Agenda Item No. 7E
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUADALUPE
Agenda of September 12, 2023
_______________________________
Prepared by:
Todd Bodem, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Disposition of Measure A circulation funds
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2023-72, identifying priorities for the use of Measure A circulation funds.
DISCUSSION:
Voter passage in November 2008 of the Road Repair, Traffic Relief and Transportation Safety Measure (Measure A), was estimated to provide approximately $1.0 billion for transportation needs over 30 years within Santa Barbara County, from 2010-2040.
One of the specific projects listed in Measure A is Guadalupe Circulation Improvements. This project is identified as “improving local streets and highways, consistent with the City of Guadalupe’s circulation element, including widening roads, installing traffic signals, including bicycle and pedestrian safety, and improving intersections.” The current projected 30-year Measure A apportionment for Guadalupe Circulation Improvements is $4.45 million, based on the most recent projection from the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). These funds need to be spent by 2040.
Staff needs direction from City Council to identify how these funds should be spent. Potential specific projects are summarized below:
Guadalupe Highway 166 Consolidated Project
Numerous Caltrans projects are scheduled for construction over the next several years, including those shown in the diagram in Attachment 1. At the same time, the Pasadera development is obligated to install a traffic signal at Highway 166 and Obispo Street, and the Santa Barbara Council of Governments (SBCAG) is working on installing a traffic signal at Highway 1 and 166. Caltrans approached all interested parties with the concept of consolidating all these projects into one project (“consolidated project”). At a meeting on June 1, 2023, Caltrans presented a potential cost share for completing the consolidated project. Caltrans requested that the City contribute $3 million of its circulation funds to this estimated $31 million project. Spending Guadalupe Circulation project funds in this matter is consistent with the original intent of this funding. At the June 27, 2023, City Council meeting, Council approved $3 million of circulation funds to the consolidated project and the remaining balance to other city projects.
In a follow up meeting with Caltrans personnel on June 28, 2023, and in subsequent communications between Caltrans, SBCAG, and the city, further discussions were held about the potential cost share for completion of the consolidated project. After further project design and cost scoping review, utilizing all the Measure A funds allows the city to leverage a larger improvement project that would result in a quicker and more comprehensive and complete improvement of the Highway 166 (or West Main) corridor from Hwy 1 to Flower Avenue.
Accordingly, Caltrans is now requesting that the City contribute the entire $4,45 million of its circulation funds to the consolidated project. Staff recommends that the Council approve this request since the improvements of the consolidated project are so important to the City, even though doing so will leave no funds for the other city projects that Council had approved for use of Measure A circulation funds (i.e., $100,000 for Curb ramp ADA improvements and sidewalk repair, with the remaining funds in the amount of $976,000 to be spent on bicycle and pedestrian related projects).
FISCAL IMPACT
Using funding in this manner will help to facilitate this consolidated project which will be a significant improvement to the Hwy 1/166 gateway to the City of Guadalupe and address circulatory needs of the community, residents, and businesses in the project area.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Consolidated Project
2. Resolution No. 2023-72
�) � Guadalupe Highway 166 Projects
Proposed Consolidation Fact Sheet
-Legend:
-os-1F290
-os-1MJ10 os-uno
GUADALUPE
PASADERA
DEVELOPMENT
(I)
TAYLOR FARMS
Proj«t Componlftlts
- lmpmVl!d crosYng and ADA rurtKat Highway 1/166
-South sidewalk fiom Highway I to Union Pacific Railroad (across railroad) - North sKlewalk from Highway 1 to Obispo st.
-Westbound bike path
<®
- Striping and RHMA surfacing along Highway 166/across Union Pacific Railroad - Anal 11ft of pavement O'W!r alt projects
SANTAMARIA
PASADERA
DEVELOPMENT
Proj«t CompOMnts
-ObispoSUHighway l66signal
(�°I!J
- lnteK:oonect horn signal to Union Pacific Railroad
- Crossing and ADA curbs at Higtwtay 166JObispo st
- Eastbound bike path
Contad
Project Manger Meg Henry
[email protected]
(805)441-3792
f'.�}
- Addition of 2nd eastbound receiving laoe on Highwa)' 166 across Union Pacific RailrOiKI
- Installation of median barrier
-Mitigation fur impacts to drainage ditdl
-Utillty 1ekxatioo
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-72
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY GUADALUPE SPECIFYING DISPOSITION OF
MEASURE A CIRCULATION FUNDS
WHEREAS, the Road Repair, Traffic Relief and Transportation Safety Measure (Measure A) of 2008 provides a minimum of $4.476 million for Guadalupe Circulation Improvements; and WHEREAS, use of these funds is limited to “improving local streets and highways, consistent with the City of Guadalupe’s circulation element, including widening roads, installing traffic signals, including bicycle and pedestrian safety, and improving intersections”; and WHEREAS, these funds need to be spent by 2040.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Guadalupe as follows:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct.
2. Resolution No. 2023-52 is hereby rescinded.
3. The following list of projects will be funded with Measure A Guadalupe circulation funds:
Title Description Funds
Caltrans “Consolidated Project” West Main Street $4.45 million PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting on the 12th day of September 2023 by the following vote:
MOTION:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
I, Amelia M. Villegas, City Clerk of the City of Guadalupe DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No. 2023-72, has been duly signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk, all at a regular meeting of the City Council, held September 12, 2023, and that same was approved and adopted.
ATTEST:
______________________________ ____________________________________ Amelia M. Villegas, City Clerk Ariston Julian, Mayor
ATTACHMENT 2
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Philip F. Sinco, City Attorney
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
City of Guadalupe
918 Obispo Street
P.O. Box 908
Guadalupe, CA 93434
Tel (805) 356-3903
To: Mr. Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Larry Appel, Contract Planning Director
Date: September 1, 2023
RE: Planning Report Covering August 2023
MINISTERIAL PROJECTS
Zoning Clearances Approved 2
Zoning Clearances Denied 0
Zoning Verification Letters 0
Business Licenses Approved 2
Business Licenses Denied 0
ADUs approved 2
AUP for short-term rental 0
DISCRETIONARY PROJECTS
Please refer to the next page for specific projects and their current status.
If you have any questions regarding any projects listed in this report, please contact me at [email protected] or call (805) 598-8385.
Agenda Item No. 7F 1.
Ministerial Permit Report– August 2023
(Reported 9-1-2023)
Zoning Clearance Approvals
2023-052-ZC Central Coast Processing 151 Obispo Street
2023-059-ZC Baez Paving II 4932 Point Sal Circle
Zoning Clearance Denials
None
ADU Approvals
2023-051-ZC Sahagun ADU 4435 Holly Street
2023-054-ZC Navaro ADU 5000 Sandpiper
and JADU
Business License Approvals
Hernandez Family Childcare daycare 1183 Pacheco
The Notary on Wheels notary 136 Masatani
Business License Denials
None
Guadalupe City Planning Department
Planning Processing Summary for August 2023
(9-1-23 update)
Case No. Name Submittal
Date
Comp. Date Status OK for Bldg.
Permit Issuance
2022-088-LM -
Voluntary Lot
Merger $
Trudy Brands December 5,
2022
Under Review. NO
2022-093-LS -
Residential Lot
Split $
Lupe Alvarez December 19,
2022
Planning Review Completed - Awaiting Final
City Attorney review of conditions to complete
and send the Lot Split to the County
Surveyor.
NO
2022-063-LM $ Mahoney Lot Merger August 11,
2022
INC 9-11-22 Incomplete Application Letter sent on
September 11, 2022.
NO
2022-065-LLA - La
Guardia $
La Guardia
Townhomes lot line
adjustment
August 22,
2022-
COMP. Changed from an LLA to Lot Merger per
Govt. Code and approved by City Engineer
December 2023.
NO
2022-016-GPZ
2022-017-DR
2022-018-VTTM $
Snowy Plover 3-10-22 Incomplete
4-09-22
Application resubmitted on February 24,
2023. Second Incomplete letter sent 3-24-23.
Owner/applicant attempting to contact
neighboring property for permission to
access. No change in status for several
months.
NO
2023-031-CUP Root One retail
dispensary
June 1, 2023 INC
June 29, 2023
Set for September 12 CC public hearing. NO
2023-047-LLA Alvarez 11th Street July 11, 2023 INC Under Review by Planning. NO 2023-013-LS
SB-9 Split
Reed Lot Split 3-7-23 Planning Review Completed - Preparing Lot Split application for County Surveyor review
and recordation.
NO
6th Cycle Housing
Element
Mandatory Update Fall 2022 n/a Consultant working on Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
2023-055-DR Crandall 12th Street
Multi-Family
development (9 apts +
2 ADUs)
August 10th August 20th Set for September 12, CC public hearing. NO No$ = unreimbursed planning work
$ = projects where a fixed fee has been paid
9-1-23
Agenda Item No. 7F 2.
Building Inspections Report - August 2023
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
September 12, 2023
(Information below may be subject to change)
1. State of the City
City staff will find a schedule that works with the Council to hold a special city council “State of the City” meeting. Most of the department heads have provided draft presentation materials to the City Administrator.
2. Electric Bus Press Conference
The electric bus has arrived in Santa Maria and is in the process of being set up at the wastewater facility. The Central Coast Community Energy organization has volunteered to set up a press conference to announce the electric bus. The press conference is scheduled for September 22, 2023, at 10 am (tentative) in front of City Hall.
There is a working guest list, and the organizers would like to know if someone from the city would like to speak.
3. Hwy 1/166 Coop – August 6 Meeting
The city is currently working on various interagency Local Contribution Agreements (LCO) Cooperatives between Caltrans and SBCAG and between Caltrans and the City for the Hwy 1/166 consolidation of the estimated $31M project.
