The Obama Administration on Wednesday named Los Angeles one of 12 regions eligible for special attention under a new program designed to boost manufacturing and create new jobs.

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the award at an Exposition Park news conference with officials from USC who applied for the designation through the school’s Center for Economic Development.

“My top priority is to leave the recession in the rearview mirror by making sure Los Angeles is ready for the jobs and industries of tomorrow,” Garcetti said.

“Today’s announcement is the result of us being loud and clear in Washington that we’re serious about investing in jobs here in California.”

Under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program, $1.3 billion will be made available to the different areas to apply for funds for long-term planning to compete for companies, jobs and the economic infusion they would create.

The effort to win the designation was done through a partnership with USC called the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership for Southern California (AMP SoCal). It brought together aerospace businesses, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, community colleges and universities and government entities from Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Diego counties.

Kish Rajan, director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, said the designation will help strengthen the governor’s effort to expand manufacturing in the state.

The partnership needed to show it could provide the necessary workforce and training, advanced research, infrastructure and site development, supply chain support, trade and international investment and capital access.

Garcetti said the Southern California region would focus on aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

The funding will come from the departments of Commerce, Labor and Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration and Housing and Urban Development.

Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Van Nuys, said he was able to bring together a number of Southern California members of Congress to support the USC proposal, one of 70 submitted for consideration.

“I am excited that the Department of Commerce chose Southern California for one of the Partnerships,” Cardenas said. “California is the hub of innovation in the United States, and our manufacturing workers are second-to-none.”

Cardenas said 17 percent of the nation’s aerospace production is in California, with 80 percent of those workers living in Southern California.

In 2011, the aerospace industry accounted for $31 billion in goods.

“Southern California’s manufacturing workers are men and women of tremendous talent and determination,” said Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles.

Other regions selected included southwest Alabama, northwest Georgia, Chicago metro region, south Kansas, greater Portland, southeast Michigan, upper New York, southwest Ohio, Tennessee Valley, Washington Puget Sound and the Milwaukee area.