Sobrato Philanthropies recently selected Third Sector to provide strategic advisory support to strengthen public-private partnerships and build the conditions for long-term economic mobility across Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties in California. Over the next year, Third Sector will support Sobrato Philanthropies in identifying public funding streams, assessing existing community initiatives, and developing strategies that align philanthropic investments with government priorities and community-led solutions.

With many community-led initiatives facing uncertain long-term sustainability, this partnership will help identify how public funding, philanthropic strategy, and collective action can work together more effectively.

In Arizona, the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) serves as the state’s central authority for labor market information, providing the data and analysis that inform critical workforce and economic development decisions. As Arizona’s economy continues to grow and diversify, the state has a unique opportunity to shape its future workforce by aligning data, policy, and investment around the green economy.

One of the biggest challenges in building a green economy is the lack of a standardized definition for “green jobs.” Without clear parameters and a shared understanding of green jobs, it

Minnesota leads the U.S. in addressing climate change, with the goal of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, in alignment with the state’s comprehensive Climate Action Framework, its strategy for addressing and preparing for climate change. Minnesota leaders view addressing climate change as an opportunity to bolster the economy and foster a more inclusive state. Minnesota’s “Drive for 5 Initiative” focuses on recruiting from and providing opportunities for underserved populations in the near-term to meet the high demand and project growth of priority occupational groups, including clean energy, trades, and

Michigan is actively pursuing a clean energy future, and like many states, faces the critical challenge of not just creating new jobs, but establishing high-quality, family-sustaining careers to attract, cultivate, and retain a skilled workforce. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) sits at the center of this effort, connecting residents with employment opportunities and helping businesses find the talent they need to thrive. As a participant in the Families and Workers Fund’s Powering Climate and Infrastructure Careers (PCIC) initiative, LEO strives to build an equitable and prosperous

New Mexico is currently undergoing an energy transition away from legacy fossil fuel industries, such as oil, gas, and coal, toward a green economy, which requires a skilled workforce for emerging jobs in these industries. Executive Order 2024-152 and New Mexico’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plan mandate the state to train 2,000 New Mexicans for infrastructure and climate-ready professions by 2026. Meeting the aspirational mandates of these regulatory requirements presents state leaders with an opportunity to ensure that these climate-ready jobs are of high quality, with accessible

The United States’ transition to a clean economy is one of the greatest opportunities of our generation. This shift enables us to not only build sustainable infrastructure that powers our homes and transports us safely from one town to the next, but also has the potential to create thousands of quality jobs that strengthen economic possibilities for our neighbors and communities if we act with intention.

These jobs, which offer a living wage, purpose, and pathways for advancement in sectors like manufacturing and energy, are strengthening neighborhoods nationwide. Jobseekers, workers, and