California Growing Inland Achievement

Program Description:

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) is California’s Inland Empire’s regional coordinating intermediary for cradle-to-career attainment and economic mobility. GIA aligns education, employers, community organizations, and government around a shared goal of increasing educational attainment and economic prosperity across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. GIA’s strategy, known as CAIR, focuses on four interconnected functions: Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research. 

GIA convenes local Action Network Teams to connect learners, educators, policymakers, community members, and employers across the region. They conduct original research on issues related to education in the Inland Empire, which can help influence policy and direct funding. GIA advocates for policies and systems changes that expand educational opportunity, strengthen pathways from education to employment, and promote economic mobility. 

Ultimately, the program hopes to achieve “a future where at least 70 percent of working-age adults in the Inland Empire hold a degree or credential.”

Impact: 

GIA has conducted research on job growth, educational achievement, dual enrollment, and other education-related topics. They work to connect local partners with grant resources and serve as intermediaries in acquiring funding. For example, GIA was the local organization selected to administrate Higher Endeavor, a Gates Foundation-supported initiative designed to help colleges and universities close equity gaps in student outcomes. Through its collective impact work, GIA has secured and mobilized millions of dollars in regional investment, supported large-scale postsecondary transformation initiatives, expanded financial aid access, strengthened regional data infrastructure, and helped align partners around a shared attainment agenda.

Population Served: 

Residents of California’s Inland Empire, including youth and adult learners, families, educators, employers, and community members across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. 

Learn more here.

Page last updated in August 2026