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California Strategic Growth Council
Newsletter
Greetings!

The California Strategic Growth Council has opened the application period for funding Round 6 of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC). Plus, news about SGC-funded projects, several engagement opportunities, and more.

Enjoy!

-           The SGC Team
Highlights
SGC Now Accepting Applications for Round 6 of SALC Program

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is now accepting grant applications for Round 6 of the  Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC).

SALC fights climate change by protecting our productive farmlands and encouraging infill development. Administered in collaboration with the Department of Conservation’s (DOC’s)  Division of Land Resource Protection program, SALC is part of California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide program that puts billions of Cap and Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. 

SALC provides two types of grants:  Planning grants , which support the development of policies and economic development strategies to protect agricultural land, and Land Acquisition Grants  (for either conservation easements or fee acquisitions), which permanently protect lands that are at risk of conversion to sprawl development. 

SGC now invites cities, counties, resource conservation districts, land trusts, California Native American tribes, and other governmental and non-profit entities to apply for the sixth round of funding for projects that will:

  • Help California limit sprawl and promote infill development,
  • Strengthen the agricultural economy, and
  • Meet California’s carbon reduction goals 

Prospective applicants for acquisition grants must submit pre-proposals by  Thursday, April 30 . (Organizations interested in applying for planning grants are encouraged to submit pre-proposals as well.) Complete applications for both acquisition and planning grants are due  Friday,   August 28, 2020.

SALC staff will host a Pre-proposal Technical Assistance Workshop this Spring to provide an overview of SALC, discuss recent changes, and provide assistance on preparing your pre-proposal. More information will be available soon.

For additional information or for grant application materials, please contact the SALC Program at (916) 324-0850 or visit the  DOC website .
News
Grand Opening of Affordable Housing Project in the San Joaquin Valley Highlights AHSC Funding
Sequoia Commons. Photo courtesy of The Sun Gazette
A recent article by The Sun Gazette highlights Sequoia Commons, a new affordable housing project funded by SGC’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), that will provide 66 new affordable units to families in Goshen, a rural community in the San Joaquin Valley.

The article highlights several of the sustainable and community-centered attributes of the development, including the solar panel system which will offset resident power usage in common areas and make it a net-zero energy site, a playground, a community room, and outdoor recreation areas for residents.

"'Sequoia Commons is an excellent example of how thoughtful investments in affordable housing can meet the specific needs of rural, inland communities while saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing transportation options and access to outdoor space for residents and the broader community,' said Louise Bedsworth, Executive Director of California Strategic Growth Council."

Read the full article to learn more .
Regions Rise Together, Regional Climate Collaboratives, Transformative Climate Communities Highlighted in Announcement of New Climate Collaborative

A recent press release by the Local Government Commission announced the formation of the Inland Southern California Climate Collaborative (ISC3) , a cross-sectoral network of entities working together to create a resilient and thriving Inland California in the face of climate change.

The piece mentions how Ontario, one of the key cities in the collaborative, is already taking action toward regional climate change mitigation and adaption through its Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant of $33.25 million. Additionally, it mentions how the new collaborative aligns with SGC's Regional Regional Climate Collaboratives Program, and with the State's Regions Rise Together Initiative led by SGC's Chair Kate Gordon, and Lenny Mendonca of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development.


Read the full press release .
Fresno Celebrates Groundbreaking of Transit-Oriented Development with Funds from AHSC
Officials move dirt on a new mixed-use project on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. Photo by Frank Lopez.
An article by The Business Journal highlights the groundbreaking of the Blackstone & McKinley Transit-Oriented Development in Fresno. Funded by SGC's Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, this project will construct 88 affordable housing units, a medical clinic, and a senior center to the community.

Read the full article to learn more.
Blog Post Highlights BOOST Program's Work in Arcata
Photo credit: Arcata Playhouse
In a recent blog post , the Institute for Local Government (ILG) highlighted how the BOOST program - a collaboration between SGC and ILG - is supporting the City of Arcata, in its efforts to turn the downtown area into a more livable and attractive space for residents. Since the launch of the program, the BOOST program team has worked collaboratively with community stakeholders to develop the city's Strategic Infill Redevelopment Plan, with services such as reviewing and enhancing grant applications and facilitating connections to various grant resources. Read the full post.

