SACRAMENTO – The California Strategic Growth Council, a state body comprised of seven state agencies and three public members, today voted to unanimously approve $96.2 million in grant funding through the Transformative Climate Communities program. The grant funding will support 10 disadvantaged, unincorporated, and tribal communities in planning and implementing neighborhood-level planning and capital infrastructure projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health and the environment, and expand economic opportunity for residents. Since 2016, the Strategic Growth Council has invested $230 million in 26 communities through the Transformative Climate Communities program. In total, the state has allocated $661 million to the program since 2016, which includes funding under the Governor's multi-year $54 billion Climate Commitment.
“The Transformative Climate Communities is on the leading edge of California’s equitable climate leadership, helping us drive down emissions while empowering low income and under-resourced communities statewide to shape infrastructure and investment. These investments will catalyze equitable and climate-focused community development for years and decades to come,” said Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Executive Director of the Strategic Growth Council.
Supported through California’s General Fund, the current round of Transformative Climate Communities grant funding will support seven planning grants and implementation of three climate resilience infrastructure proposals. Planning grants provide pre-construction support to communities to successfully apply to future funding rounds though TCC or other funding sources, while implementation grants fund affordable housing, transit access and mobility, solar, energy efficiency, building electrification, green infrastructure, air quality, workforce training, anti-displacement programs, and more. Combined, projects from this funding round will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64,000 metric tons, equivalent to taking 14,000 cars off the road for one year.
"Community groups like SAJE, SCOPE and TRUST South LA have advocated for almost a decade for climate investments to come to the community of South Los Angeles and to consider the needs of existing community members,” said Marie Patiño Gutierrez, Director of Policy and Research at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. “An investment of this size will greatly benefit our neighbors and support strong tenant and small business protections and policies for our communities in the long term."
“The impact of redlining is evident in South Los Angeles. We experience high amounts of air pollution, heavy policing, lack of green spaces, and polluting industries, with some neighbors living 5 feet away from active oil wells,” said Brian Jointer, resident of South-Central Los Angeles and member of Scope. “With support through the Transformative Climate Communities program, we want to reimagine a South LA that has clean air, more parks, free transit, and healthier community spaces that provide relief from extreme heat. Thank you for choosing South LA EcoLab as a TCC recipient.”
“Yôotva (thank you) to the State of California for bringing Tribes into the room and having access to this opportunity. The Karuk Tribe is the second largest Tribe in California and our native communities, like Orleans, are going to be some of the most impacted environmentally and economically due to new climate realities. With this planning effort we can get ahead of the crisis,” said Russell Attebery, Tribal Chairman of the Karuk Tribe.
Implementation Grants
- $35,000,000 Award to South Los Angeles Eco-Lab
- $35,000,000 Award to Richmond Rising
- $24,165,510 Award to City of Stockton, Stockton Rising
Implementation Grant Project Descriptions
Planning Grants
- $300,000 Award to County of San Diego – Spring Valley S.E.E.D.S. - Sustainable Environments & Engaged Development Strategies
- $299,922 Award to Karuk Tribe – Panámnik, sákriiv nukyâavish! (Orleans, we are making it strong!)
- $299,113 Award to County of Monterey – Climate Prosperity for Pájaro Valley
- $217,000 Award to Chicken Ranch Rancheria
- $299,967 Award to Allensworth Progressive Association
- $300,000 Award to Native American Environmental Protection Coalition
- $299,800 Award to Wiyot Tribe
Planning Grant Project Descriptions
As part of today’s vote, the Strategic Growth Council also approved the allocation of $10 million in remaining funds towards additional technical assistance and a pilot initiative to fund basic infrastructure and project development in under-resourced unincorporated and tribal communities.
Media Contact
Agustin Arreola
agustin.arreola@opr.ca.gov
279-386-2183
About the California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a 10-member council comprised of seven state agencies and three public members with the mission to build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all. Funded through California’s Cap and Trade system and the California General Fund, SGC’s grant programs, strategic initiatives, and interagency coordination focus on multi-benefit and community-centric solutions at the nexus of climate and equity. Since 2008, SGC has invested over $2.8 billion in projects strengthening communities and addressing climate change.