4. Notice of Closure – Los Amigos De Guadalupe.
It is with great sadness that Los Amigos de Guadalupe (LADG) announced it is shutting down all operations as of September 30, 2023. Due to staffing shortage and budgetary constraints, the Board of Directors of LADG have concluded that it is not financially feasible to continue operation. LADG will be using this remaining time to complete as much of the required grant work as possible and respond to any requests the City may have. Beyond September 30, 2023, there will be no staff to provide the above grant’s work/service. The remaining Board Members will be working solely on legally closing the corporation.
Where do we go from here: The Mayor, City Administrator, Finance Director, and City Attorney are now considering options work with Central Coast Seniors (AAA) programs.
The City of Guadalupe is committed to continuing our CDBG state contracts to continue the senior meal program through the existing CDBG contract period to October 2024. The goal would be to continue meal services beyond that date.
Agenda Item No. 8.
The goal of the city effort is to make sure that all those involved with Guadalupe Senior meals, and other services, communicate with one another so that the word on the street is accurate and does not allow for misinformation to circulate negatively impacting local seniors.
The Mayor and Key City staff will meet with Central Coast Seniors and other AAA staff to discuss options for continued services should this be the course.
5. RERC Guadalupe: Final Plan
The city is thrilled to share the final Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Community Action Plan for Guadalupe! Attachment 1 is the final product. Attachment 2 is the complete appendices.
The consultants want to thank the city stakeholders for their energy, enthusiasm, and persistence as everyone made their way through this process together. The consultants expressed that they particularly want to recognize Mayor Ariston Julian, Garret Matsuura, Tiffany Gonzales, Alejandra Mahoney, the RERC Steering Committee, the team from the city, and all the other residents and partners who provided ideas, vision, and behind-the-scenes support over these past months. The combined efforts are truly making a difference in our community, and you inspire us!
6. Townsend Public Affairs Monthly Grants Memo – City of Guadalupe (September) Attachment 3, please find this month’s grants memo. Please let the city staff know if you have any questions or want to chat about anything you see here!
7. Guadalupe Successor Agency (SA) – Notice of Availability of Surplus Land Act (SLA) and Compensation – Al’s Union Property
The city has not received any responses to the Notice of Availability for the Al’s Union site.
City staff is working with the City Attorney and the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Attorney to commence with the City/SA must negotiation of good faith for 90 days, with the 90-day period starting on August 27.
The RDA needs to send a letter and other evidence of compliance with the SLA to HCD. After 30 days or so from the date of delivery of the letter, the property can be transferred. As we discussed, the property can be transferred to the City “for future development” under the Dissolution Law. That will require both Countywide Oversight Board approval and Department of Finance (DOF) approval. It will also require a compensation agreement.
At this point, the city will wait on that process and revise the compensation agreement to include Al’s Union once all approvals have been obtained.
8. CONGRESS MEMBERS FACE TIGHT DEADLINE TO ENACT APPROPRIATION BILLS As Congress returns from its month-long August recess, one crucial task looms large on their to-do list: enacting appropriations bills to fund the government for the fiscal year 2024. The looming October 1 deadline has put pressure on members to come to a swift resolution, but disagreements on several critical policy issues have made a timely enactment unlikely.
Despite the numerous policy issues under consideration, the overriding obstacle to the successful passage of these bills is the demand by some conservative House members that nondefense spending be reduced to the overall level of the previous fiscal year. As a result, Congressional leaders are focusing on enacting short-term funding authority to keep the government running and provide more time for the budgetary process. The goal is to ensure continuity of government services without interruption while allowing lawmakers to hammer out the details of fiscal appropriations for the coming year. SBCAG is advocating to preserve the transportation funding that was enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and supporting additional funding for these programs in fiscal year 2024 through the annual appropriations process. In addition, SBCAG is continuing to support public transportation programs, passenger rail improvements, and climate efforts such as electric vehicle infrastructure programs. Don Gilchrest, Thomas Walters & Associates, Inc. shares all this and more in the August Federal Legislative Update.
9. CALIFORNIA ASKS FOR $105 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT FOR SANTA BARBARA U.S. 101
CORRIDOR
The California Department of Transportation submitted a federal grant application to the U.S.
Department of Transportation to fund completion of the Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor on Monday. The $105 million application is one of three that the state of California submitted for the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program benefiting the entire central coast region. SBCAG is a partner on the grant application. To increase competitiveness, Caltrans and SBCAG are leveraging the recently awarded $132.4 million Senate Bill 1, Cycle 3 funds to provide a more than 70 percent non-federal match. Building on years of community engagement, broad public support for corridor improvements continues with support letters from congressional representatives including Senator Feinstein, Congressman Carbajal, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, State Senator Assemblymember Monique Limón, State Assemblymember Gregg Hart and Steve Bennett, local member jurisdictions, and organizations representing social and environmental justice, active transportation organizations and the business industry. Award announcements are anticipated by the U.S. DOT in October or November. The funding opportunity is made possible because of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and exemplifies the project team’s readiness and collaborative momentum to aggressively pursue funding opportunities to take the project across the finish line.
10. 577K FOR NORTH COUNTY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROGRAM Approximately $577,000 in competitive funding is available over the next four years to support pedestrian and bicycle safety projects in North Santa Barbara County. This program, known as the “Measure A North County Safe Routes to School, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program,” aims to support projects in the cities of Buellton, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Solvang, as well as the County of Santa Barbara. School districts, universities, colleges, transit agencies, SBCAG, non-profits and Caltrans are eligible to compete for funds with a city or county sponsor. SBCAG will kick off the Measure A, Cycle 4 process this month with a presentation to the North County Subregional Committee and convene an advisory committee to develop guidelines and score applications. Pre-applications will be accepted December 15 and final applications due February 16.
11. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE RETURNS FROM SUMMER RECESS: SPOTLIGHT ON BROWN ACT The California legislature is back, returning from summer recess on August 14. The August state legislative update highlights broadband, Brown Act and the Caltrans System Investment Strategy. There are several bills of interest up for consideration, including SB 825 (Limón), sponsored by SBCAG which is headed for the Governor’s desk for consideration of signature.
The legislation adds "metropolitan planning organizations" and "regional transportation planning agencies" to the definition of local agencies who may apply for local agency technical assistance program grants through the California Public Utilities Commission for first and lastmile broadband service. Earlier this year, Governor Gavin Newsom lifted the state emergency declaration, which led to modifications in remote participation for board meetings under the Brown Act, such as AB 2449 (Rubio), Chapter 285, Statutes of 2022 and several new bills being considered in 2023. Additionally, Caltrans’ statewide investment framework is in the works outlining how funding will be allocated for competitive programs. SBCAG Board of Directors will receive an update in the Fall on the formal Caltrans System Investment Strategy. There is a close eye on its development to better understand benefits and impacts to the region. Gus Khouri of Khouri Consulting LLC shares all this and more.
12. USDA Water Wastewater Program Grant Opportunity
According to Al Correale of USDA Rural Development there is a new disaster water grant emergency grant program that the city may be eligible for. If the City Hires Townsend Public Affairs, they could easily write this and so many other grants.
13. Royal Theater
The city keeps forging ahead with the Royal Theater project. Sending out RFP and bid documents for construction. The city is now contemplating a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Guadalupe and the Guadalupe Visual Performing Arts Center regarding the future operators for the Royal Theater.
14. Organizational Gaps
As you know there are several openings in the city. Recruiting is very tough right now, particularly in those areas listed below that current staff is handling:
a. Director of Public Works/City Engineer. No prospects, staff may recommend a combination of a director and outsource for city engineer. b. Associate Planner. No prospects, staff may recommend outsource options. City Administrator to speak to Santa Maria as fill in, if necessary. c. Grant Writer/Administrator/Project Manager. Staff thinks is needed. d. IT Services. Contemplating In-house hire vs contract e. Recreation Services Manager. Recently advertised.
END OF REPORT
Guadalupe, California
2023
COMMUNITY
ACTION PLAN
ATTACHMENT 1
2 Guadalupe, California
For more information about the Recreation
Economy for Rural Communities program,
please visit:
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/recreationeconomy-rural-communities U.S. EPA Project Contact:
Lauryn Coombs
Office of Community Revitalization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (MC 1807T)
Washington, DC 20460
202-566-2290
[email protected]
Local Project Contact:
Garret Matsuura
Guadalupe Business Association
PO Box 685
Guadalupe, CA 93434
805-619-0980
[email protected]
Cover photo credit: Mayor Ariston Julian
PROJECT CONTACTS
3 Guadalupe, California
PLAN CONTEXT
Guadalupe was one of 25 towns across the nation
selected to receive planning assistance through the
second round of the Recreation Economy for Rural
Communities program. Sponsored by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USDA
Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional
Commission (NBRC), and the Appalachian Regional
Commission (ARC), the program is helping
communities develop action plans to strengthen
their outdoor recreation sectors and revitalize their
downtowns.
Local leaders from Guadalupe requested planning
assistance to leverage the city’s rich natural
amenities to enhance community vitality. The
community is just a few miles from the Pacific coast
and the majestic Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, the
largest intact coastal dune ecosystem on Earth,
which supports a wide range of unique habitats and
rare special status species. The Rancho Guadalupe
Dunes County Park, Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve,
and Oso Flaco Lake are destinations for walking,
fishing, surfing, birding, picnicking, and more.
Cycling is another popular activity, with Highway 1
as the city’s main thoroughfare.
However, despite their unparalleled beauty and
uniqueness, Guadalupe’s recreational amenities are
not as well used as community members would like.
There are no walking or biking trails or public
transportation connecting the downtown with the
beach, a major barrier for residents without cars and
a limiting factor when it comes to attracting tourism.
Additionally, there is no lodging in Guadalupe, the
downtown has numerous vacant buildings and lots,
and there is little awareness of the community’s
recreational and cultural destinations and events
outside its borders. Furthermore, during the course
of this planning effort, the city experienced record
rainfall and flooding, which completely washed out
West Main Street leading to the beach.
