Regions Rise Together is a high road vision for inclusive and sustainable economic development across California’s diverse and interconnected regions.

As the world’s fifth largest economy, California is an economic leader. More businesses start here than anywhere else in the country – including many that become industry leaders thanks to our innovative spirit, world-class colleges and universities, state-of-the-art labs, and a truly diverse workforce.

But California is also a tale of two states. With the highest poverty rate in the nation (when adjusting for the cost of living), California grapples with growing disparities between coastal and inland regions. For example, 70 percent of job growth since 2010 has been in coastal California, and inland California counties are declining in income relative to the state as a whole. Yet inland communities also have a strong history to build on and numerous assets to leverage for future economic growth.

California’s regions are increasingly interconnected; our future success relies on reversing our growing disparities.

Regions Rise Together offers a high road vision for inclusive and resilient economic development, and sustainable land use and transportation planning, across California and its regions, recognizing both their diversity and interconnectedness.

Launched in 2019 with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Regions Rise Together is changing the mental map of the state by drawing attention to opportunities and assets in all regions, especially inland California. Regions Rise Together is actively partnering on regions-up economic diversification strategies across California’s regions. These economic development strategies are a part of the state’s Just Transition strategy to a carbon neutral economy, which encourages each region to build on existing assets and grow quality jobs in new and emerging high road industries.