There are many California native plants and animals that carry historic, spiritual, and cultural significance for Southern California Tribal nations and others across the Southwestern region, yet many of these species are in danger of extinction. Preserving local ecosystems and native plant and animal species is the work that the Climate Science Alliance Tribal Working Group, University of California Riverside, and San Diego State University are jointly leading in the Resilient Restoration project funded by California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Climate Change Research Program.

Together, the project team is working to preserve these natural cultural resources for present and future generations.

Read more about the project and find additional inspiration for your next California Climate Investments endeavor by visiting the Project Profiles webpage.

California Climate Investments has launched a new interactive mapping tool to explore Project Profiles across the state. The mapping tool allows users to see featured projects by location and filter project profiles by administering agency, program, publication year and county. Each project profile provides a narrative perspective on how select California Climate Investments projects benefit communities across the State. 
 
Help us get the word out about this new resource by sharing with your networks. Let us know what you think and send feedback to ggrfprogram@arb.ca.gov.

Did you know that the California High Speed Rail Authority (CA HSRA) has created 7,300+ jobs in the Central Valley since construction began? Learn about the project’s impact on workforce development through the HSRA's Small Business Newsletter. Or, stay up-to-date on high-speed rail events and milestones by subscribing to the authority's Northern and Southern California regional newsletters. Additional information and interactive maps for this milestone project can also be found at Build HSR website. Subscribe for the latest updates!

Funding for electric vehicle rebates through the Clean Cars 4 All program is still available in three local air districts -- San Joaquin Valley, South Coast, and Bay Area. Applications are available until funding has been depleted, so apply soon!

Clean Cars 4 All highlights:

Please visit the Clean Cars 4 All website for links to the participating air districts.

California dairy farmers, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP).

This program helps dairy farmers fund innovative dairy digester projects that convert manure to renewable energy sources and lower methane emissions.

Visit the DDRDP program website to learn about program requirements and the application process. Applications are due by May 9, 2022. 

Please note that the current application cycle is funded through the California General Fund instead of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

Applications are now available for the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). Program grants provide dairy farmers and operators with financial support to implement non-digester manure management practices.

Eligible practices include:

The California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Transformative Climate Communities program is now open to applications. TCC provides funding to communities to plan and implement unique, place-based projects that provide social and economic benefits while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gasses.

Fundable uses include:

Final applications are due by July 1, 2022.

If you are interested in applying, or if you represent a Tribal Government or unincorporated community and require technical assistance with your application, please contact tcc@sgc.ca.gov.

The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) is designed to help fleet operators acquire low-emission vehicles. To date, HVIP vouchers have saved businesses ~20% on the purchase price of new vehicles. HVIP currently has $196.6 million available to fund eligible projects.

Additionally, HVIP has set aside target funding for specific projects:

To learn more about the HVIP vouchers visit their website.

CARB recently awarded 33 Community Air Grants, totaling $10 million, to community-driven projects across the state. Recipients will use the funding to develop air monitoring programs, improve public access to information about local pollution sources, reduce community pollution exposure, and track progress on pollution reduction efforts. Read more about individual projects here.

Students and their families in El Monte will soon have safer, cleaner transportation options to navigate to school and around their community. CARB awarded El Monte Union High School a $9.8 million grant from the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project to identify community projects to improve access to low-emission transportation and improve street safety for their students. While Clean Mobility in Schools is no longer being funded, similar projects can apply for funding through Clean Mobility Options, which supports smaller-scale shared mobility projects.

The Lassen Fire Safe Council is leading the path to replant forests damaged by wildfires, a first for the organization and a model approach for other fire safe councils. The council will demonstrate that reforestation projects in burned forests can be an effective fire prevention tool, aid forest survival, and shorten recovery time from future wildfires. The organization received $5 million from CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant, funded by California Climate Investments, which will enable the Lassen Fire Safe Council to clear the burned timber and blanket of shrubs that sprout following wildfire and replace them with resilient trees.

Orange County youth are now able to ride for free permanently on all Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) buses through the Youth Ride Free program. The program, which provides free bus rides to youth ages 6 to 18, was so successful during its six-month pilot period that the OCTA Board of Directors voted unanimously to make it permanent. The program is partially funded by the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) through California Climate Investments. 

This past Super Bowl, Anheuser-Busch scored its own touchdown by showcasing its new hydrogen fuel cell, zero-emission fleet. Anheuser-Busch worked with Nikola Corporation and BYD Motors to produce the trucks that will deliver Bud Light NEXT, the beermaker’s new zero- carbohydrate beer. The transition to hydrogen-powered semi-trucks was made possible through the California HVIP program, which provides vouchers for zero-emission fleet vehicles that are cleaner and quieter on the road.

United Way of Kern County and its community partners recently unveiled the 10th Born Learning trail project. The trail is open to parents and caregivers to engage with children 5 years old and younger. Each 10-station Born Learning trail provides interactive activities in English and Spanish to foster a love of learning. United Way of Kern County used its Community Air Grant from CARB to plant new shade trees and greenery along the trail. Funding for the Community Air Grants is made possible by the statewide initiative California Climate Investments.