The office shall serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. In this capacity, the office may:
(a) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature new state policies, programs, and actions, or amendments to existing programs, advance statewide economic goals and respond to emerging economic problems and opportunities, and ensure that all state policies and programs conform to the adopted state economic and business development goals.
(b) Coordinate the development of policies and criteria to ensure that
federal grants administered or directly expended by state government advance statewide economic goals and objectives.
(c) Market the business and investment opportunities available in California by working in partnership with local, regional, federal, and other state public and private institutions to encourage business development and investment in the state.
(d) Provide, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Economic and demographic data.
(2) Financial information to help link businesses with state and local public and private programs.
(3) Workforce information, including, but not limited
to, labor availability, training, and education programs.
(4) Transportation and infrastructure information.
(5) Assistance in obtaining state and local permits.
(6) Information on tax credits and other incentives.
(7) Permitting, siting, and other regulatory information pertinent to business operations in the state.
(e) Establish a well-advertised telephone number, an interactive internet website, and an administrative structure that effectively supports the facilitation of business development and investment in the state.
(f) Encourage
collaboration among research institutions, startup companies, local governments, venture capitalists, and economic development agencies to promote innovation.
(g) In cooperation with the federal government, foster relationships with overseas entities to improve the state’s image as a destination for business investment and expansion.
(h) Conduct research on the state’s business climate, including, but not limited to, research on how the state can remain on the leading edge of innovation and emerging sectors.
(i) Support small businesses by providing information about accessing capital, complying with regulations, and supporting state initiatives that support small business.
(j) Establish the Building and Reinforcing Inclusive, Diverse, Gender-Supportive Equity Project (BRIDGE Project) to promote social equity, civil rights, and antidiscrimination through marketing and advertising campaigns.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 199, Sec. 2. (SB 447) Effective September 13, 2023.)
(a) (1) The office, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and the Public Utilities Commission, shall prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects that support the strategies identified in the scoping plan prepared pursuant to Section 38561 of the Health and Safety Code and that advance the goals established pursuant to Sections 38562.2, 39730.5, and 39730.6 of the Health and Safety Code. The office shall submit the assessment prepared pursuant to this section to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026, in compliance with Section 9795.
(2) In
preparing the assessment, the office shall include, but is not limited to including, the following information:
(A) At least three clean energy project types.
(B) Specific challenges impacting the different stages of clean energy project development.
(C) Different methods for developing and deploying clean energy projects.
(D) Recommended approaches, models, or strategies for addressing the identified barriers, challenges, and impediments to clean energy project delivery.
(3) The office shall consider the most current versions of all of the applicable reports and plans listed in subdivision (a) of Section 38592.1 of the Health and Safety Code in the preparation of the assessment.
(b) The assessment prepared pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team established by Executive Order No. N-8-23.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 336, Sec. 2. (AB 585) Effective October 7, 2023.)