News & Media

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) is entrenched in so many aspects of our daily lives. One area very close to home for us is the use of AI in the graphic design industry. You may have noticed something strange happening to small-business flyers lately: they’re all starting to look the same. And no, it’s not because every local business owner suddenly enrolled in the same graphic design course. It’s AI.

Governor Gavin Newsom recently joined leaders from Solano County, Cal Poly Maritime Academy, and the California Jobs First Bay Area Region on Mare Island to announce $48.5 million in funding for 18 projects across eight economic regions and 33 counties. The investments are expected to support the creation of 20,000 direct and indirect jobs and represent the latest step in more than four years of regional planning, project development and strategic investment through the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative.

USGBC California has announced partnership agreements with California State University (CSU) and the Foundation for California Community Colleges, the official nonprofit partner of the California Community Colleges (CCC), to expand access to green career pathways, technical training, hands-on internships and professional networks for more than 2.5 million undergraduate, graduate, and community college students across 22 CSU campuses and 116 CCCs.

Applications are now open for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, providing merit-based scholarships of up to $5,000 to talented American undergraduate students with high financial need to study or intern abroad. These experiences help students build international knowledge, professional networks, and foreign language skills.The application deadline is Thursday, October 1 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

PDDG is proud to continue our support of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and our clients and partners in the economic development industry. We will be exhibiting at the IEDC 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans from October 25-28.

The U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) has launched its fully refreshed and redesigned website. The new website provides a modern, user-friendly experience for members and the general public to quickly and easily access industry resources, manage membership information, and find upcoming events. Additionally, the clean, professional design and layout offer a vastly improved user experience, with clear navigation, a vibrant page design, and a suite of innovative features, including a document repository, an annual conference microsite, and a job board.

The Lake County Workforce Development Department is seeking a highly motivated and knowledgeable individual to join their team as the Workforce Development Board Coordinator. This position coordinates the Workforce Development Board's activities related to Board engagement, workforce system collaboration, compliance, strategic initiatives, communications, stakeholder relationships, and organizational projects. This position offers the successful candidate the opportunity to work alongside a high-performing team.

PDDG is a proud member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) and is thrilled to continue our support of the organization. We are serving as a Gold Sponsor and will be attending and exhibiting at the 2026 Fall Forum in Flagstaff, Arizona, from September 23-25. If you plan to attend, don’t forget to drop by our booth and pick up one of our world-famous light-up pens!

The Nevada Economic Developers Association (NEDA) has launched their brand-new, first-ever website. NEDA is the statewide professional association for Nevada's economic development practitioners – providing the training, certification, and continuing education that prepares the people supporting Nevada's long-term growth. Our creative team developed NEDA's new brand identity and designed and deployed the new NEDA website, and we look forward to supporting NEDA's ongoing marketing and communications needs as the organization grows and evolves.

The U.S. Department of State is recruiting for domestic and overseas positions across a wide variety of occupations and skill sets. There are many unique openings for individuals seeking an opportunity to live and work abroad. Check out the available job postings and potentially find your next career!

California is investing $9.75 million to expand educational certificate and apprenticeship programs that will strengthen the state's workforce and prepare workers for high-demand careers. Among the recipient organizations is the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), a longtime client partner of PDDG. WDBCCC received $1M to expand career training and strengthen access to high-quality jobs in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

July 1 marks the fourth anniversary of the opening of PDDG’s first international office location. Based in Leeds, England, the PDDG UK Office serves our existing and prospective clients in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.