Alejandra Mahoney, Los Amigos de Guadalupe
Tiffany Gonzales, Los Amigos de Guadalupe
Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business
Association
Ariston Julian, Mayor, City of Guadalupe
Lupe Alvarez, Lupe’s Company
Larry Appel, City of Guadalupe
Cory Bantilan, 5th District, County of Santa
Barbara
Mira Beyeler, Guadalupe Visual and Performing
Arts Center
Todd Bodem, City of Guadalupe
Rachel Couch, State Coastal Conservancy
Emily Dreiling, Recreation Commission, City of
Guadalupe
Hannah Fuentes, City of Guadalupe
Bob Havlicek, Housing Authority of the County
of Santa Barbara
Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council
Steve Lavagnino, 5th District, County of Santa
Barbara
Chachi Ramirez, Guadalupe Visual and
Performing Arts Center
Roberto Rodriguez, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid
Central Coast
Brooks Van Wingerden, Guadalupe Social Club
L Erika Weber, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Center
Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails
Council
LOCAL STEERING COMMITTEE
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes (Credit: Mayor Ariston
Julian)
4 Guadalupe, California
Los Amigos de Guadalupe and a coalition of
partners applied to the Recreation Economy for
Rural Communities (RERC) program in order to
address these challenges and capitalize on outdoor
recreation to improve local quality of life, bring in
visitors, retain and attract residents, and benefit the economy. The community is seeking to improve
beach access, strengthen youth engagement,
revitalize its downtown, increase lodging options,
and promote itself as a tourism destination.
Key point: Guadalupe residents are
proud of the dunes and excited to
strengthen their connections with the
beach. With thoughtful planning and
coordinated action, outdoor
recreation can engage more people,
support a revitalized downtown, and
help businesses grow.
Over the course of one year, a Local Steering
Committee worked with a Planning Assistance Team
made up of planning consultants and federal and
state agency partners to assess opportunities and
challenges, set goals to build up outdoor recreation
and invigorate Guadalupe’s downtown, convene a
public workshop on April 12-13, 2023, and create
this Community Action Plan. The plan was
developed through a grassroots collaborative
process starting at the workshop and continuing in
follow-up meetings focused on refining it and
identifying implementation resources.
The plan documents the workshop process and
community feedback and includes a set of specific
actions—complete with initial steps and timeframes,
lead and support roles, and measures of success—to
guide recreation economy development in
Guadalupe over the next two to three years.
Reyes Barboza Jr, U.S. EPA Office of Community
Revitalization
Grace Bottitta-Williamson, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, Marine
Sanctuaries
Lisa Butler, USDA Rural Development, California
State Office
Lauryn Coombs, U.S. EPA Office of Community
Revitalization
Al Correale, USDA Rural Development, California
State Office
Carlos Flores, National Park Service, Rivers, Trails,
and Conservation Assistance Program
Maria Gallegos-Herrera, USDA Rural
Development, California State Office
Jane Gray, California Waterboards, Central Coast
Regional Board
Patrick Johnston, National Park Service, Rivers,
Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
Megan McConville, EPR, PC (Facilitator)
Matthew Nourmohamadian, USDA Forest
Service, Los Padres National Forest
Ángel Peña, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project
(Facilitator)
Carol Pranka, USDA Rural Development,
California State Office
Marcos Ramos, USDA Rural Development,
California State Office
Barbara Rice, National Park Service, Rivers, Trails,
and Conservation Assistance Program
Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, Central Coast Climate
Justice Network
Frances Sakaguchi, U.S. Economic Development
Administration, Seattle Regional Office
Alicia Sanchez Scott, USDA Forest Service, Los
Padres National Forest
Kristine Schilpp, California State Parks, Office of
Grants and Local Services
Noora Shehab-Sehovic, U.S. EPA Region 9
Abdulfetah Sigal, U.S. EPA Region 9
Danna Stroud, California Governor's Office of
Business and Economic Development
Jasmine White, U.S. EPA Office of Community
Revitalization
PLANNING ASSISTANCE TEAM
5 Guadalupe, California
THE OPPORTUNITY
Surrounded on all sides by farmland, just a few miles
from California’s scenic Central Coast, and with a rich cultural heritage, Guadalupe is a place of
tremendous opportunity. The city grew up with a
diverse foundation, with Mexican, Swiss, Japanese,
Portuguese, Filipino, and more sharing culture and
building a community. Over time, the population has
shifted to encompass a strong Hispanic and Mixtec
heritage. The area’s best known natural asset is the
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex, one of the
most ecologically significant and largest intact
coastal dune ecosystems on Earth, curving up and
down over 18 miles of coastline. A significant
portion of the complex’s nearly 22,000 acres is under
public management and open for recreation. Public
areas include Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park,
Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area, and the GuadalupeNipomo Dunes Wildlife Refuge, popular local destinations for hiking, fishing, surfing, wildlife
viewing, and photography.
Before the 2023 floods, Guadalupe’s Main Street
ended at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park,
providing the only easy coastal access for the entire
Santa Maria Valley’s 140,000 residents. The park is
not just convenient; it is an extraordinary nature
preserve featuring towering 550-foot-high dunes—
the tallest on the West Coast—as well as the Santa
Maria River Estuary. The dunes serve as breeding
and nesting habitat for the endangered western
snowy plover and are filled with plants that are
specially adapted to the unique environment. The
park was the backdrop for the 1923 film The Ten
Commandments by Cecil B. DeMille and the remains
of the set are still buried in the sand. Guadalupe’s
Dunes Center offers group walks, educational
programs for kids, exhibits, and visitor information
related to the dunes.
Downtown Guadalupe (Credit: Mayor Ariston Julian)
Fishing on the Pacific coast near Guadalupe (Credit:
Mayor Ariston Julian)
Tree planting at Jack O’Connell Park (Credit: Christina Hernandez)
6 Guadalupe, California
Despite the proximity and quality of Guadalupe’s
outdoor recreation assets, they are not as well
integrated into community life and the economy as
they could be. With no walking or biking trails or
public transportation connecting the town and the
beach, it is very difficult for residents without cars to go and visit. Community members would also like to
see more amenities at the county park. There is
great enthusiasm for helping more families enjoy
“close to home” recreation, engaging youth in
recreation and related careers, creating more
community recreation programming and events, and
ensuring that decisions made around recreation
infrastructure, including flood recovery near the
beach, are guided by the community and driven by
their interests and needs.
Investing in its recreation sites, marketing them, and
creating lodging options would also enable
Guadalupe to capitalize on the well-developed
tourism economies elsewhere in Santa Barbara and
San Luis Obispo Counties, capturing tourism dollars
and supporting job creation locally. In short,
significant opportunities exist to improve, promote,
and connect the town’s recreation facilities for
greater social, economic, and community impact.
Key point: Guadalupe has the
ingredients it needs for outdoor
recreation to be a foundation for
social connection, youth engagement,
economic opportunity, and
community wellbeing.
Guadalupe has a walkable downtown studded with
historic buildings, local businesses, and murals. It is home to a strong contingent of popular locallyowned and operated restaurants as well as nonprofit organizations and the Spanish colonial style City
Hall. LeRoy Park and the Ron Estabillo Clubhouse
were recently renovated and include new
playground equipment, barbecue areas, and a
refurbished gymnasium, and serve as a home for the
Goal 1 – Beach Access: Create more
opportunities for safe, convenient, resilient,
and free multi-model access from
Guadalupe to the beach while preserving
the area’s rural character.
Goal 2 – Youth Engagement: Create
opportunities for youth to pursue their
interests outdoors, engage in science and
nature learning, and take active roles in
Guadalupe’s outdoor recreation economy.
Goal 3 – Downtown Revitalization:
Support a vibrant downtown that reflects
and preserves the community’s rich cultural
diversity and identity.
Goal 4 – Lodging: Increase lodging
options to attract visitors to Guadalupe
and lengthen their stays.
Goal 5 – Promotion: Promote Guadalupe
as an attractive destination for adventure,
heritage, and recreation tourism,
agritourism, and ecotourism.
WORKSHOP GOALS
Local residents participating in a community festival
(Credit: Christina Hernandez)
7 Guadalupe, California
Boys and Girls Club and a hub for the community.
City officials have secured $10 million to bring the
iconic and long-vacant Royal Theater back to life as
a community gathering place, regional destination,
and the home of the Guadalupe Visual and
Performing Arts Center, whose plans include a green
room, classrooms, meeting spaces, an industrial
kitchen, a plaza, and an outdoor amphitheater. The
storied Far Western Tavern has been donated to the
Dunes Center for a new museum and a possible
hotel on the upper floors.
Guadalupe has an Amtrak station served by the
Pacific Surfliner route, which runs from San Luis
Obispo to Santa Barbara and points south. The
public bus system, the Guadalupe Flyer, also
provides transportation around the city and to Santa
Maria. The main thoroughfare is part of Highway 1,
bringing cyclists and motorists through town.
In between these remarkable downtown amenities
are a significant number of vacant buildings and lots,
and the city has struggled to attract investment,
despite its status as an Opportunity Zone. The
community lacks shopping, services, and
hotels/motels, which results in many local dollars
being spent in neighboring Santa Maria. There is
also a need for streetscape beautification to enhance
the downtown environment and emphasize
Guadalupe’s strong community identity and
character to visitors.
The Local Steering Committee and community
decided to focus their action planning on improving
beach access, engaging youth in the outdoors and
related education and careers, revitalizing the
downtown, creating lodging options, and promoting
Guadalupe as a tourism destination. The goals they
developed and approved, shown in the text box on
the previous page, guided the workshop and this
Community Action Plan. With these goals, the
community seeks to build a vibrant outdoor
Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area (Credit: Garret Matsuura)
LeRoy Park and Community Center (Credit: Malcolm
Ross)
Farmland surrounding Guadalupe (Credit: Mayor
Ariston Julian)
8 Guadalupe, California
recreation sector and downtown that support
connected, healthy, and thriving residents.
