1. Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentive Program
Bruce Gwynne
Staff Environmental Scientist
Department of Conservation Division of Land Resource Protection

2. Goals and Objectives Primary goal: Objectives:
Develop and implement plans that reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with AB32 and SB375, and achieve twelve Objectives
Objectives:
Healthy environments; social equity; and strong, vibrant economies
Resilient infrastructure and vital community centers
Conservation of natural resources and agricultural Land
Energy efficiency; infill; reduced automobile use

3. Priorities Priority Considerations: Collaborate at every level
Address climate change impacts
Demonstrate best practices that can be used elsewhere
Leverage resources (funds; in-kind)
Promote equity and serve economically disadvantaged community (EDC)
20% Targeted funds each round to primarily or substantially address EDC issues

4. Funding Three rounds of funding = about $63 million
Rounds 1 and 2 complete
Round 1 awards = about $26 million
Round 2 awards = about $24 million
Funding range: Round 2 Awards - $100,396 to $1,000,000
Round 3: Approximately $13 million remaining

5. Eligible Applicants Cities/Counties
Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Councils of Governments/ Associations of Governments
Regional Transportation Planning Agencies
Joint Powers Authority

6. What has been funded?
Awards have been granted for projects that range from:
Specific Plan updates
Downtown reinvestment plan
Zoning ordinance updates
Sustainable community strategies
Regional climate action plans
Awards have been granted for three Focus Areas

7. Regional Planning Activities
Six grants to Regional Collaborative with Multiple Partners, totaling $5,267,053
North Coast Integrated Regional Planning – Healthy Communities, Functional Watersheds and Viable Economies
Sonoma County – Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Implementation Program
Santa Clara County – Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
Solano County – Climate Action Planning Program
Coachella Valley Association of Governments – Climate Action Planning Program
LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority – Framework for Regional Climate Action and Sustainability

8. Regional SB375 Plus
Ten grants to Metropolitan Planning Organizations, totaling $7,050,593.
Seventeen MPOs received grants, including:
SANDAG $885,971
SCAG $1,000,000
SACOG $897,821
ABAG/MTC $1,000,000
San Joaquin Collaborative of eight (8) MPOs $1,000,000

9. Local Sustainability Planning
Grants given to twenty-one cities and five counties, totaling $12,289,269, for a range of projects representing the diverse needs of California cities and counties, including:
Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Master Plan for Sustainable Parks and Recreation – Phase One - $1,000,000
Tulare County AAA Water and MT Sewer Project, addressing the needs of three rural communities for safe drinking water and effective sanitary waste disposal - $939,861

10. Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation
Tulare County AAA Water Project: Allensworth

11. Round 2 Awards

12. What we have learned from these two rounds of grants…
Interest in the program is high; diverse needs
Motivation and commitment; lots of creativity
Inter- and Intra-Regional collaboration
Planning departments are decimated
Program is an incentive to change
Many opportunities remain

13. Additional Opportunities
Round 2 – 139 applications
Rigorous scoring and ranking
43 were funded
List of the next 20 highest scored
Call if you would like to obtain the full proposals

14. More information:
Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection, Financial Assistance Team, Planning Grant and Incentive Program
(916)