Media Contact: LCI.press@lci.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO (10/30/26) — The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has awarded a total of more than $60 million across two programs that will support California Native American tribes’ housing and climate efforts statewide.
The projects are funded through SGC’s two Tribal Housing and Capacity Building Initiative programs — the Tribal Pre-Development Housing Fund and Tribal Capacity Building Program. Projects include planning, design, site improvements and development for future housing units; advancing climate adaptation and resilience planning; and restoring traditional ecological knowledge and land management practices.
“Across California, Native American tribes are leading important work to expand housing, protect natural resources and prepare for a changing climate – and SGC’s Tribal Initiative aims to enhance their capacity to do just that,” said Samuel Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and Chair of SGC. “This is what we mean by a California for all — implementing solutions that put people, communities and future generations first.”
“From our initial Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program, the California Strategic Growth Council learned that relatively modest investments in capacity building and pre-development resources have led to transformational change for tribes,” said Erin Curtis, Executive Director of SGC. “These grants empower tribes so they can continue to access opportunities and bring their visions to life.”
Tribal Housing and Capacity Building Initiative Awards
SGC awarded a total of more than $60 million to 40 projects representing 36 tribes across the state.
Awards include $52 million from the Pre-Development Fund to 19 tribal grantees — the first funding ever awarded through the program, and $8.5 million through 21 Capacity Building grants in Round 2. Both programs were developed alongside tribes through years of intentional outreach, engagement and formal consultation.
The Pre-Development Fund grants will support more than 22,000 tribal members and lead to 900 new housing units in five regions: Inland Southern California, North State and Sierras, San Diego Area, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Pre-Development Fund supports activities related to affordable housing development, preparing tribes to pursue housing projects and access other state-funded, affordable housing programs.
“This grant is a transformative investment for the future of our community. With this funding, the Tuolumne Band of MeWuk Indians and TEDA, Inc. can fast-track the critical development of our 44-unit low-income housing project,” said Darryl Tinkle, President of Tuolumne Economic Development Authority (TEDA), Inc. “We are deeply grateful for this support, which brings us one step closer to providing safe, stable, and affordable homes for our tribal members and our community.”
“The Trinidad Rancheria is grateful to the Strategic Growth Council for investing in our vision for the establishment of a pathway toward affordable, sustainable housing for our members and future generations,” said Trinidad Rancheria Tribal Chairman Garth Sundberg. “This award will support the planning and predevelopment work needed to help our small, rural Tribe lay the groundwork for a healthy, climate-resilient Tribal community where our members can maintain strong connections to their culture and one another. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Council as we move this important project forward.”
The Capacity Building grants will provide under-resourced tribes with resources needed to develop climate and housing projects in seven regions: the Central Coast, Coastal Southern California, Inland Southern California, North State and Sierras, San Diego Area, San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Joaquin Valley.
Grant awardees by region:
- Central Coast
- Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Salinan Tribe of Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, $419,940 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe, $418,524 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Coastal Southern California
- Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council (Gabrieleno San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians), $382,800 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Inland Southern California
- Cahuilla Band of Indians, $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, $3 million from the Fund
- Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, $2,999,800 from the Fund
- North State and Sierras
- Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians, $3 million from the Fund
- Big Valley Band of the Pomo Indians, $3 million from the Fund
- Bishop Paiute Tribe, $2,999,498 from the Fund
- Bridgeport Indian Colony, $362,425 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, $2,348,051 from the Fund
- Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, $2,998,489 from the Fund and $350,062.42 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Fort Bidwell Indian Community of the Fort Bidwell Reservation of California (Gidutikad Band of Northern Paiute), $350,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, $1,993,328 from the Fund
- Indian Cultural Organization (Winnemem Wintu), $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Manchester Band of Pomo Indians, $1,974,500 from the Fund
- Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California, $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Mono Lake Kootzaduka’a Tribe, $3 million from the Fund and $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Pit River Tribal Housing Board/Pit River Tribe, $1,177,440 from the Fund and $419,888.26 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Sherwood Valley Rancheria (Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians), $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, $2,999,216 from the Fund
- Yurok Indian Housing Authority, $2,876,500 from the Fund
- San Diego Area
- Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians, $2,930,500 from the Fund
- Inaja Band of Diegueño Mission Indians, $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- La Posta Band of Mission Indians, $2,580,848 from the Fund
- Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Manzanita Reservation, $2,998,732 from the Fund and $395,856 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Mesa Grande Indian Housing Authority, $2,999,375 from the Fund
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, $3 million from the Fund
- Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, $419,945.28 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation (Muwekma Ohlone Tribe), $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, $2,999,837 from the Fund
- San Joaquin Valley
- California Valley Miwok Tribe, $400,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
- Tule River Indian Housing Authority (Tule River Indian Tribe of California), $420,000 from the Tribal Capacity Building Program
These programs – and the projects they support – build on Governor Gavin Newsom’s commitment to put communities first and build adaptation and resilience, expand access to affordable housing, and reduce carbon emissions through community-led solutions.
A Housing Approach That Works
From the very first moments of the Newsom administration, the national crisis of housing and homelessness — which was decades in the making — has been addressed with ingenuity, seriousness, and expertise. No other state has devoted as much time and attention to these twin problems — and California is a leader in producing positive results.
About the California Strategic Growth Council
The 10 distinguished members of the SGC include state-agency secretaries and directors, and three appointed members of the public. The Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation acts as its chair.
The council works collaboratively with public agencies, communities, and stakeholders to achieve sustainability, equity, economic prosperity, and quality of life for all Californians. SGC’s collaborative structure helps state agencies prioritize and uplift community voices into decision-making around the types of projects and resources that receive state climate resilience funds.