9 Guadalupe, California
PLANNING PROCESS
The RERC planning assistance process consists of
three phases, illustrated in the diagram below:
assess, convene and implement. The “assess” phase
included three conference calls with the Local
Steering Committee and Planning Assistance Team
to gain a baseline understanding of Guadalupe,
clarify local goals, and arrange workshop logistics.
The “convene” phase was focused on the capstone
event—a two-day public workshop. The “implement”
phase entailed three follow-up conference calls to
finalize the Community Action Plan and strategize
on how to maintain the momentum generated at
the workshop and implement the plan. Guadalupe’s
workshop program and activities are described
briefly below. The RERC participant contact list is
provided in Appendix A, workshop exercise results
are detailed in Appendix B, funding and technical
assistance resources in Appendix C, and general
recreation- and downtown-related references in
Appendix D.
Participants in Day 1 of the workshop at the Ron
Estabillo Clubhouse on April 12, 2023 (Credit: Megan
McConville)
10 Guadalupe, California
THE WORKSHOP
Guadalupe’s workshop took place on April 12-13,
2023. Prior to the public workshop, the Local
Steering Committee led a community tour for the
Planning Assistance Team, bringing them to visit
destinations and meet with local leaders throughout
Guadalupe. Stops included Oso Flaco Lake Natural
Area, the end of West Main Street where the recent
floods washed out the road, the Dunes Center, the
Far Western Tavern, the Royal Theater, City Hall, and
other sites across downtown.
Over 75 enthusiastic Guadalupe residents and
federal and state partners attended the opening
community meeting, held on April 12, 2023, at the
Ron Estabillo Clubhouse on Leroy Park. Spanish and
Mixteco interpretation was provided. Mayor Ariston
Julian welcomed attendees and underscored the
importance of this chance to work together to chart
a direction for the city over the coming days.
After participant introductions, the Planning
Assistance Team gave an overview of the RERC
program and outlined the opportunities presented
by the growing outdoor recreation economy both
nationally and locally. They highlighted that outdoor
recreation is not accessible, safe, and welcoming for
all people, and that communities of color and other
populations that are underrepresented in outdoor
spaces face barriers keeping them out of outdoor
activities. The facilitators pointed to sample
strategies communities are using to become more
welcoming, inclusive places where all residents and
visitors have access to the benefits of outdoor
recreation.
Participants then got updates from Local Steering
Committee members Garret Matsuura of the
Guadalupe Business Association, Mira Beyeler of the
Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Center, and
Todd Bodem, Shannon Sweeney, and Hannah
One of the community tour stops at Oso Flaco Lake
Natural Area, walking with hike leader Ray Segovia
(Credit: Megan McConville)
Viewing the flood damage to West Main Street near
the dunes during the community tour (Credit: Megan
McConville)
Outdoor recreation needs and ideas expressed
through the Guadalupe youth survey (Credit: Megan
McConville)
11 Guadalupe, California
Sanchez of the City of Guadalupe. They highlighted
Guadalupe’s downtown and recreational assets and
some recent and emerging success stories in the
community—including Leroy Park, the Royal
Theater, the newly updated City Hall gymnasium,
and the Central Park updates—and discussed how
the RERC effort could build on those.
The Planning Assistance Team reviewed the results
of the youth survey that was completed by 264 local
middle school students between the ages of 10-14
in the weeks leading up to the workshop. The survey
indicated the students’ preferences, levels of
satisfaction, barriers, and needs related to outdoor
recreation in the community.
The Planning Assistance Team also shared some of
their own reflections from the self-assessment
completed by the Local Steering Committee before
the workshop as well as from the community tour,
and presented the draft workshop goals developed
by the Local Steering Committee.
Key point: Local stakeholders in
Guadalupe are ready to act and eager
for results.
The energy continued on Day 2 of the workshop,
which was held at City Hall and attended by over 40
participants, again with Spanish and Mixteco
interpretation provided. Day 2 was an interactive day
of working together on small group exercises, asset
mapping, and brainstorming and planning for
actions to make the community’s goals a reality.
The day kicked off with a recap of Day 1 and
agreement on the workshop goals. The group then
heard from Nova Collinson, Human Resources
Director at Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and lead
local coordinator for the RERC effort in Quincy,
California. Nova described her community’s RERC
process and related projects, including the
Connected Communities trail development, the
Day 1 of the workshop at the Ron Estabillo Clubhouse on April 12, 2023 (Credit: Reyes Barboza Jr.)
The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Youth Crew program
particularly resonated with workshop attendees. (Credit:
SBTS)
Day 2 of the workshop at City Hall on April 13, 2023
(Credit: Megan McConville)
12 Guadalupe, California
Youth Crew program, and wildfire recovery and
preparedness. Danna Stroud, Central Coast Regional
Business Development Specialist at the California
Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development (GO-Biz) shared several examples of
regional recreation, tourism, and resilience efforts
from across California.
The remainder of Day 2 was spent on small group
exercises and action planning, described below.
VISIONS AND VALUES
This Community Action Plan is rooted in the visions
and values of Guadalupe residents and
stakeholders. Workshop participants engaged in
several exercises to develop and distill those
aspirations. The full results of the exercises are
available in Appendix B.
On Day 1, during introductions, each workshop
attendee shared one word about Guadalupe.
Participants also volunteered answers to the
question, “What does outdoor recreation look like to
you?” In addition, attendees brainstormed their
community’s biggest opportunities and challenges.
Day 2 focused on small group work to begin developing
the action plan (Credit: Tiffany Gonzales)
Workshop participants’ responses to the question, “What does outdoor recreation look like to you?” Responses mentioned more frequently are in larger text.
13 Guadalupe, California
On Day 2, workshop participants engaged in a small
group mapping exercise to uncover opportunities
and ideas related to outdoor recreation and
downtown revitalization in Guadalupe. Groups
marked up maps of the city, county, and region with
outdoor recreation assets, community assets, and
opportunities or big ideas.
Attendees also worked in small groups to imagine
two-day itineraries for people visiting or recreating
in Guadalupe. They considered where those people
would recreate, obtain gear and supplies, eat, sleep,
get information, and more. They created itineraries
for high schoolers and a local family with children.
Key point: Holding regular community
events, offering recreational and
cultural programming for all ages,
diversifying the downtown
commercial establishments, providing
more community gathering spaces,
and increasing communication with
residents, including intentional
outreach to the farmworker and
bilingual populations, emerged as
important priorities.
ACTION PLANNING
The action planning process during the workshop
consisted of a few phases of work. First, participants
reflected on their own, using post-it notes to
brainstorm specific actions that would advance one
or more of the identified goals. They were instructed
to begin each action with a verb, be as specific as
possible, think in the near- to medium-term (within
2 years), and consider actions they could help to
implement. Attendees then placed their post-it
notes onto posters for each goal, and the Planning
Assistance Team grouped and consolidated alike or
similar actions. Once this organization was complete,
Snapshot of one of the maps marked up by workshop
participants; the full maps and legend can be found in
Appendix B.
Participants did an itinerary planning exercise to
brainstorm how visitors and recreationists would use
local assets and what else is needed. The results of this exercise can be found in Appendix B.
Voting on high-priority actions (Credit: Tiffany Gonzales) 14 Guadalupe, California
Small groups reporting out on their actions (Credit:
Megan McConville)
The interpreter booths (Credit: Reyes Barboza Jr.)
each participant was given ten dot stickers and
asked to vote on the highest-priority actions. The
Planning Assistance Team tallied the votes and
announced the totals.
Following this, participants broke into small groups
to assess the voting results and flesh out the details
of the top three to five actions for each goal,
including initial next steps and deadlines, measures
of success, lead and supporting roles, and potential
needs and resources. This work began at the
workshop and continued during follow-up Zoom
calls with the planning assistance team and small
group work sessions until every action included
sufficient details for implementation.
Following are the full action tables as they stood at
the end of the RERC planning assistance process in
August 2023.
The action ideas and voting results for the Downtown
Revitalization goal (Credit: Lauryn Coombs)
2 COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
The action planning process during the workshop consisted of a few phases of work. First, there was a brainstorming session, where participants were asked to write down potential actions to help advance one or more goals. The next phase was a dot voting exercise where participants were given a set number of dots and were asked to vote on which actions either were most important or needed immediate attention. In the third phase, small working groups assessed the prioritization voting and fleshed out the details of the top two to five actions for each goal, such as importance, timeframe, lead role, etc. In the final phase, each small working group reported back its progress and shared any questions encountered. The tables that follow provide additional background information and detail for each goal and action.
Initial Action: Build local capacity and regional connections.
Goal 1 – Beach Access: Create more opportunities for safe, convenient, resilient, and free multimodal access from Guadalupe to the beach.
● Action 1.1 – Secure agreement with county, state, and federal officials to reopen beach access at Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve.
● Action 1.2 – Reopen access to the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve with additional transportation and other visitor amenities.
● Action 1.3 – Form a strategic action task force to identify the best route for the trail from Guadalupe to the beach. Increase conservation around trail to the beach options.
Goal 2 – Youth Engagement: Create opportunities for youth to pursue their interests in the outdoors, engage in science and nature learning, and take active roles in Guadalupe’s outdoor recreation economy.
● Action 2.1 – Create internship programs to engage youth in local issues, build job skills, and foster connections with local employers.
● Action 2.2 – Provide free youth programming related to art, nature, life skills, cooking, sewing, environmental justice, and more.
● Action 2.3 – Implement a voucher program for youth volunteers.
Goal 3 – Downtown Revitalization: Support a vibrant downtown that reflects the community’s rich cultural diversity and identity.
● Action 3.1 – Develop a vision for the downtown that is authentic and supported by community residents.
