ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic and Community Development Director DATE: August 28, 2025
SUBJECT: Agreement with Kern Community College District (not to exceed $847,500) for Workforce Development Plan
and Economic Opportunities Plan (Ward 1,2,3)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the City of Bakersfield applied for a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant from the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). In partnership with local organizations and the community, the Southeast Strong initiative was created. It consists of projects and programs focused in Southeast Bakersfield, an area of the City with some of the most disadvantaged census tracts in the State of California as determined by CalEnviroScreen 4.0. This initiative is aimed at making capital improvements within the area to address underinvestment and to bring new opportunities to southeast residents.
Proposed improvements include new affordable housing, urban greening, bicycle and pedestrian transportation improvements, energy efficiency improvements for low-income homeowners, and support programs.
On March 10, 2025, the City entered into Agreement No. SGC23129 with SGC for the TCC grant in the amount of $22,125,000 for the Southeast Strong initiative. Funds will be used to support multiple revitalization projects and programs for Southeast Bakersfield.
The Southeast Strong Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Plan (WDEOP) will tie proposed programs and projects with residents to create a synergy around investing in the TCC focus area. The City will partner with four agencies to execute the WDEOP. Cohesively, the partners in the WDEOP will facilitate meaningful dialogue and connection with residents to ensure programs and projects impact the livelihood of residents in the focus area. The agreement would award the Kern Community College District (KCCD) $847,500 in TCC funds for the WDEOP.
FISCAL IMPACT:
These services will be funded with the TCC State grant funds, thus there will be no fiscal impact to the City General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
Community Character & Quality of Life
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENT:
1. Agreement