Happy November from Across the

Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI)

Welcome to the November edition of ECHO! 

LCI and the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) honor Native American Heritage Month throughout November, recognizing the enduring cultures, diverse and essential traditions, knowledges, leadership, and contributions of California Native American tribes.

We also commemorate Día de los Muertos (Nov. 1), Veterans Day (Nov. 11), World Diabetes Day (Nov. 14), and Native Women’s Equal Pay Day (Nov. 30)—reflecting on remembrance, service, health, and equity across the diverse communities that strengthen California.

In today's newsletter, you'll find key updates, upcoming events, and funding opportunities for advancing climate, housing, and land use solutions across California. 

Thank you for joining us!

California Releases New Climate Science, Projections 
to Prepare for Climate Change Impacts

California’s climate is changing, bringing rising temperatures, more extreme wildfires, declining snowpack, and growing risks to communities across the state.

The newly released Fifth Climate Change Assessment brings together dozens of reports featuring the latest climate science, tribal knowledge, and community perspectives to help California better understand climate risks and prepare for the future.

The Fifth Assessment also highlights the importance of tribal knowledge, community-informed research, and locally relevant climate data in strengthening resilience.

These findings will help inform planning, policies, and investments at the local, regional, tribal, and state levels, supporting science-based decisions that protect California communities.

Explore the Statewide Summary and additional research and resources on the Fifth Assessment website.

California 2050 Essay & Art Contest Is Officially Open!

If you could shape California’s future, what would it look and feel like?

We’re inviting Californians to answer that question through art or an essay for a chance to win $5,000 and have their work featured on our website.

Dream big. Get creative. Show us the California you want to see in 2050.

Submissions are open through Feb. 19, 2027.

Thank You for Joining the Resilient California Summit!

Thank you to everyone who joined us Oct. 20–22 in Sacramento for the Resilient California Summit!

Together, partners from across California explored climate science, shared ideas, and strengthened collaborations to advance climate resilience and turn research into action.

Missed the Summit or want to revisit the highlights? Visit LCI’s social media for interviews, event highlights, and recaps featuring the people, ideas, and partnerships that are helping build a more resilient California.

Thank you to our partners at Climate Resolve, the California Natural Resources Agency, Indigenous Futures Society, Farallon Strategies, and UC Davis Institute of the Environment, and to everyone who was part of this collective effort!

Nine Regional Catalyst Convenings in the Books

In October, SGC and LCI marked a big milestone: The conclusion of nine regional Catalyst Convenings across the Fifth Climate Change Assessment bioregions.   

The final convening, held in Palm Springs, brought together dozens of partners from across the Inland Deserts region to: 

• Exchange knowledge, best practices, and successes about community-driven efforts.  
• Connect directly with state representatives and regional assistance providers.     
• And co-create a set of regional and state focused policy actions, to guide SGC’s strategic planning and work.  

A huge shoutout to the SGC Connecting Communities team, LCI staff, and partners UC Berkeley Possibility Lab, and the California Climate and Energy Collaborative for ensuring these have been a success.   

We’re excited to share the ideas and actions that have come out of these convenings, which we'll start doing at SGC's next council meeting in December! 

Major Milestone for Climate Resilience in Nevada County

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the county’s first-ever Resource Resiliency Roadmap in a 5–0 vote!

Made possible through LCI’s Regional Resilience Grant Program (RRGP), this roadmap marks an important step toward strengthening local climate resilience, addressing community needs and preparing for future challenges.

Congratulations to Nevada County and its partners on this achievement!

We’re proud to support locally driven planning efforts that help California communities build a more resilient future.

California Awards More Than $60 Million 
for Tribal Housing and Climate Initiatives

SGC awarded a total of more than $60 million across two programs to 40 projects representing 36 tribes across the state.

The projects are funded through SGC’s two Tribal Housing and Capacity Building Initiative programs — the Tribal Housing Pre-Development Fund and Tribal Capacity Building Program.

Projects include planning, design, site improvements and development for future housing units; increasing grant, financial, and program management capacity; advancing climate adaptation and resilience planning; and restoring traditional ecological knowledge and land management practices. Both programs were developed alongside tribes through years of intentional outreach, engagement, and formal consultation.

The Pre-Development Fund awarded $52 million in grants to 19 Tribes that will support more than 22,000 tribal members and lead to 900 new housing units across the state. The Tribal Capacity Building Program awarded $8.6 million in grants to 21 tribes.

California Invests $9.14 Million More 
in Factory-Built Housing

SGC awarded an additional $9.14 million through its Factory-Built Housing Regional Pilot Program, building on $10 million awarded to 10 projects in August.

The funding will advance innovative housing solutions across California, including wildfire-resilient modular designs, mass timber construction, and regional strategies to expand affordable workforce housing.

Projects in Anaheim, the Bay Area, Tahoe-Truckee, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County will strengthen regional planning, streamline permitting, and support scalable housing delivery. An additional investment will support a Bay Area manufacturing hub initiative focused on affordable housing, lower emissions, and quality job creation.

These investments advance California’s housing, climate, and economic development goals while supporting thriving, resilient communities.

New Blog on Health and Equity

Building a healthier California starts with collaboration!

For 16 years, California’s Health in All Policies (HiAP) Task Force has brought together more than 20 state departments to advance health, equity, and opportunity across the state.

From supporting nearly $6 billion in state grants reaching more than 400 communities to improving food access, strengthening workplace equity, and advancing healthier community planning, HiAP demonstrates what’s possible when government agencies work toward shared goals.

In our latest SGC blog, we highlight HiAP's key milestones, accomplishments, and ongoing efforts to build a healthier California.

Congratulations to the California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force (ALETF) on its National Recognition!

Congratulations to the California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force (ALETF) on its national recognition!

The Task Force’s recommendations received the Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff Award of Excellence at the 2026 American Planning Association conference in Los Angeles on Oct. 4.

Established by the Legislature in the 2022 Budget Act and administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), ALETF operated as an independent, 13-member body dedicated to addressing inequities in agricultural land access. Its final report, released in December 2025, outlines findings and recommendations to advance equitable access to secure, affordable, and viable agricultural land throughout California.

That's all for now! See you next month!

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