● Action 3.2 – Continue efforts already underway for the beautification and restoration of the Amtrak station.
● Action 3.3 – Secure funding for the Guadalupe Business Association and other community organizations.
3 Goal 4 – Lodging: Create lodging options to attract visitors to Guadalupe and lengthen their stays.
● Action 4.1 – Develop low-cost overnight accommodations that bicyclists can utilize while riding through Guadalupe.
● Action 4.2 – Develop a hotel on the second floor of the Far Western property. ● Action 4.3 – Explore the ideal location for an additional hotel.
Goal 5 – Promotion: Promote Guadalupe as an attractive destination for adventure, heritage, and recreation tourism, agrotourism, and ecotourism. ● Action 5.1 – Establish local farmers’ market.
● Action 5.2 – Create a billboard or signage on north-south 101 freeway promoting Guadalupe. ● Action 5.3 – Host a festival highlighting Mixteco indigenous culture.
Initial Action: Build local capacity and regional connections.
Guadalupe is a special community with big ideas and dreams, some of which are articulated in this community action plan. In order to make those dreams into reality, Guadalupe needs additional capacity.
Through creative partnerships and resource identification, the community can tap into the strengths of regional organizations to implement this plan and identify resources to build in-house local capacity.
Initial Action – Build local capacity and regional connections.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Finding new ways of increasing local capacity and tapping into regional connections is critical to achieving the goals of this plan. This initial action will make and strengthen connections with relevant regional partners, who can provide invaluable planning and project support, increasing Guadalupe’s ability to get things done. It will also help to identify and secure resources to build staff capacity locally.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Work with Danna Stroud to organize introductory meetings with the following regional agencies. (2-3 months)
o Santa Barbara County Association of Governments
o San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
o Central Coast Tourism Council
o Visit Santa Maria Valley
o LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency (Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo) o Consultant team working on the Visit California Central Coast tourism planning effort
● Follow up with the following existing regional partners. (2-3 months) o Bob Havlicek, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara o Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, Central Coast Climate Justice Network o Jeanne Sparks, Santa Barbara County Action Network
o Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails Council
4 Guadalupe, California
● Work with the regional partners to identify ways they can support or take on elements of this plan (grant writing, adding projects into existing work plans, administrative support, planning, mapping, community engagement, partnership development, promotion/marketing, etc.). (2-3 months)
● Identify resources to increase capacity at the local level. (3-6 months) o Explore the use of existing grant funding to support staff time needed to manage the grants.
o Apply for grants to increase staff capacity, such as USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grants and
philanthropic grants.
Measures of
success
● Connections made with relevant regional partners
● Regional partners supporting or leading actions from this plan ● Resources identified and secured to increase local capacity Lead Role ● Team effort! Lead varies depending on regional partner/local effort Supporting cast ● Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council ● Ariston Julian, City of Guadalupe
● Todd Bodem, City of Guadalupe
● City of Guadalupe Public Works
● Hannah Sanchez, City of Guadalupe Parks and Recreation ● Steve Lavagnino, County of Santa Barbara, 5th District ● Cory Bantilan, County of Santa Barbara, 5th District
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails Council
● Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, Central Coast Climate Justice Network ● Bob Havlicek, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara ● Danna Stroud, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
● Alejandra Mahoney
● Jeanne Sparks, Santa Barbara County Action Network
Potential needs
and resources
Goal 1: Beach Access: Create more opportunities for safe, convenient, resilient, and free multimodal access from Guadalupe to the beach.
The Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve is an unmatched outdoor recreation amenity for the Guadalupe community. With its proximity to the town, its beauty, its uniqueness, its place in cinematic history, and its promise as a site for additional educational and recreational programming, the opportunities to better connect to and utilize the preserve are immense. However, the road damage caused by the flooding in winter 2023 has cut off access to the site, and even in normal times, it is difficult for people without personal vehicles and with limited incomes to reach it. A targeted and collective effort to overcome short- and long-term barriers to 5 Guadalupe, California
access will better connect Guadalupe residents to the beach and put in place a fundamental building block of the community’s outdoor recreation economy.
Action 1.1 – Secure agreement with county, state, and federal officials to reopen beach access at Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
In order to restore beach access following the historic flooding in winter 2023, many governing bodies must coordinate and come to consensus about plans and procedures. Reopening the beach safely, in a way that best meets the needs of Guadalupe and regional residents, and in a way that is resilient to future disasters will require all agencies to come together and form a plan.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Identify the relevant agencies that need to be involved. (2-3 months) ● Identify specific “asks” of the agencies (this relates to Actions 1.2 and
1.3 below). (3-6 months)
● Establish communication and convene meetings with key agency representatives. (3-6 months)
● Hold City town hall to engage residents and get updates from public officials.
● Attend town hall/public meetings to make asks and encourage interagency coordination. (Ongoing)
Measures of
success
● Relevant county, state, and federal agencies identified, with specific contacts at each agency
● Relationships and open dialogue with key agencies/contacts ● Officials sharing information with residents on plans to prevent flooding
● Community has developed “asks” of the agencies
● Agreement secured among agencies that meets residents’ needs Lead Role ● Melanie Backer
● Mike Roberts
● Alaysia Navarro
● Anita Navarro
● Deena Zamarron
● Stephanie Krouse
Supporting cast ● Erika Weber, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Ariston Julian, City of Guadalupe
● Todd Bodem, City of Guadalupe
● City of Guadalupe Public Works
● Hannah Sanchez, City of Guadalupe Parks and Recreation ● Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council
● Steve Lavagnino, County of Santa Barbara, 5th District ● Cory Bantilan, County of Santa Barbara, 5th District
● Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails Council
● Rachel Couch, Coastal Conservancy
6 Guadalupe, California
● Jessica Madden, Coastal Conservancy
● Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, Central Coast Climate Justice Network ● Danna Stroud, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
● Alejandra Mahoney
● Jeanne Sparks, Santa Barbara County Action Network
Potential needs
and resources
Ability to keep group informed and working together. Email list, Facebook group, etc. (The contact list from the RERC workshop is one tool that could be used.)
Action 1.2 – Reopen access to the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve with additional transportation and other visitor amenities.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Adding transportation infrastructure and amenities to the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve will allow more people to access and enjoy the space.
Currently, the preserve only has a small parking lot which quickly fills up.
Additional infrastructure and amenities could include a larger parking lot, bike racks, a bike repair station, seating, shade structures, wayfinding and educational signage, and a pier for fishing and viewing the ocean. These improvements will attract and accommodate more residents and visitors to come to the preserve, allowing it to play a stronger role in everyday life and the local economy.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Contact local elected officials and urge them to take action to restore access. (1-2 months)
● Attend the County Board of Supervisors Budget Meeting and urge the allocation of funding to restore access. (1-2 months)
● Identify timelines/deadlines for influencing how the road is rebuilt and how recovery funding is spent. (Ongoing)
● Hold one or more public meetings regarding the current status of dunes access and visions for the future. These meetings could provide information on the road closure and prospects for reopening and explore what residents would like to see at the dunes in the future. (3-6 months)
● Based on the feedback received, develop design proposals for the reopened dunes preserve. (6-9 months)
o Consider applying for the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to develop a design. (Deadline March 2024)
● Meet with County officials to discuss design proposals and potential funding sources. (9-12 months)
● Select a design proposal and secure funding. (12-18 months) ● Begin construction of new amenities. (18-24 months)
Measures of
success
● Community members are aware of the status of dunes access and engaged in conversations about the future
7 Guadalupe, California
Action 1.2 – Reopen access to the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve with additional transportation and other visitor amenities.
● Elected officials are responsive and committed to addressing community needs
● Community-driven plan to restore and improve access
● Funding secured
● Construction of new amenities begun
Lead Role ● Melanie Backer
● Mike Roberts
● Alaysia Navarro
● Anita Navarro
● Deena Zamarron
● Gabe Garvajal
● Margarita Dominguez
Supporting cast ● Erika Weber, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Garret Matsurra, Guadalupe Business Association
● Ariston Julian, City of Guadalupe
● City of Guadalupe Public Works
● Hannah Sanchez, City of Guadalupe Parks and Recreation ● Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council
● Steve Lavagnino, County of Santa Barbara, 5th District ● Cory Bantilan, County of Santa Barbara, 5th District
● Santa Barbara County staff
● Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails Council
● Rachel Couch, Coastal Conservancy
● Jessica Madden, Coastal Conservancy
● Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, Central Coast Climate Justice Network ● Albert Nunez, Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society
● Danna Stroud, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
Potential needs
and resources
RERC contact list
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Grants (Noora Shehab-Sehovic, [email protected])
National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (Carlos Flores, [email protected])
Action 1.3 – Form a strategic action task force to identify the best route for the trail from Guadalupe to the beach. Increase conservation around trail to the beach options.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Many conversations have taken place among the community and with partners about creating a trail from Guadalupe to the beach. It is well established that creating a multi-use trail would address some of the 8 Guadalupe, California
Action 1.3 – Form a strategic action task force to identify the best route for the trail from Guadalupe to the beach. Increase conservation around trail to the beach options.
transportation barriers that are keeping local residents from enjoying the beach and would make the community more attractive to visitors who want to ride their bicycles to the beach. The Coastal Conservancy completed a feasibility study of different trail options in 2021. With flood recovery and changes to beach access on the horizon, now is the time to convene a task force to identify a preferred trail route. With this effort, it is important to prioritize land conservation and stewardship around any new trails that are built. Additionally, it is vital for the task force to keep the broader public engaged and informed about the progress of trail planning.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Create strategic action task force, to include residents, landowners, representatives of local organizations, and key decision-makers. (3-6 months)
● Hold initial meeting; develop and agree on the goal and schedule of the task force and plans for the engagement of and communication with the broader public. (6-9 months)
● Continue meeting regularly to develop best route option for the Guadalupe to the beach trail, keeping residents informed as the work progresses. (9-24 months)
● Work with decision-makers and landowners to secure permissions for the preferred route. (18-36 months)
● Identify funding for trail development. (18-36 months) Measures of
success
● Strategic action task force that is representative of residents and key decision-makers created and actively meeting
● Regular communication, updates, and engagement opportunities offered to the broader public
● Preferred trail route identified
● Permissions and funding for the trail secured
Lead Role ● Transportation Committee or Guadalupe Business Association Supporting cast ● Melanie Backer
● Mike Roberts
● Deena Zamarron
● Mia
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Erika Weber, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
● Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council
● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Ariston Julian, City of Guadalupe
● Hannah Sanchez, City of Guadalupe Parks and Recreation ● Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails Council
● Rachel Couch, Coastal Conservancy
● Jessica Madden, Coastal Conservancy
9 Guadalupe, California
Action 1.3 – Form a strategic action task force to identify the best route for the trail from Guadalupe to the beach. Increase conservation around trail to the beach options.
