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Fresno Transformative Climate Communities Collaborative
Bringing together local leaders to identify investments that will catalyze economic and environmental transformation in Downtown, Chinatown, and Southwest Fresno.
What is FTCCC?
The Fresno Transformative Climate Communities Collaborative is a participatory process to identify a series of projects to invest in that will result in significant environmental and economic benefits for people who live or work in downtown, Chinatown, and southwest Fresno. The Collaborative will be meeting regularly from July through September to establish a proposal that will be submitted to the state for the $70 million from the Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC).
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How do I get involved?
Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in downtown, Chinatown, or southwest Fresno can join the Collaborative. The purpose of the Collaborative will be to encourage and nurture creative project ideas, develop local criteria to define the type of catalytic and connective impact projects should have, and provide the City of Fresno with direction on the proposal of integrated projects included in their application to the state for funding. The first meeting of the Collaborative will be on Thursday, July 20 at 6:00pm.
Why are we receiving these funds?
In November of 2016, the California Strategic Growth Council selected Fresno as one of three cities in the state to be a pilot for their new Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC). This program was created “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”.
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What is the purpose of the funds?
The funds are intended to be used for “comprehensive public investments” that can effectively catalyze private and public resources to achieve environmental and economic transformation. The SGC intends to allocate funds toward a few larger investments, rather than more comparatively smaller awards, in order to attract catalytic private resources and have greater transformational impact. Because these are funds from the state’s cap and trade auction proceeds, there are significant restrictions on the types of projects that can be funded.
Why was Fresno chosen?
Fresno was selected to receive 50% of the total available funds, or $70 million, to implement projects that have been identified through community-driven planning processes that achieve significant greenhouse gas reduction benefits, improve public health and environmental benefits, and expand economic opportunity and shared prosperity. A Final Statement of Reasons (November 2016) outlines the below justifications in more detail.
Concentrated poverty
Having the highest per capita concentration of people living in the state’s most disadvantaged communities.
Suburban Sprawl Challenges
Significant concentrated poverty and infill development challenges stemming from suburban sprawl.
Community-Driven Planning
Significant local leadership, policy change, climate-smart investments, and community-driven planning processes that have prepared us to be ready for significant state investment.