The Institute of Regional and Urban Studies (IRUS) was formed in 1969. IRUS is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to help incorporate information about the California economy into the development of public policy. IRUS was formed at the same time as the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy (CCSCE) and shares staff and facilities with CCSCE. The Center does research on the California economy for public and private sector clients.

IRUS received grants from The James Irvine Foundation in 2003 and 2004 to support writing and speaking on issues related to the California economy and budget. All memos prepared with grant support are posted on the IRUS/CCSCE website as published. The IRUS work focuses on how budget decisions affect the state economy and how the state economy affects budget choices.

In 2004 and 2005 IRUS received funding from Next Ten to participate in the development of the California Budget Challenge, an online realistic simulation of the difficult choices faced in long-term budget planning for California.

In 2005 and 2006 IRUS participated in a series of workshops with community groups sponsored by the Rockefeller and the San Francisco Foundations. The workshops provide a forum for discussing the relationship between the state’s economy and state budget issues.

The California Wellness Foundation and the California Endowment funded previous IRUS work on the relationship of the California economy to health. IRUS is currently exploring funding opportunities on the role of immigration and workforce policies in the California economy.