● Landowners adjacent to the trail route(s)
Potential needs
and resources
Coastal Conservancy Guadalupe to Beach Multi-Use Trail Feasibility Study National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (Carlos Flores, [email protected])
Participants also brainstormed these additional action ideas during the workshop. While these actions were not detailed further during the workshop, they could also support implementation of Goal 1. ● Fix pothole/road to beach
● Coordinate with county flood control to stop flooding ● Weekend shuttle – more access
● Parking passes for residents
● Bilingual beach signs
Goal 2: Youth engagement: Create opportunities for youth to pursue their interests in the outdoors, engage in science and nature learning, and take active roles in Guadalupe’s outdoor recreation economy.
Guadalupe has a relatively young population, and engaging the youth in recreating, learning, working, and serving the community is critical to its future. Providing internships, free programming and activities, and volunteer vouchers will connect youth to each other and to their community. It will involve them in local issues and empower them to take a leadership role in the direction of the city. It will also build important job skills and career pathways. In the long term, expanding youth engagement opportunities will keep kids in Guadalupe to live and raise their families as adults, ensuring a vibrant and healthy community for years to come.
Action 2.1 – Create internship programs to engage youth in local issues, build job skills, and foster connections with local employers.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Guadalupe is fortunate to have a number of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses that employ local residents and play vital roles in leading and shaping the community. Establishing a coordinated, crosssector internship program will provide youth with pathways to develop job skills, engage in important community issues, and explore and find careers locally. In the longer term, this will help to empower youth with a stronger role in influencing the future of Guadalupe and keep them here to live and raise their families, making it a more vibrant and sustainable community.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Reach out to government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses to identify their capacity needs and potential roles for interns. (0-3 months)
● Create internship job descriptions. (3-6 months)
10 Guadalupe, California
Action 2.1 – Create internship programs to engage youth in local issues, build job skills, and foster connections with local employers.
● Recruit interns at the junior high, high school, Boys and Girls Club, churches, and other local youth-serving organizations. (6-9 months) ● Hire interns. (9-12 months)
Measures of
success
● Employers engaged and needs for interns identified
● Job descriptions written and promoted
● Number of interns hired
● Deliverables by interns completed
● Internships completed
Lead Role ● Local businesses
● Local governments
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Arts organizations
● Agricultural industry
Supporting cast ● Guadalupe Union School District
● Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School
● Righetti High School
● Boys and Girls Club
● Churches
● Mira Beyeler, Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Center ● Karen Evangelista, Guadalupe Cultural Art and Education Center ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council
● Santa Barbara County
● USDA Forest Service
● U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Potential needs
and resources
Funding to coordinate the program and/or pay the interns? School credit? Transportation? City runs Public Transit system. Possible coordination between schools, City, interns, and contract transit provider.
Action 2.2 – Provide free youth programming related to art, nature, life skills, cooking, sewing, environmental justice, and more.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
I’m
There is a need for free youth programming and activities in Guadalupe. This resource will keep kids safe and active in the community. Ensuring that programming is free will open up access to all Guadalupe residents and avoid placing financial burdens on families. Over the longer term, this will combat the perception that “there is nothing to do in Guadalupe” and will keep youth in the community to live and raise their families.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Start a community garden at the junior high or possible City property. (6-9 months)
● Organize a science class field trip. (6-9 months)
o Science class/garden club
11 Guadalupe, California
Action 2.2 – Provide free youth programming related to art, nature, life skills, cooking, sewing, environmental justice, and more.
o School Farmers market
Measures of
success
● Number of field trips completed
● Gardens created and maintained
● Produce taken home
● Greater awareness of the environment
● New recipes learned
Lead Role ● Suggestions: Guadalupe Union School District, Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Center
Supporting cast ● Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School
● Christina Hernandez, Guadalupe City Council
● Local agricultural businesses
● Colleges/universities/Extension services in the region ● City of Guadalupe Public Works (transportation for field trips) ● Future Guadalupe Farmers’ Market
● 4-H
Potential needs
and resources
University of California Santa Barbara County Cooperative Extension National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program for arts-related programming/events
Action 2.3 – Implement a voucher program for youth volunteers.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Providing vouchers to youth volunteers will increase community engagement among young residents. This could include vouchers at local restaurants and stores. Boosting volunteerism could free up some budget so local organizations and government agencies can work on more projects.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Reach out to local businesses and gauge willingness to provide vouchers. (6 months)
● Promote the opportunity with local youth-serving organizations. (6-9 months)
● Give out vouchers at volunteer events/opportunities. (6-9 months) Measures of
success
● Local businesses providing vouchers
● Number of youth volunteers
● Number of vouchers provided/used
● Repeat business by voucher users
Lead Role ● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association Supporting cast ● Guadalupe Union School District
● Mary Buren Elementary
● Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School
● Boys and Girls Club
● Churches
● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Local businesses
12 Guadalupe, California
Action 2.3 – Implement a voucher program for youth volunteers. ● City of Guadalupe
Potential needs
and resources
Examples of successful voucher programs from similar communities Goal 3: Downtown Revitalization: Support a vibrant downtown that reflects the community’s rich cultural diversity and identity.
Guadalupe’s downtown has tremendous potential, with a unique built environment, walkable and bikeable streets, and strong local businesses and cultural institutions and organizations. Many conversations are underway about ways to fill up vacant buildings, create amenities for residents and visitors, and bring more energy to the area. There are abundant opportunities to tap into the capacity of local organizations and engage residents in revitalizing a downtown that is vibrant, thriving, brings the community together, and celebrates its rich cultural diversity and identity.
Action 3.1 – Develop a vision for the downtown that is authentic and supported by community residents.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
The City of Guadalupe recently adopted its 2042 General Plan, which contains guiding goals and policies for the city, including the downtown, but Guadalupe does not have a plan specific to its downtown. By developing that plan and intentionally engaging residents in the process, Guadalupe will identify concrete strategies, partners, and implementation resources to revitalize its downtown, and will build grassroots momentum and energy around the effort. A planning and visioning effort is a critical first step to creating a vibrant, prosperous, and authentic downtown that is a source of pride for residents and attracts visitors.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Host a State of the City event, with live interpretation, to update residents on current initiatives and begin gathering feedback on downtown revitalization. (1-3 months)
● Hire an in-house planner for the City of Guadalupe. (1-3 months) ● Host community engagement events, such as potluck dinners or movie nights, to bring residents together, build community, and share ideas on issues including downtown revitalization. (3-18 months) ● Develop the downtown plan based on community feedback. (18-36 months)
● Adopt the plan and begin implementation. (36 months)
Measures of
success
● Robust community engagement efforts conducted
● Downtown plan developed and adopted
● Community support for the plan
Lead Role ● City of Guadalupe Planner (to be hired)
Supporting cast ● Ariston Julian, City of Guadalupe
● Todd Bodem, City of Guadalupe
● City of Guadalupe Building, Planning
13 Guadalupe, California
Action 3.1 – Develop a vision for the downtown that is authentic and supported by community residents.
● City of Guadalupe Public Works
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Family Service Agency
● Little House by the Park
● Downtown business owners
● Santa Barbara County Association of Governments
Potential needs
and resources
Action 3.2 – Continue efforts already underway for the beautification and restoration of the Amtrak station.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Guadalupe is fortunate to have a relatively newly-built Amtrak station with Pacific Surfliner service to and from San Luis Obispo, Lompoc, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The station is a major asset to the community and an opportunity to invite and attract visitors into town. Providing a positive first impression to those arriving by train is an important way to keep people coming back time and time again. Improvements to the station will showcase the distinctive culture and amenities offered in Guadalupe, demonstrating the unique experience the city offers to guests and residents. They will connect visitors with local businesses and attractions and increase the economic impact of tourism in Guadalupe.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Continue to apply for funding for projects at the station. (3-12 months) ● Implement projects. (12-36 months)
Measures of
success
● Improvements made
● Increased usage of the station/rail travel to and from Guadalupe Lead Role ● City of Guadalupe Public Works
Supporting cast ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe (for art components) ● LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency
● Santa Barbara County Association of Governments
● California Department of Transportation
Potential needs
and resources
Funding: Clean California Local Grant Program (application submitted May 2023, awards to be announced September 2023)
USDA Rural Development Community Facilities: Guadalupe is 55% grant eligible. Can support planning/design. Program reimburses the City for costs afterwards.
U.S. Department of Transportation infrastructure program can include beautification.
National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program for arts components This will be affected by the CalTrans ADA project which will upgrade all sidewalks along Highway 1 over the next 2-3 years.
