SGC Approves $70 Million Package For Fresno’s Transformative Climate Communities Projects

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) today approved a $70 million package of projects in Southwest Fresno, Downtown Fresno and Chinatown through the Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC).

The projects were proposed by area residents and business owners through an unprecedented series of community meetings that put the power to decide how to spend the $70 million in the residents’ hands.  All of the proposed projects were distilled into five packages that were presented before a steering committee of the residents and business owners with the final vote taking place in early October.

The steering committee overwhelmingly selected a package that included a West Fresno Satellite Campus for Fresno City College, community gardens, low carbon transportation improvements, affordable housing, urban greening, and local economic development.

“This $70 million will lead to triple the investment in economic development – and that will mean more jobs and better services for everyone. It will not only transform communities, it will transform lives.” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand. “This funding will be the catalyst for further investment that will help Fresno bring new life to our most vulnerable communities.”

The $70 million was approved by the SGC in November 2016 for projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that include multiple, coordinated GHG emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities.

“The strength of Fresno’s Transformative Climate Communities proposal is a testament to the vision of local community members when they are empowered to define the path forward for their city. We are thrilled to support this community-led plan to improve health and spur economic development in Fresno.” said Randall Winston, Executive Director of the Strategic Growth Council.

The Transformative Climate Communities Collaborative was created to bring together local leaders to identify investments that will catalyze economic and environmental transformation in Southwest, Chinatown and downtown Fresno. The City of Fresno and the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) partnered together to provide support for the community meetings and to provide the basis to apply for future TCC grants.