The Transformative Climate Communities Program is hereby created, to be administered by the Strategic Growth Council. The program shall fund the development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that include multiple, coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities, as described in Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code. By making such comprehensive public investments, it is the intent of the Legislature that private resources can be more effectively catalyzed to support innovative community and climate transformation in disadvantaged communities.
Part 4Transformative Climate Communities Program
Section § 75240
The Transformative Climate Communities Program is set up to help specific neighborhoods reduce greenhouse gases by funding various local projects. These projects aim to bring economic, environmental, and health improvements to disadvantaged areas. The idea is to attract private investment that supports these changes and helps transform communities.
Transformative Climate Communities Program Strategic Growth Council greenhouse gas emissions reduction neighborhood-level projects local economic benefits environmental benefits health benefits disadvantaged communities public investments private resources community transformation climate projects Section 39711 innovative community support climate transformation initiative
Section § 75241
This law outlines how the Strategic Growth Council grants competitive funds to various groups, like nonprofits and local agencies, to support projects involving multiple community partners. Projects must engage the community and focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Priority may be given to plans that target disadvantaged communities, includings those in unincorporated areas, and the grants can span multiple years. The California Environmental Protection Agency will help with outreach efforts and evaluate environmental justice benefits. Overall, projects should aim to enhance climate, public health, environmental, workforce, and economic outcomes.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(a) The Strategic Growth Council shall award competitive grants to eligible entities through an application process. An eligible entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit organization, a community-based organization, a faith-based organization, a coalition or association of nonprofit organizations, a community development finance institution, a community development corporation, a local agency, a joint powers authority, or a tribal government, shall demonstrate multistakeholder partnerships with local agencies, community-based organizations, labor groups, workforce investment boards, and other stakeholders, as appropriate. The Strategic Growth Council shall award grants for projects that demonstrate community engagement in all phases.
(b)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 75241(b)
(1)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 75241(b)(1) In awarding grants, the Strategic Growth Council shall make grant selections for plan development contingent on the implementation of one or more projects identified by the plan.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(b)(2) In awarding grants, the Strategic Growth Council may give priority to plans and projects that cover areas that have a high proportion of census tracts identified as disadvantaged communities and that focus on communities that are most disadvantaged.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(b)(3) The Strategic Growth Council may award a grant over multiple years.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(b)(4) The Strategic Growth Council shall consider applicants for projects undertaken in disadvantaged communities located in unincorporated areas of a county.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(c) To be eligible for funding under the program, a plan, and a project that
implements a plan, shall demonstrate that it will achieve a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(d) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall provide assistance in performing outreach to disadvantaged communities and assessing the environmental justice benefits of project awards.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 75241(e) Projects shall maximize climate, public health, environmental, workforce, and economic benefits.
Strategic Growth Council grants multistakeholder partnerships community engagement greenhouse gas reduction disadvantaged communities environmental justice unincorporated areas California Environmental Protection Agency community-based organizations faith-based organizations community development finance institution emissions reduction workforce investment boards climate benefits public health benefits
Section § 75242
This law section encourages the council and funded entities to look for more money from both public and private sources to keep the program running and growing. It also requires the council to fund experts who can help with creating and carrying out applications and projects.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75242(a) The council and all funded entities shall endeavor to identify additional public and private sources of funding to sustain and expand the program.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75242(b) The council shall fund technical assistance providers to assist in application development and project development and implementation.
funding sources sustain program expand program technical assistance project development application development public funding private funding program expansion council responsibilities funded entities roles technical support program sustainability project implementation funding identification
Section § 75243
This section outlines the process the council must follow before awarding funds for a specific program. First, they need to create guidelines and criteria to choose which plans and projects will receive funding. They should involve feedback from local governments, regional agencies, and other stakeholders, especially reaching out to disadvantaged communities to get their input. Also, when developing guidelines, the council should ensure that eligible plans and projects do not economically displace low-income residents and businesses in disadvantaged communities.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 75243(a) Before awarding funds under the program, the council shall develop guidelines and selection criteria for plan development and implementation of the program.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 75243(b) In adopting guidelines and selection criteria, the council shall consider comments, if any, from local governments, regional agencies, and other stakeholders. The council shall conduct outreach to disadvantaged communities to encourage comments on the draft guidelines and selection criteria from those communities.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 75243(c) In adopting the guidelines, the council shall consider whether eligible plans and projects avoid economic
displacement of low-income disadvantaged community residents and businesses.
funding guidelines selection criteria plan development eligible projects disadvantaged communities economic displacement low-income residents low-income businesses community outreach local government feedback stakeholder input regional agencies program implementation
Section § 75244
If a city or county wants to receive funding after July 1, 2021, they can earn extra points or preference by having a housing plan that meets state requirements and is recognized as prohousing. This is determined by the Department of Housing and Community Development, which checks for compliance with specific sections of California's Government Code.
For notices of funding availability released after July 1, 2021, in awarding funds under the program, the council shall provide additional points or preference to jurisdictions that have adopted a housing element that has been found by the Department of Housing and Community Development to be in substantial compliance with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code pursuant to Section 65585 of the Government Code and that are designated prohousing pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65589.9 of the Government Code, in the manner determined by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 65589.9 of the Government Code.
funding preference housing element compliance prohousing designation Department of Housing and Community Development Government Code 65585 Government Code 65589.9 jurisdiction housing plans substantial compliance California housing policy state funding criteria
