Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

 

Energy Safety to Host Public Workshop on Small and Multi-Jurisdictional Utilities' 2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plans

On Friday, June 16, 2023, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety) will host a virtual public workshop on the respective comprehensive 2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plans of Small and Multi-jurisdictional Utilities (SMJUs), such as Liberty and PacifiCorp. Topics include risk assessment and mitigation selection, grid design and operations, and vegetation management. To view the full agenda and event details, see here.

 

NRCS California Allocates $2 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods - Application Deadline June 16

Beginning April 26, 2023, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is setting aside $2 million in federal financial assistance to help California’s agricultural producers recover from recent flooding. This funding is in addition to recent USDA funding allocated through the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (administered by NRCS) and the USDA Emergency Conservation Program (administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency).  The deadline to apply is June 16, 2023. For more information, see here.

 

Upcoming California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs

California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs, hosted by the State and Federal Partners for Coastal Resilience in California, aim to increase awareness about state and federal programs designed to assist coastal counties to recover from this year’s winter storms and build resilience to future climate-related impacts.  The goal is to provide immediate project support and help coastal counties address needs. If your organization is in the process of forming a project idea, you are encouraged to attend and start a conversation that can help you meet your goals, and to connect and learn from your peers in other communities. 

Leaders who are focused on improving the resilience of California communities in the face of frequent and severe natural disasters, are invited to present information about your community’s needs and projects and receive immediate feedback from state and federal agencies. If your community or organization has a project under development, whether in the early stages or shovel ready, you will have the opportunity to make a 10-minute presentation to a host of federal and state agencies. If your community or organization is not quite there yet, information tables will offer free resources and tools to support locally led resilience planning and implementation. 

California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs

  • Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – University of Southern California, Los Angeles - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

To schedule a 10-minute time slot to present your organization’s recovery and resilience projects at one of these events, please take a moment to complete the event registration form here, including a short (optional) questionnaire on which you can provide a brief overview of your organization’s project or projects.

 

CPUC To Host Upcoming Informational Webinar on Funding Opportunities for Broadband Projects

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, June 28th from 10am to noon explaining how California is closing the state’s digital divide through federal and state funding opportunities for local agencies and community-based organizations. Additionally, the CPUC will provide an explainer on the Broadband, Equity, and Access Deployment (BEAD) program, last mile Federal Funding Account, California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), broadband maps, and Digital Equity Plan program.

To register, see here.

 

Department of Technology Releases Two Surveys to Help Inform California's Plans and Close the Digital Divide - Take them today!

  • Public Survey on Internet Use and Adoption: Digital Equity Survey - 10 to 15 minutes

The California Department of Technology has released their public survey on internet use and adoption. Feedback collected will inform California’s State Digital Equity Plan and help California design solutions to ensure that all California residents have access to high quality and affordable internet service, devices, skills training, and digital support. The survey is available in 14 languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Armenian, Persian/Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Punjabi, and Khmer.

Click here to take the California Digital Equity Online Survey: bit.ly/CADigitalEquitySurvey
 

  • Survey to Identify Programs and Services Needed in Your Community:  Digital Equity Ecosystem Map (DEEM) survey

The California Department of Technology is developing the state's Digital Equity Plan, which when completed will help inform how the state funds programs to get Californians the access and training they need.

Your feedback is needed to help close the digital divide in your community. Your participation will help uncover:

  • What programs and services are being offered;
  • Where these programs and services are being offered, and
  • To whom these programs and services are being offered.

Your organization will also be added to an inventory of entities committed to supporting digital equity initiatives across the State.

Who should take part?
ALL government agencies, nonprofits, experts, practitioners, funders, researchers and community organizers. If your work helps people in your community access the internet, computers or digital skills training, or other information and resources, you should take part in this survey. If you have programs that support covered populations that could also support digital equity, you should complete this survey.

Learn more and take the Digital Equity Ecosystem Map (DEEM) survey here.

 

Department of Conservation Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics

Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.

Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:

  • June 15th – CEQA & Williamson Act, and Farmland Mitigation
  • August 17th – Public Acquisitions
  • September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
  • October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
  • November 16th – Open Question Hour

For questions, contact LCA@conservation.ca.gov. For more information, please visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wa.

 

Career Opportunities

Yolo County

The County of Yolo, County Administrators Office is recruiting to fill 2 full-time positions, scheduled to close Monday, June 12, 2023:

  • Associate Management Analyst. Annual salary range: $67,724.80 - $82,305.60. For full details and to apply, click here.
  • Senior Management Analyst. Annual salary range: $94,619.20 - $115,003.20. For full details and to apply, click here.

Yolo County is also seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer (Annual salary range: $166,088.00 - $201,884.80). Email a letter of interest and detailed resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org by Friday, July 7, 2023. The job announcement is found here, and the recruitment brochure may be viewed here. 

 

Strategic Growth Council Announces Round 1 of Community Resilience Centers Grant Program

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has announced the availability of funding for Round 1 of the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program through this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). SGC anticipates that approximately $5 million in Planning Grant funding, approximately $9.6 million in Project Development Grant funding, and approximately $84 million in Implementation Grant funding will be available for competitive awards in Round 1.  

To demonstrate interest in applying for a CRC Planning Grant, Project Development Grant, or Implementation Grant, all prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply Survey as early as possible. This form closes at 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. 

Applicants intending to apply for a CRC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant may request application technical assistance (TA) through the CRC Application TA Request Form by no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 16, 2023. 

To be considered for a CRC Implementation Grant award, interested applicants must complete an Implementation Grant Pre-Proposal, which includes a request for application technical assistance. Implementation Grant Pre-Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 16, 2023. 

Full CRC Planning, Project Development, and Implementation Grant Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, according to the terms of this NOFA.  

The NOFA may be found here.  For more information or questions, please contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will. 

 

USDA Grants Available to Help Rural California Repair Their Homes Damaged By Floods and Fires in 2022

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announces the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by severe weather or natural disasters in 2022, including the California Mosquito, Oak, Coastal, Fairview, and Mill fires as well as severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

People living in identified counties in California may be eligible for the funding. The homes must be located in presidentially declared disaster areas.

The grants will be available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.

Funds will be available until expended. They may be used to:

  • Pay for home repair expenses that were a result of a presidentially declared disaster in calendar year 2022.
  • Prepare a site for a manufactured home.
  • Relocate a manufactured home.

To be eligible:

  • Applicants must have household incomes that do not exceed the low-limits based on their household size and county.
  • Homes must be located in an eligible rural area.
  • Homes must be located in a presidentially declared disaster areas 2022.

Residents in the following counties may be eligible for the funding: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo

For more information on how to apply, visit the USDA website here.

 

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox