SGC | CA Strategic Growth Council

🌱Investing in Communities That Feed California 🚜Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Round 5 Planning Grantee Tranquillity Resource Conservation District recently hosted a Farm Tour highlighting efforts to support vulnerable, agriculture-based communities. 🌾The tour took place at Coalinga College’s Farm of the Future and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) West Side Research & Extension Center—bringing together partners to explore innovative solutions rooted in local needs. 📈This planning effort centers on four disadvantaged, unincorporated communities, many of which are closely tied to the agricultural workforce. By strengthening pathways to jobs, resources, and long-term opportunity, this work helps uplift communities that are essential to California’s food system. 📸 Watch to see highlights from the Farm Tour! 🔗Learn about TCC program on the SGC website: sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs… #TransformativeClimateCommunities #ClimateEquity #EnvironmentalJustice #CentralValley #SustainableCommunities @ucanr @CoalingaCollege

🌱The Siskiyou Climate Collaborative — a Regional Climate Collaboratives Program grantee — is bringing partners together to strengthen agriculture and natural resources in Northern California. 🚜With key partners like UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Siskiyou and the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District, the collaborative is advancing sustainable solutions that support local producers and farmworker communities. 🌾Their impact was highlighted at the University of California President’s Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources meeting—hosted on a local Siskiyou County farm. Led by the Siskiyou Economic Development Council, the collaborative continues to drive meaningful change through initiatives such as: ✨ Securing $5 million to support healthy soil practices for local producers. ✨ Earning an Inclusive Innovation Hub designation to provide technical assistance across the region. ✨ Supporting Siskiyou Farm Co., a growing network building a strong, sustainable regional food identity 💚The Regional Climate Collaboratives (RCC) Program supports coalitions in under-resourced communities to set priorities, build project pipelines, and connect to funding opportunities. 🔗Learn more about the RCC program: sgc.ca.gov/technical-assi… #ClimateAction #SustainableAgriculture #FarmworkerSupport #CaliforniaClimate #RuralResilience @ucanr @SiskiyouEDC

Rosa’s Place will provide 97 permanent supportive homes for survivors of gender-based violence exiting homelessness. It is supported by HCD’s Infill Infrastructure Grant Program & the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, jointly administered with @CalSGC @CAbcsh

🎉 From a contaminated site to 90 new affordable homes in Emeryville! Named in honor of Nellie Hannon, a local changemaker who has been supporting community members in need for decades, the new Nellie Hannon Gateway development is near transportation, jobs, shopping and more. The complex - made possible by more than $83.6 million from the State of California - is at the site where Hannon, who was a former Emeryville Council member, fed the community. And the bottom floor is dedicated to continuing that legacy. Thanks to funding from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) @CaliforniaDTSC Equitable Communities Revitalization Grant Program, contamination at the former drycleaning site was cleaned up, and the project was able to move forward.  Huge kudos to community members, Resources for Community Development @RCDHousing and other partners for being a driving force behind this project! 🏘️This development brings housing, climate action, and transportation together—creating much-needed affordable homes, reducing emissions, expanding transit access, and more. Partnerships and investments bringing housing, sustainability, and equity together to uplift communities! 🔗Read more: sgc.ca.gov/newsroom/press…… #AffordableHousing #CaliforniaForAll #GrandOpening #ClimateResilience @California_HCD

🌟 Exciting News! Our new Imperial Valley Civic Ecosystem Initiative (IVCEI) webpage is live! IVCEI is a collaboration between the State of California, the Institute for Local Government, the Latino Community Foundation, and local partners to expand civic engagement and create lasting opportunities for the region. 📍Located southeast of the Salton Sea, this vibrant border region faces high poverty, pollution, and health challenges. Despite historic disinvestment, local leaders are committed to improving infrastructure, boosting employment, and retaining young talent. 🚀 Through BOOST Imperial Valley and Activate Imperial, IVCEI strengthens local governments and nonprofits. These programs help cities and community-based organizations collaborate, access funding, and build a resilient, prosperous future. 💻 Explore the programs, partnerships, and resources shaping the future of Imperial Valley on the new IVCEI webpage: sgc.ca.gov/technical-assi… 🔗Sign up for the Imperial Valley Newsletter for more updates: lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/VP6KLoN #ImperialValley #CivicEngagement #CommunityImpact #BOOSTImperial #ActivateImperial @InstLocGov

🙌 Building climate resilience alongside the original stewards of the land. Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grantee, recently joined partners from the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians and the Potter Valley Band of Pomo Indians for a workshop with biochar experts. The workshop - held on Potter Valley Tribal land - demonstrated biochar’s use and benefits, including a lesson in how to use a specialized kiln. 🌡️ Biochar is charcoal produced by thermal decomposition of renewable organic matter from the Earth. Kilns are lit from the top and fire is brought down into the kiln where it burns at a high temperature with very little smoke. Biochar is incredibly porous, covering large surface areas. ♻ Biochar’s beneficial uses include fuel reduction in wildfire prone regions; material reduction for orchards, vineyards and other agricultural sites; long term carbon storage; enhanced soil fertility; and water quality improvements. And it doesn’t end with a lesson: Each of the partnering Tribes will receive a kiln for future biochar production! Through programs like TCC— administered by the California Strategic Growth Council and implemented by @calconservation, which is part of @CalNatResources — we’re helping communities plan and advance equitable, climate-smart solutions.  🔗 Learn more about the program at sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs… #ClimateResilience #CommunityPrograms #biochar

In a powerful announcement covered by KRON 4, Governor Gavin Newsom joined Josh Fryday to launch a statewide call to service — recruiting 10,000 paid California Service Corps members. Ready to step up, serve, and get paid? Learn more and apply at CAServiceCorps.com

There is one week left to apply for funding from the California Forest Improvement Program. The program helps landowners improve forest health, sustain working forests, and plan for long-term stewardship. Learn more and apply by April 1. 🌲 bit.ly/forestimprovem…

Do you live or work near the coast? This Tsunami Preparedness Week, take the time to go over your evacuation plan! Find Tsunami preparedness information here: caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-…

@California_HCD @CAgovernor 🫶🏽✨With strong partnerships and community investment, Nellie Hannon Gateway stands as a powerful example of how housing, sustainability, and equity can come together to uplift communities.

Supported by $83.7M from HCD’s Accelerator, No Place Like Home Program, and the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program jointly administered with @CalSGC, this community advances @CAgovernor priorities for housing, climate, and equity. 3/3 #WhereFoundationsBegin

HCD Director @GVelasquez72 joined community leaders in Prohousing @EmeryvilleCA to celebrate the grand opening of the Nellie Hannon Gateway by @RCDHousing, delivering 90 energy-efficient new homes near transit for low‑ to extremely low‑income households. @CAbcsh 1/3

🫶🏽Nellie Hannon Gateway reflects how thoughtful development can unite housing, sustainability, and equity to create lasting impact and opportunity for all.

✨ New Affordable Housing Builds on a Legacy of Giving in Emeryville 🏘️ Community leaders, partners, and residents came together to celebrate the grand opening of Nellie Hannon Gateway—a new affordable housing community bringing 90 homes to the heart of Emeryville. 💚 Named after local changemaker Nellie Hannon, this development honors her decades of service through the Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program, which she founded to feed and support families in need. That legacy of giving will continue now from a new, 5,900-square-foot dedicated space on the ground floor at the site. 🚆 Located at a key transit-friendly intersection, the seven-story community offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, with half designated as permanent supportive housing for formerly unhoused residents. 🌱 The project also delivers climate and transportation benefits—helping reduce emissions, expand transit access, and create jobs. 💸This milestone was made possible in large part through $83.6 million from the State of California. 🫱🏼‍🫲🏾With strong partnerships and community investment, Nellie Hannon Gateway stands as a powerful example of how housing, sustainability, and equity can come together to uplift communities. Learn more: sgc.ca.gov/newsroom/press…… @California_HCD @AirResources #AffordableHousing #CaliforniaForAll #CommunityImpact #SustainableCommunities #EquityInAction

🏗️ 2,100+ affordable homes in the Bay Area are becoming possible thanks to #DTSC cleanup of contaminated land.🙌 From former gas stations & dry cleaners ➡️ safe housing for families & individuals exiting homelessness. 🔗More: dtsc.ca.gov/2026/03/24/mor… #EmeryvilleCA #SFBayArea

(1/3) Funding is now available for CALFIRE Business and Workforce Development Grants. Grants from $10,000 up to $3,000,000 are available for projects that strengthen California's forest sector and reduce wildfire risk.

#CaliforniansForAll College Corps fellows gathered at California State University, Los Angeles to connect, lead & serve. Josh Fryday, Jessica Caloza & Sasha Renée Pérez highlighted their impact. Apply: CACollegeCorps.com

Today is National Agriculture Day 🌾🚜 — March 24 Join CDFA in celebrating farmers, ranchers 🐄, and our entire agricultural community. We will continue the celebration next month on April 21, with a "California Ag Day." For more information visit: cdfa.ca.gov/agday/

The CPUC’s TNC Access for All Program is expanding wheelchair accessible rides across CA. Learn how it works: cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-updat… #TNCAccessForAll #DisabilityAccess #CA

California’s snowpack is melting fast. Here’s why that matters for fire risk. An early-season heat wave is rapidly melting snow across the Sierra Nevada weeks ahead of normal. Right now, that snowmelt is helping keep vegetation moist. But less snow = earlier drying. Snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, slowly releasing water into spring and early summer. When it melts too quickly, grasses and brush dry out sooner. Experts warn that early snow loss increases the chance of earlier and longer periods of fire activity, especially if warm, dry conditions continue. What to watch for: ➤ Rapid snow loss in the Sierra ➤ Warming temperatures and wind ➤ Grasses curing earlier than normal California sees fire year-round, but these conditions can bring peak fire activity sooner. Now is the time to get ready: ➡ Clear defensible space ➡ Harden your home ➡ Make a wildfire action plan ➡ Pack a go-bag #CALFIRE #FireSafety #ReadySetGo #SierraNevada #Snowpack @CA_DWR

Women have long been at the forefront of environmental protection — advocating for safer neighborhoods, cleaner industries & science-based policies. We’re proud to tip our hats to those that came before & spotlight the women who are shaping a healthier, more resilient future.