JULY-SEPTEMBER 2026
INAUGURAL ISSUE
| | WELCOME TO THE COLLABORATIVE QUARTERLY | | |
A Note from the Collaborative
Welcome to the first edition of the Collaborative Quarterly! This newsletter was created to make it easier for our members to stay informed, connected, and engaged in the climate work happening across Santa Barbara County.
The idea for this newsletter began more than a year ago during our Collaborative's strategic planning process. Together, members identified a shared need for stronger communication, greater coordination across organizations and committees, and more opportunities to learn from one another. Through follow-up surveys and conversations, you told us that you wanted a reliable way to receive funding opportunities, committee updates, upcoming events, resources, and announcements from across the network. This newsletter is one of the ways we're putting that feedback into action.
Our hope is that the Collaborative Quarterly becomes more than a newsletter. We envision it as a communication hub that helps members discover new opportunities, understand what others are working on, celebrate successes, and identify places where partnerships can grow. As our network continues to expand, we hope this space makes it easier to navigate the Collaborative, find ways to get involved, and strengthen the relationships that make regional collaboration possible.
Thank you for being part of this growing community of practice.
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RESOURCES • PROGRAMS • PROJECTS
Member Updates
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Help improve California's first AI-assisted countywide bike map
The Santa Barbara County Associations of Governments is inviting community members to review the streets they know best and flag missing bicycle facilities, incorrect comfort ratings, access issues, and other details. Local feedback will help turn an AI-generated draft into a more useful regional planning tool.
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3CE-Supported Energy Affordability Bills Advance
Assembly Bill 1761, which would require transparency for regulatory fees paid by Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) customers to the Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), has advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 1138, which would allow CCAs to trade Resource Adequacy by the hour, has advanced to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Both bills are aimed at promoting greater energy affordability for ratepayers. 3CE is requesting letters of support for these pieces of legislation from Member Agencies. To learn more, contact sbrandt@3ce.org.
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PROGRESS • DECISIONS • NEXT STEPS
Committee Reports
| | Upcoming Committee Meetings
Clean Energy Projects Committee Meeting: Monday, August 3, 2:00-3:00 PM
Equity Advisory & Outreach Committee: Wednesday, August 5, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Carpinteria Community Resilience Committee: Tuesday, August 11; Tuesday, September 8, 9:00-10:00 AM
Coastal Hazards and Adaptation Inter-Agency Committee: Wednesday, August 19,10:00-11:00 AM
Steering Committee Meeting: Thursday, September 10, 1:00-3:00 PM
Guadalupe-Lompoc Initiative Coordinating Committee: Thursday, September 17, 1:00-2:30 PM
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MEMBER EVENTS • COMMUNITY EVENTS
Upcoming Events
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2026 Central Coast Organic Agriculture Conference
The UC Organic Agriculture Institute and local partners (including the Central Coast Soil Hub) invite you to join for two days of organic agriculture programming on the Central Coast. On Tuesday, September 15th, join a bus tour of three organic farms in the region: Talley Farms, Villa Creek Cellars, and Traceland Organics. On Wednesday, September 16th, meet regional resource providers, hear organic research updates, and learn from farmers and technical assistance providers about topics ranging from balancing food safety and sustainability goals to accessing institutional markets. Questions? Please contact Lexie Wilson, UC OAI Extension & Outreach Coordinator at lwwilson@ucanr.edu.
Pre-conference Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Location: Organic Farm Tours
Conference Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Location: Octagon Barn
| | 2026 Central Coast Sustainability Summit
Regional leaders, agency staff, faculty, nonprofits, and practitioners will gather to exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen parternships around shared sustainability strategies.
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Location: Corwin Pavilion, University of California, Santa Barbara | | | |
Inaugural Resilient California Summit
The inaugural Resilient California Summit will convene people from across the state to make progress on the policies, partnerships, and practices needed to build resilience as climate change accelerates. The Summit will feature a diversity of interactive sessions aimed at fostering conversation, sparking new ideas, and giving attendees the resources and tools they need to be successful in their work and communities. Participants will explore key insights from California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, imagine the best possible future that remains within reach, and catalyze the actions needed to turn that vision into reality.
Date: October 20-22, 2026
Location: SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
| | Stay up to date on the latest workshops, webinars, trainings, and educational opportunities offered through the Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN). Whether you are a local government agency, business, contractor, design professional, or community member, 3C-REN offers a variety of events designed to support energy efficiency, electrification, building decarbonization, and workforce development throughout San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. | |
GRANTS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Funding & Resources
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2026 Clean Air Grants Program
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is excited to announce that the 2026 Clean Air Grants program will be open Monday, July 27, through Friday, September 4. Businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits looking to replace old equipment with newer, cleaner technology, or transition to zero-emission or near-zero emission vehicles, equipment, or charging/fueling infrastructure, are encouraged to apply. Successful projects will be eligible to receive a grant between $10,000 to $250,000. Actual grant amounts vary based on several factors, including but not limited to usage, cost-effectiveness, emission reductions, eligible projects costs, and fund availability.
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Find Grants in the Newly Launched Funding Clearinghouse!
The Central Coast Climate Collaborative's Funding Clearinghouse features active and upcoming regional, state, federal, and philanthropic funding opportunities accepting applications from organizations based in the Central Coast, including the counties of Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and/or Ventura. This Clearinghouse is regularly maintained and is updated on a biweekly basis or more frequently as new funding opportunities launch.
| | 3CE to Launch New EV Charging and Battery Programs
3CE is expanding its electrification offerings with two new programs launching this October. The new EV Launchpad program provides no-cost technical assistance to commercial properties, multifamily housing providers, local agencies, and special districts to support every stage of EV charging adoption. The new Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program will allow customers with eligible home battery systems to earn financial incentives for reducing demand during periods of grid stress. To learn more, contact acapstick@3ce.org. | |
Keep the Collaboration Going!
What should we feature next?
Share a milestone, event, funding opportunity, initiative, or useful resource with a title, short description, image, link, and deadline.
Email us at sbregionalcollaborative@gmail.com.
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Gratitude,
Network Management Team
Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative
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