REGIONS-UP
Regions matter — and California needs a better system to support them. For nearly 20 years, CA FWD and the California Stewardship Network (CSN) have championed the idea that regional voices must be heard in Sacramento. Today, as the state faces economic, climate, and equity challenges, it’s time to go further: to build a durable system for regional implementation, funding, and collaboration.

Why Regions Matter

  • California’s size and diversity mean its regions have distinct histories, economies, and needs.
  • Most day-to-day issues — from job access to climate impacts — are shaped regionally.
  • Yet despite their differences, California’s regions are deeply interconnected through supply chains, labor markets, and resource flows.

A regions-up approach recognizes these differences while strengthening connections across the state.

Five Challenges Facing Regional Policy Today

  1. Sunsetting Programs: California Jobs First is scheduled to end in 2026. Without a replacement, momentum could stall.
  2. Outdated Planning Laws: SB 375 is under strain. Housing, transit, and climate goals are not being met.
  3. Climate Risks without Regional Resilience: Climate resilience isn’t integrated into regional plans.
  4. Shifting Federal Investment: A potential decline in federal funding raises the stakes for state action.
  5. Looming Leadership Transitions: A new Governor and Legislature could disrupt current regional progress.

Read this report to learn more about how CA FWD and the California Stewardship Network are shaping the future of regional governance in California.

Stay Current on CA FWD Regions-Up News

California must shift from regulation-based climate policy to an integrated economic strategy
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CA FWD and Resources Legacy Fund explain how we can reimagine climate leadership through economic prosperity.

A Ripe Moment for Regionalism: 8 Opportunities to Strengthen an Enduring Regions-Up System in California
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Supporting greater regional capacity to achieve economic goals and creating a more durable, sustainable, and inclusive system for regional economic development and planning across California.

CA FWD’s Regions-Up Agenda
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CA FWD is building an agenda toward policy advocacy that supports regional economic action.

Join us in Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Regions-Up Economy
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Governor Newsom releases the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, a statewide plan to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, and access to good-paying jobs over the next decade.

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