14 Guadalupe, California
Action 3.3 – Secure funding for the Guadalupe Business Association and other community organizations.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
In recent years, the Guadalupe Business Association was formed and has fast become an important player in community and economic development. The Association is actively involved in many projects related to Guadalupe’s downtown, outdoor recreation, and economic vibrancy. Securing funding for the organization and other local nonprofits will allow them to increase their capacity and roles in local projects and initiatives and to have a greater impact on the Guadalupe community. This funding could support efforts to identify business needs, connect small businesses with the City, conduct marketing, expand communication, and develop business training and development opportunities.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Connect the Guadalupe Business Association and the Little House to leverage funding.
● Develop a mission statement, budget, and specific project proposals. ● Identify potential funding sources.
● Apply for funding.
Measures of
success
● Mission statement, budget, and project ideas developed ● Potential funding sources identified and proposals submitted ● Funding secured
● Guadalupe Business Association and other organizations take on new projects
Lead Role ● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association Supporting cast ● Ariston Julian, City of Guadalupe
● Todd Bodem, City of Guadalupe
● Family Service Agency
● Little House by the Park
● Other members of the coalition of Guadalupe nonprofits ● Kelly Rojas, “Guad Squad”
Potential needs
and resources
ARPA funding for translation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Grants (Noora Shehab-Sehovic, [email protected])
Participants also brainstormed these additional action ideas during the workshop. While these actions were not detailed further during the workshop, they could also support implementation of Goal 3. ● Develop a village building program
● Implement more activities at city hall
● Finish renovation of Central Park
● Lights for parks/fields/schools
● Marketing campaign
● Create stakeholder groups to plan hotel development
15 Guadalupe, California
● Safer bike lanes
● Community bulletin downtown
Goal 4: Lodging: Create lodging options to attract visitors to Guadalupe and lengthen their stays.
Guadalupe currently lacks lodging options, which hampers its ability to attract visitors, keep them in town for multiple days, and increase tourist revenue for local businesses. Developing local lodging is a fundamental building block for strengthening the outdoor recreation economy in Guadalupe.
Action 4.1 – Develop low-cost overnight accommodations that bicyclists can utilize while riding through Guadalupe.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Bicyclists pass through Guadalupe as they ride along Highway 1, but they can’t stop and stay the night as there are no accommodations. Creating lowcost lodging specifically geared towards cyclists will put Guadalupe on the map as a destination where they can spend the night, eat, and visit other local businesses. This will bring revenue into the city and create new opportunities for businesses to start up and grow. The Club Comité Cívico Mexicano de Guadalupe already owns a building that would be ideal for a bike hostel and they are interested in developing this amenity.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Identify the business model for the bike hostel, including how it will be operated and maintained, its revenue stream, and physical space needs for the operation. (9-12 months)
● Partner with an organization to operate the hostel. (12-15 months) ● Seek funding for the renovation of the building. (12-18 months) ● Renovate the building and open the hostel. (18-36 months) Measures of
success
● Completed business plan
● Partnership secured
● Funding secured
● Building renovated
● Hostel open and accepting guests
Lead Role ● José Nichols, Club Comité Cívico Mexicano de Guadalupe Supporting cast ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Mark Wilkinson, Santa Barbara County Trails Council
● Move Santa Barbara County (Sean?)
● City of Guadalupe Building, Planning
● City of Guadalupe Public Works
● Neighbors of the proposed site
● Boys and Girls Club
● Lupe’s Company
Potential needs
and resources
Examples of other bike hostels
Funding for building renovation/business planning: USDA Rural Development?
Organization to run the hostel
16 Guadalupe, California
Action 4.2 – Develop a hotel on the second floor of the Far Western property.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Opening a hotel in downtown Guadalupe would provide an economic boost to the community and the downtown. The project will create temporary construction and permanent hospitality jobs, and will increase tourism and the revenue of nearby local businesses. Additionally, it will revitalize and preserve the Far Western building, a valuable historic asset to the community.
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center already has preliminary plans for a hotel on the upper floor of the site, above their planned museum on the first floor.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Develop designs for the hotel.
● Conduct seismic retrofitting.
● Develop a business plan.
● Identify the entity that will run the hotel (either the GuadalupeNipomo Dunes Center or another entity). ● Secure funding to renovate the building.
Measures of
success
● Design completed
● Business plan completed
● Funding secured
● Building renovations begun
● Hotel open and operating
Lead Role ● Erika Weber, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
Supporting cast ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Adjacent business owners
● City of Guadalupe
● University of California Santa Barbara hospitality program ● Allan Hancock College
● Santa Barbara City College
Potential needs
and resources
Funding for building renovation/business planning: USDA Rural Development?
State or Federal Historic Registry designation?
Action 4.3 – Explore the ideal location for an additional hotel.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
As the Guadalupe community works to expand its outdoor recreation economy and tourism, there could be an opportunity for an additional hotel downtown. There are various options for the siting of this hotel, and it will be beneficial for key stakeholders and community members to collaborate to identify the top priority locations and what needs to happen to prepare those properties for development.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Convene a group of stakeholders and community members interested in exploring hotel development opportunities. (6-9 months) ● Begin meeting to explore potential sites. (9-18 months) 17 Guadalupe, California
Action 4.3 – Explore the ideal location for an additional hotel. ● Identify the highest-priority sites for redevelopment as a hotel. (18-24 months)
● Identify the next steps and potential funding sources for redevelopment. (24-36 months)
● Present recommendations to the City Administrator or the City Council. (36 months)
Measures of
success
● Potential sites identified and prioritized
● Potential funding sources and next steps identified
Lead Role ● Todd Bodem, City of Guadalupe
Supporting cast ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● City of Guadalupe Public Works
● City of Guadalupe Building, Planning
● Downtown business owners
● Community residents
Potential needs
and resources
Maps or inventories of vacant or underutilized properties downtown Contacts with property owners
Funding for planning/property inventorying/building renovation: USDA Rural Development Rural Business Development Grants
Center for Creative Land Recycling Technical Assistance to Brownfields U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Programs Participants also brainstormed these additional action ideas during the workshop. While these actions were not detailed further during the workshop, they could also support implementation of Goal 4. ● Consider biking routes where making paved road improvements ● Hire local
Goal 5: Promotion: Promote Guadalupe as an attractive destination for adventure, heritage, and recreation tourism, agrotourism, and ecotourism.
Guadalupe has so much to offer both residents and visitors, but some of the community’s assets could benefit from further development and promotion. This will foster more public engagement, strengthen community connections and pride, increase tourism, and result in a greater economic and community impact. It is necessary to take a multi-pronged strategy of promoting what already exists in the city and simultaneously developing new destinations and events that build on local culture and heritage.
Action 5.1 – Establish local farmers’ market.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Establishing a local farmers’ market would promote health, community building, downtown revitalization, and economic development and entrepreneurship in Guadalupe. This idea has been discussed in the community for awhile, and a potential downtown site has been identified.
This action will organize and advance the effort.
18 Guadalupe, California
Action 5.1 – Establish local farmers’ market.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Establish a lead for the farmers’ market start-up effort. (2-3 months) ● Create a committee to advance the farmers’ market. (3-4 months) ● Identify a market manager. (3-4 months)
● Identify and secure the appropriate permits. (4-6 months) ● Identify and secure vendors. (4-6 months)
● Identify any upgrades needed for the site. (6-8 months) ● Create a strategy for promoting the market and attracting customers. (6-8 months)
● Open the market. (12 months)
Measures of
success
● Lead and committee established
● Permits secured
● Vendors secured
● Marketing strategy created
● Market launched
Lead Role ● Food Resilience, Sustainability & Action (FRESA) Supporting cast ● City of Guadalupe
● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
● Little House by the Park
● Fresa
● Guadalupe Café
● Local agricultural businesses
Potential needs and
resources
Funding to support market manager
Mixteco radio (for promotion)
USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
University of California Santa Barbara County Cooperative Extension Action 5.2 – Create a billboard or signage on north-south 101 freeway promoting Guadalupe.
What this is. Why it
is important. Who
benefits?
Many people pass near Guadalupe on the 101 freeway and don’t stop.
Creating a billboard or other signage on that road will raise awareness of the amenities and attractions in the community and entice more people to stop and spend time and money, supporting local businesses and increasing tax revenue for the City.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Identify a location for the billboard/signage and the cost of putting it up. (2-3 months)
● Determine the messaging and design. (3-6 months)
● Identify funding sources. (3-6 months)
● Conduct a meeting to discuss this opportunity with local businesses. (3-6 months)
19 Guadalupe, California
Action 5.2 – Create a billboard or signage on north-south 101 freeway promoting Guadalupe.
Measures of
success
● Location/plan for the billboard/signage
● Billboard/signage created
● Local business engagement/feedback obtained
Lead Role ● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association Supporting cast ● Local businesses
● Local nonprofits
● Santa Maria Valley Visitor and Convention Bureau
● Visit Santa Barbara
Potential needs
and resources
Funding for billboard/signage: dispensaries as a possible source, since they are required to give a percentage of their income back to the community? Action 5.3 – Host a festival highlighting Mixteco indigenous culture.
What this is. Why
it is important.
Who benefits?
Mixteco indigenous culture and heritage is vitally important to the Guadalupe community. Hosting a festival will provide a fun and visible way of celebrating it. It will give all members of the community a chance to share their traditions and perspectives and support community pride and connections. Residents and tourists alike will learn about each and every culture, increasing cultural competency and respect, and all residents will feel included. This festival will also attract visitors to the community to share in this unique event.
Initial next steps
and deadlines
(Present >24 mos.)
● Create a planning committee for the festival, including local organizations and residents. (2-3 months)
● Develop a preliminary program and set a date and location for the event. (3-6 months)
● Create a schedule/collect information on deadlines for vendors, permitting, etc. (I.e. how far in advance do you need to make arrangements for food?) (3-6 months)
● Secure permits. (6-9 months)
● Gather sponsorships. (6-9 months)
● Invite vendors, performers, etc. (6-9 months)
Measures of
success
● Planning committee created
● Date, location, and program developed
● Permits secured
● Vendors and performers secured
Lead Role ● Suggestion: Karen Evangelista and/or the Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Center
Supporting cast ● Los Amigos de Guadalupe
● Mira Beyeler, Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Center ● Karen Evangelista, Guadalupe Cultural Art and Education Center ● Guadalupe non-profit coalition
● Garret Matsuura, Guadalupe Business Association
20 Guadalupe, California
Action 5.3 – Host a festival highlighting Mixteco indigenous culture.
