This page highlights California agencies and other entities that are planning stimulus-related projects and programs and does not purport to represent every dollar that will be allocated to the state of California. This page will be updated to reflect new projects and funding opportunities as information becomes available.
Current Activity:
Health and Human Services: Projected $14.9 billion for health care and related programs.
Funded programs include those focused on disease prevention, increasing the healthcare workforce, construction of additional community health centers, research into health-related issues, the Meals on Wheels program, household lead reduction projects, improving the health information technology infrastructure and services designed to help Indians living on tribal lands. Find a broader description of programs at the California Recovery website.
What this means for California employers: California expects to receive more money for its health-related services and programs than for any other category of projects. Opportunities span a wide range of skills and experience, and employers in many different industries have the chance to benefit. Some of the occupations likely to see growth include healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, lab technicians and technicians who work in specialty areas such as radiology and dialysis; technology-related jobs such as computer programmers, manufacturers of high-tech medical equipment and those needed to install and run it; education and training positions, research and scientific opportunities and jobs in construction.
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Education: Projected $11.8 billion
The California Department of Education's Recovery Act funds have already been designated by general goal and purpose within the state's educational system.
Preliminary numbers show the Stimulus package will provide nearly $11.8 billion in additional funding for California's education projects and programs. Some of the major categories of funding include:
- $1.7 billion for Title I Grants to local educational agencies to improve and reform education, particularly for underserved or low-income populations
- $70 million for Educational Technology State Grants
- $1.2 billion for EPA Part B Grants to States
- $41 million for IDEA Part B Preschool Grants to States
The types of programs that will be funded with Recovery Act education money include those designed to improve educational standards and teaching quality in low-income and at-risk communities, to save education jobs that would otherwise be cut because of budgetary concerns, to implement new and innovative teaching methods through the use of technology, to improve and update school buildings, particularly in low income areas, to add services to the state’s special education programs, and to add programs for young children in low income areas, such as Head Start. There are also funds allocated for vocational and other services for the disabled and programs to assist homeless students and other at-risk student populations.
On April 17, California became the first state to be approved for funds under the newly created State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF). This money is designed to prevent reductions in critical education and other services. Four billion dollars have been released to California and the state is eligible to apply for up to $2 billion more. The SFSF will be used for education reform and to save hundreds of thousands of education jobs that would otherwise be cut.
What this means for California employers: In addition to adding and saving traditional teaching and administration jobs, educational stimulus money seeks to improve the quality of education for students statewide. Therefore, employers who can provide such services will be in demand. This includes such things as providers of educational computer hardware and software, textbook publishers, educational consultants, daycare programs, suppliers of equipment and food for school lunch programs, companies that train or evaluate teachers and educational programs and suppliers of computer software designed to track and report schools’ and students’ educational progress.
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Infrastructure: Projected $7.3 billion
On March 18, 2009, the Governor’s office announced the first 57 projects that are in line to receive infrastructure stimulus money, $625 million in total. $565 million of this money will go toward the State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP) for things such as improving highway safety and bridge repair, and the remainder is earmarked for pavement preservation projects. In April, the state announced the release of an additional $62 million in Recovery Act money to be pooled with $181 million raised through the state’s Proposition 1B to fund additional highway projects. Find more information about these funds in general; find a complete list of the 57 projects.
Additionally, the state recently announced the restarting of 5,000 infrastructure projects that had been put on hold in December 2008 because of the budget crisis. Restarted projects include everything from transportation to school construction to environmental and park projects and many others. California is funding these projects by selling Build America Bonds, taking advantage of this new opportunity provided by the Recovery Act. A complete list of the more than 5,000 projects will be available shortly.
What this means for California employers: There are many opportunities for California employers in the construction and related industries to get work under the Recovery Act. The 57 programs that have already been approved represent less than 10% of the money California expects to receive for improvements to its infrastructure, so employers should continue to check this page for updates on new roadway repair and construction projects. Occupations likely to see an increase in work include suppliers of raw materials needed for roadwork and bridge repair, contractors and other skilled and unskilled construction workers who can perform repair and maintenance work to roads, bridges and rail systems, surveyors, engineers and urban planners.
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Energy/Climate: Projected $3.4 billion
California’s Department of Energy plans to spend the bulk of its money on projects involving energy efficiency and conservation, the development of renewable energy sources and retro-fitting existing structures to use more renewable energy, and its weatherization program for federal buildings and private homes. The funding breakdown is as follows:
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant: $49.6 million for programs to reduce total energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency in building and other appropriate sectors. This does not include an additional $302 million distributed directly from the DOE to large cities and counties. As stated on the California Energy Commision's website, "interested parties are encouraged to contact their local city or county directly for ways to partner for the Block grant funding and assist local governments to meet these goals."
Several grant opportunities are already available through the US Department of Energy (see Monster's Department of Energy page). Additionally, the California Department of Energy intends to release information about its own projects shortly. Find more information on the state’s Energy Efficiency Block Grant program, including the opportunity to sign up for listserv updates.
What this means for California employers: A major goal of the US Department of Energy is to increase the development and use of renewable energy sources and reduce the country’s dependence on traditional fossil fuel. Thus, employers who manufacture or supply environmentally friendly or energy efficient products (such as manufacturers and suppliers of products to weatherize homes and buildings) are likely to benefit. Other occupations that could see growth from Recovery Act money include researchers and scientists involved in developing new renewable energy sources, those involved in electrical upgrades and “Smart Grid” technology, and those involved in the manufacture of electrical battery components for hybrid vehicles.
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Existing Projects (with links to bid information):
Infrastructure
Find current bid information for all Cal Trans projects. Once the 57 Recovery Act projects listed above are entered into the eProcurement (bidsync) system, employers will be able to search for them by bid number. Current bid information is available on the California DOT site, as well as instructions for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) to become certified pursuant to section 1511 of the ARRA. Such certification will allow MPOs and RTPOs to bid on infrastructure projects.
Information for Suppliers and Small Businesses Looking for Contracting Opportunities with the State
Interested suppliers and businesses must first register to do business with the state of California. Information about registration and contracting opportunities is available through the Department of General Services.