New GO-Biz Office Will Help California Create Jobs, Promote Economic Recovery
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today announced that Governor Jerry Brown signed his Assembly Bill 29 into law. The legislation implements recommendations by business leaders to create the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (or “GO-Biz”) as the lead agency to develop economic strategy and marketing of California’s inherent advantages for commerce.
“With an almost 12 percent unemployment rate in California, there’s no more critical issue to our state than to improve the job market,” Speaker Pérez said. “AB 29 creates the sort of one-stop shop that businesses in our state can use to develop and grow, in addition to attracting new businesses to California. I want to thank the Governor for his leadership on this issue and for mapping out a path of collaboration between Go-Biz and California’s multiple economic development efforts. ”
AB 29 lays out a number of responsibilities and objectives for the new office that include making policy recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, marketing the advantages of business in California, assisting the Department of Finance and other departments with economic goals, maximizing federal resources to advance economic goals and objectives, and working with various entities to encourage business development and investment in California.
In addition to outlining those goals, AB 29 reorganizes such entities as the Small Business Advocate and CalBIS into the new Office of Business and Economic Development and ultimately, codifies Go-Biz’s objective to establish long-term economic goals and strategies as well as specific and effective services to California’s businesses both large and small.
“AB 29 increases coordination in all levels of government, focusing attention on California’s biggest priority in job creation while making our state more efficient and providing assistance for all businesses,” Pérez added.
CONTACT: John Vigna (916) 319-2408
Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker
