Article Source: County of San Mateo - CA

Supervisors Approve $2 Million Program to Help Residents Land Jobs, Support Local Businesses

February 10, 2026

Redwood City — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors today approved a $2 million program intended to help county residents land full-time jobs while supporting local businesses that are adding new positions.

Proposed by District Three Supervisor Ray Mueller, the Workforce Entry & Economic Growth Initiative allows the County to subsidize the wages of new hires who are entering or returning to the workforce, including recent graduates and other adults who recently completed degree or certificate programs.

The subsidies would be available to small and medium-sized businesses that create new, full-time positions and meet program requirements. The Board approved the program on a 5-0 vote.

“In the current economy, and with the greater adoption of artificial intelligence, recent graduates are finding it more difficult to find entry-level jobs,” Supervisor Mueller said.

“Additionally, tariffs, inflation and rising costs are adversely affecting small business owners. This initiative is about keeping doors open in the workforce, creating economic stability for small businesses and making sure the economy remains accessible to workers.”

Statewide data show unemployment among Californians ages 20 to 24 remains significantly higher than the overall unemployment rate, even as broader employment levels remain relatively strong across the economy.

The program is structured to link job seekers with employers that are creating new positions, while tying public funding to verified job creation and retention.

The program provides temporary wage subsidies to eligible employers that create new, full-time positions. Subsidies would cover up to 50 percent of a new hire’s wages during the first three months of employment, capped at an equivalent of a $65,000 annual salary. Employers may pay higher salaries, but the subsidy is limited to that cap.

Employers must commit to retaining each subsidized position for at least one year.

The County estimates the program could support up to 200 new private-sector jobs.

Eligible workers must be San Mateo County residents who earned a degree or trade certificate within the past three years, and eligible businesses must have 500 or fewer employees.

“This is about more than numbers on a spreadsheet,” Mueller said. “It’s about graduates who want to stay here, build careers here and build lives here. It’s about small businesses that are ready to grow, if given the right support. And it’s about making sure San Mateo County’s prosperity is human-centered.”

Next, the County will issue a competitive Request for Proposals to select an organization to administer the program.