GO‑Biz outlines Business Ready Sites program, submission rules and support; names new coordinator

SACRAMENTO — The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO‑Biz) on a December office‑hours webinar outlined its new Business Ready Sites program, explaining who may submit sites, what documentation is preferred, how submissions are reviewed and how certified sites will be promoted.

Jolia Jackson, Regional Engagement and Development Manager with the Office of Regional Economic Development Initiatives (REDI) team at GO‑Biz, said the program has "33 active users, partners that have registered and are working with us" and "24 sites that have been posted," and emphasized the program will spotlight a small number of top, investment‑ready sites per region.

The program aims to align listings with California Jobs First priority sectors and accelerate business investment and regional growth. Jackson said sites seeking the business‑ready designation must be fully zoned and entitled for headquarters, research and development, or industrial manufacturing, meet infrastructure and safety standards, and "align with California Jobs First pilot sectors," naming agtech and farm equipment, semiconductor and microelectronics, life sciences, and space and defense as illustrative sectors.

Submissions are made through GO‑Biz’s regional data tool. Jackson urged eligible local government entities — cities, counties, joint powers authorities, utility commissions, community service districts and economic development organizations (including business improvement districts) — to request accounts and submit materials. Preferred documentation includes, when available, CEQA or other environmental review tied to intended sector use, a local zoning ordinance showing permitted use without additional approvals, utility access and capacity timelines, and site disclosures (price, title, size, ownership). Jackson said organizations may also provide optional materials such as advanced infrastructure capability summaries, conceptual plans or development phasing.

Jackson said there is no set limit to the number of submissions a jurisdiction may make, but GO‑Biz will "highlight only the top 2 to 4 sites per region" based on program criteria. The REDI team evaluates submissions against the checklist and may approve a site or direct it to technical support for future readiness. Sites that are not fully entitled may still be submitted but will not be considered business‑ready until requirements are met.

"This program will not replace the RFI process currently administered by the GO‑Biz California Business Investment Services team," Jackson said, noting the existing Request for Information process will continue and RFIs will still be sent to jurisdictional partners.

Jackson also announced staff changes: "We now have our new business ready sites coordinator on board with us, Taylor Boomer," who will support submission review, provide technical assistance and help improve response times and user experience.

GO‑Biz said certified business‑ready sites will be showcased on the regional data tool mapping platform and may be promoted at trade shows and through direct business outreach. The agency plans webinars, regional briefings and partnerships with local organizations to raise awareness. It is undetermined whether traffic data for the public site pages will be shared externally; internal metrics will guide program improvements. Jackson said the program and its sector eligibility may be reviewed after one year and GO‑Biz reserves the right to approve or deny accounts or submissions based on alignment with program goals.

Support resources include no‑cost one‑on‑one technical assistance, office hours, a program guide, an account‑registration guide, the business‑ready submission checklist, an FAQ and recording archives. Jackson closed the session by inviting questions and providing contact information for the Business Ready Sites team (businessreadysites@gobiz.ca.gov) and GO‑Biz’s Zendesk.

The program’s next webinar in the "How to get a site ready" series will address environmental considerations and CEQA certification and is scheduled for Jan. 13 at 2:30. No formal votes or policy decisions were taken during the office hours.