24 months. The state strategy includes both key information on available state and federal programs, as well as recommendations on how California can best leverage the new federal funding and its own resources to address the immediate economic crisis and provide for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
The initial draft of the Strategy is designed to assist state officials and both the public and private sectors in developing a meaningful dialogue about California's future. The Strategy is currently open for further review and development by many stakeholders. Outreach is also being undertaken through public hearings, local economic round tables, and distribution through the Internet.
