California Transformative Climate Communities Program

California Assembly Bill 2722 established the Transformative Climate Communities Program, to be administered by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC). The forthcoming Program will accelerate greenhouse gas reduction and advance local climate action in disadvantaged communities through an integrated, community-based approach. The Program intends to help realize the State’s vision of “Vibrant Communities and Landscapes,” demonstrating how meaningful community engagement coupled with strategic investments in transportation, housing, food, energy, natural resources, and waste can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution, while also addressing growing equity issues and enhancing economic opportunity and community resilience.

Purpose: To “…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.”

Eligible Uses: Applicants must select at least six of the following Strategies in achieving the overall goals of the program. The Strategies are intended to provide flexibility and adaptability so that applicants may emphasize and combine them to align with community needs.  

  1. Equitable Land Development
  2. Transit Access and Mobility
  3. Urban Greening and Green Infrastructure
  4. Decarbonized Energy and Energy Efficiency
  5. Water Efficiency  
  6. Robust Food Systems
  7. Land Preservation and Restoration
  8. Materials Management
  9. Climate Resiliency
  10. Health and Well-being   
  11. Workforce Development and Education
  12. High Quality Job Creation and Local Economic Development

Potential Adaptation Uses: TCC funded projects must consider how the project area will adapt and respond to the anticipated impacts from climate change. Specifically, applicants must develop projects that incorporate long-term risks from climate change, such as additional days of extreme heat or precipitation, sea level rise, and drought; and prepare for the anticipated impacts from climate risks.

The final Program funding guidelines state that applicants invited to Full Application must also discuss how the community will be engaged, and how to prioritize actions that will reduce the affected community’s vulnerability to climate change.

Eligible Grantees: Eligible applicants may include but are not limited to: nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, coalitions or associations of nonprofit organizations, community development finance institutions, community development corporations, local governments, joint powers authorities, and/or tribal governments. Due to restrictions regarding the use of Prop 84 funds, Planning Grant applicants are limited to “council of governments, metropolitan planning organization, regional transportation planning agency, city, county, or joint powers authority” or combinations thereof. Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate strong and diverse partnerships including community-based organizations.

Process and Requirements: Implementation Grants will be awarded through a two-phase competitive process with a concept proposal and a full application. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal meets the application thresholds. Applicants must identify goals for each of the three program objectives, and indicators tied to specific strategies within the project area. Applicants must provide a proposed budget containing estimated total project costs, including a breakdown of costs and proposed sources of funding (in addition to program funding) for each project type. Those invited to submit full applications will further develop their concept proposals, and full applications are subject to further review and approval by the SGC. Applicants must submit estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions, using approved quantification methodologies.

Planning grants are intended to provide funding for those communities needing assistance in developing local plans, policies, partnerships or other efforts aligned with the Program. Projects should be consistent with the State’s Planning Priorities, identified in Section 65041.1 of the Government Code, and should reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and any applicable regional plan. Applicants should seek to connect state policies or programs, regional planning efforts, and local plans through coordination and collaboration. Applicants should also promote environmental, social, and health equity and apply State of California best practices for climate change vulnerability assessment, resilience planning, and adaptation. Applicants must submit a proposed budget and timeline, and the highest scoring applicants will be awarded Planning Grants.

Authorization: This program was created by Assembly Bill 2722 (Pub. Resources Code § 75240) and is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment - particularly in disadvantaged communities.

 

Publication Date: February 9, 2017

Related Organizations:

  • California Strategic Growth Council

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  • Funding program

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