Funding Opportunities
Proposition 84 Wildfire Resilience and Recovery Planning Grant Applications Now Open
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the California Department of Conservation (DOC) are pleased to open the application period for Proposition 84 Wildfire Resiliency and Recovery Planning Grants. A total of approximately $720,000 is available for up to 3-5 grants between $150,000 and $250,000. 

SGC, OPR, and DOC seek to invest in innovative planning approaches that can serve as models to help jurisdictions throughout California become more resilient in the face of wildfire.

  • Support local and regional land use planning activities that advance climate adaptation and resilience efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires. 
  • Advance local and regional understanding and consideration of vulnerable communities through an adaptation lens. 
  • Support local and regional capacity building to incorporate climate adaption and resilience into wildfire planning and recovery. 

Eligible applicants for the Wildfire Resiliency and Recovery Planning Grants include local and regional governments (cities, counties, tribes, and metropolitan planning organizations) representing California areas affected by wildfires between 2017-2019. 

View the detailed  application guidelines   and access the   application form .

The application deadline is  5 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2020,  and Staff will host an  informational webinar  on February 24.
CalSEED Application Period Now Open
The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development Initiative (CalSEED ) is a funding and professional development program for innovators and entrepreneurs working to bring early-stage clean energy concepts to market. Powered by  New Energy Nexus  and its mission to create a 100% clean energy economy, CalSEED supports diverse entrepreneurs who deliver equitable outcomes from their cleantech innovations. 
 
CalSEED is now accepting applications for its upcoming fourth round of funding.  Apply by March 16.
Engage
Technical Assistance Request for Proposals
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an evaluation of the California Climate Investments Technical Assistance Program. We are seeking a team to evaluate the efficacy of the CCI program through a mixed-method approach to inform our efforts moving forward. This evaluation will help support SGC’s technical assistance and capacity building work. To learn more about this RFP opportunity, join our informational webinar on Thursday, March 12 from 1-2 p.m.

The deadline to submit the RFP is Friday, April 3, 2020.  
California Agriculture Day
Hosted in partnership with  California Women for Agriculture  and the  California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom , Ag Day is an annual celebration recognizing California’s agricultural community by showcasing the bounty of crops and commodities produced in our state. It is also a day for farmers and ranchers to show their appreciation by bringing together state legislators, government leaders and the public for agricultural education.

Register for the event here , any contact David Pegos at David.pegos@cdfa.ca.gov with any questions.
Public Meeting for Draft 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
In fall 2019, The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reached out to gather data from Californians on the issues and barriers they face in accessing housing, and to receive input from isolated communities where housing barriers may be compounded by other factors, such as: language access, physical limitations, and immigration status.

HCD is hosting a second round of public meetings to discuss the findings and impediments from the feedback received along with action steps for the Draft 2020 Analysis of Impediments (Draft 2020 AI).

Statewide webinar
March 25, 2020
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sustainable Transportation Equity Project Public Comment Period Now Open
The Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) is a $22 million pilot by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that aims to address community residents' transportation needs, increase access to key destinations, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by funding planning, clean transportation, and supporting projects.

CARB has released a draft document for public comment that outlines STEP's draft requirements and criteria. It invites public comments on the Draft Requirements and Criteria , which are open until March 18. Submit comments to step@arb.ca.gov.
Employment
The Governor's Office of Planning and Research is hiring an Assistant Planner to work in the State Clearinghouse (SCH). The Assistant Planner will support the daily operations of the (SCH), the entity statutorily responsible for the receipt, coordination, and state agency review of environmental documents and notices pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The application deadline is April 3, 2020. Learn more.
The Institute for Local Government (ILG) is currently recruiting for an Associate Program Manager or Program Manager. The primary duties will include leading work in its Public Engagement and Sustainability pillars. The ideal candidate will have considerable project management experience, strong subject matter expertise in sustainability or public engagement, at least some local government expertise, and excellent communication skills. Find out more here.  
The California Water Data Consortium is seeking a creative, collaborative, strategic leader to serve as its Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization's mission to unlock water data in California and to vastly improve transparency and decision-making. Apply by March 31.
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) coordinates and works collaboratively with public agencies, communities, and stakeholders to achieve sustainability, equity, economic prosperity, and quality of life for all Californians.
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