Potential needs
and resources
● Mixteco radio (for promotion)
● National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program for arts-related programming
Participants also brainstormed these additional action ideas during the workshop. While these actions were not detailed further during the workshop, they could also support implementation of Goal 5. ● Attend more community events that are held in Guadalupe. ● Trail committee supporting recreation (Santa Barbara County Trails Council would provide hands-on support for this)
● Host or support an annual event in Guadalupe that attracts bicyclists ● Open communication with the community to inform on changes in development ● Engage with bilingual community
● Reach out to cultural communities about their visions for the festival
IMPLEMENTATION AND NEXT STEPS
Following the workshop, the Local Steering Committee and workshop participants continued working together to develop and begin implementing the Community Action Plan. Three Zoom calls with the Planning Assistance Team were held on June 6, July 10, and July 31, 2023, during which the group refined the action plan, discussed progress made post-workshop, and planned their next steps. Listed below are some key implementation steps they have made since the workshop, organized by goal.
Initial Action: Build local capacity and regional connections. ● The draft Community Action Plan created at the workshop was translated into Spanish and shared with community members. Spanish and Mixteco interpretation was offered at the final two post-workshop calls, and the Guadalupe City Council Chambers were reserved for anyone who wanted to participate in the calls from there.
● The City is planning a State of the City event, which may include updates on current issues, community dialogue, and interpretation.
● The City is working to hire a planner and public works director, and is exploring the idea of adding staff to write and manage grants.
● Garret Matsuura held an introductory meeting with Daniel Fenton and Shirin Jafari, who lead the team conducting the Visit California Regional Strategic Tourism Planning for the Central Coast Region. ● Guadalupe leaders connected with Christine Thomas of the Central Coast Tourism Council and are exploring potential alignments and partnerships with the organization. ● Danna Stroud of GO–Biz connected Guadalupe leaders with the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments to discuss potential alignments and partnerships around transportation and infrastructure.
Goal 1: Beach Access
21 Guadalupe, California
● Actions 1.1 and 1.2: The County Supervisor’s office held a town hall meeting on July 19 to provide updates on the status of the repair of West Main Street, the river and future flood mitigation, and beach access. The meeting was very well attended. The County Supervisor continues to work towards more coordination among agencies and the reopening of the road. ● Actions 1.1 and 1.2: Local and regional leaders attended the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors budget meeting and urged the allocation of funding to restore beach access.
Goal 3: Downtown Revitalization
● A group of community members gave the Royal Theater a temporary facelift (see photo on following page, credit Garret Matsuura). These improvements provided a visual change to represent the behindthe-scenes planning and grant work that is ongoing and give the community some hope and anticipation for the future of the landmark.
● Emily Dreiling submitted a proposal to the
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable for updates to
Jack O’Connell Park and signage to the Dunes
and downtown area.
● Garret Matsuura and Mayor Ariston Julian
submitted an application to Smart Growth
America for their Community Connectors
capacity-building grant program that advances
projects that reconnect communities separated
or harmed by transportation infrastructure.
● Action 3.2: An application for a Clean California
Grant was submitted in May. Awards will be
announced in September.
Goal 5: Promotion
● Action 5.2: Emily Dreiling submitted a proposal
to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable for updates to Jack O’Connell Park and signage to the Dunes and downtown area.
22 Guadalupe, California
APPENDICES
▪ Appendix A – Contact List
▪ Appendix B – Workshop Exercise Results
▪ Appendix C – Funding and Technical Assistance Resources ▪ Appendix D – References
Appendix A: Contact List A-1
Guadalupe, California
APPENDIX A: CONTACT LIST
Below is listed everyone who registered for the workshop, attended the workshop, or participated in the RERC process in some other capacity.
First Name Last Name Affiliation Email or Phone
Attended
Workshop
April 12
Attended
Workshop
April 13
Miguel Aguilar 805-608-1084 X
David Almeda Jackie Paper LLC [email protected] X
Adriana Alpizar 805-270-0803 X
Andrea Alvarado
Community Action
Partnership of San Luis
Obispo County [email protected] X
Lupe Alvarez Business Owner
[email protected]
m X X
Dennis Apel La Casa Blanca [email protected] X
Melanie Backer
Secretary of the Guadalupe
Business Association,
Committee Member of 100
yr. Anniversary, Cecil B.
DeMille [email protected] X X
Cory Bantilan
County of Santa Barbara,
5th District [email protected] X
Reyes Barboza Jr.
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency [email protected] X X
Mira Beyeler
Guadalupe Visual and
Performing Arts Center [email protected] X X
Todd
Steven Bodem City of Guadalupe
[email protected].
us X X
Grace
BottittaWilliamson
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric
Administration [email protected]
Grace
Bubulka, RN,
MSN
Guadalupe Business
Association and
Guadalupe Department of
Public Safety Auxillary
Volunteer [email protected] X
Lisa Butler USDA Rural Development [email protected] ATTACHMENT 2
Appendix A: Contact List A-2
Guadalupe, California
Maria Camacho
Community Action
Partnership of San Luis
Obispo County [email protected] X
Adriana Camacho Beatitude House X
Eva Cedillo
Family Service Agency
Little House By The Park;
Guadalupe Community
Changers 805-478-1610 X
April Chavez Santa Maria Times
achavez@santamariatimes.
com X
Lauryn Coombs
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency [email protected] X X
Al Correale USDA Rural Development [email protected] X Rachel Couch Coastal Conservancy [email protected] X X Amy
CrimminsNeal [email protected] X X
Rosario Cruz Gestar
membrenorosario76@gma
il.com X
Janice Davis City of Guadalupe [email protected] X Auseneio De la Cruz X
Margarita Dominguez Local resident
margaritadominguez1@m
sn.com X
Emily Dreiling
City of Guadalupe Parks
and Recreation
Commission [email protected] X X
Sam Duate
Family Service Agency
Little House By The Park [email protected] X X
Rosy Encinas Self [email protected]
Karen Evangelista
Guadalupe Cultural Art
and Education Center
[email protected]
t X X
Dan Fenton
JLL / Visit California
Regional Strategic Tourism
Planning, Central Coast
Region [email protected]
Jorge Figueroa The Living Room Nutrition [email protected] X Carlos Flores
National Park Service -
Rivers, Trails, and
Conservation Assistance
Program [email protected] X X
Appendix A: Contact List A-3
Guadalupe, California
MariaElena Garcia MariaElena Garcia
[email protected]
om X
Virginia Garcia
Community Action
Partnership of San Luis
Obispo County 805-314-6200 X
Ailene Garrido Pasadera resident [email protected] Tiffany Gonzales Los Amigos de Guadalupe [email protected] X X Jane Gray
Central Coast Regional
Water Quality Control
Board
[email protected].
gov X
Bob Havlicek
Housing Authority County
of Santa Barbra [email protected] X X
Christina Hernandez Guadalupe City Council
[email protected]
.ca.us X X
Lusila Hernandez
Family Service Agency
Little House By The Park;
Guadalupe Community
Changers 805-343-0096 X
Eugenio Hernandez X
Tensie Hernández La Casa Blanca
[email protected]
m X
Shirin Jafari
JLL / Visit California
Regional Strategic Tourism
Planning, Central Coast
Region [email protected]
Michael Jimenez
City of Guadalupe Parks
and Recreation
Commission
[email protected]
m X X
Patrick Johnston
National Park Service -
Rivers, Trails, and
Conservation Assistance
Program [email protected]
Ariston Julian City of Guadalupe 805-868-5933 X X
Leigh Kearns
U.S. Small Business
Administration [email protected]
Asia King
U.S. Economic
Development
Administration [email protected]
Stephanie Krouse Los Amigos de Guadalupe [email protected] Celsa L.H. X X
Appendix A: Contact List A-4
Guadalupe, California
Steve Lavagnino
Santa Barbara County 5th
District 804-346-8400 X
John Lizalde X
Adilene Luna Beatitude House 805-621-4202 X X
Jessica Madden Coastal Conservancy
[email protected]
v X X
Alejandra Mahoney
alejandramahoney@gmail.
com X X
Garret Matsuura
Guadalupe Business
Association [email protected] X X
Megan McConville
Workshop co-facilitator,
EPR PC [email protected] X X
Jose Mercando X
Jasmine Moreno
Guadalupe Business
Association
Member/Media
Contributor [email protected] X
Chris Narez
Department of Social
Services [email protected] X
Anita Navarro Local Business Owner
[email protected]
m X X
Alaysia Navarro Born and raised resident
[email protected]
m X X
Arnulfo Navarro III
No affiliation, official
member of g.u.a.d.s.p.e.l.l. ,
i also go by el tigre verde
[email protected];
[email protected] X X
José Nichols
Club Comité Cívico
Mexicano de Guadalupe,
Inc.
comitecivicoguadalupe@g
mail.com X X
Matthew
Nourmoham
adian Los Padres National Forest
matthew.nourmohamadian
@usda.gov
Albert Nunez
Board member, Rancho de
Guadalupe Historical
Society [email protected] X
Rosalina S Otero Gestar [email protected] X
Isidra Perea Beatitude House X
Mireya Pina
Family Service Agency
Little House By The Park,
Guadalupe Community
Changers [email protected] X X
Appendix A: Contact List A-5
Guadalupe, California
Belinda Popovich
Realtor & Brazen Fox
Fabrication [email protected]
Chachi Ramirez Royal Theater [email protected] X X Alonso Ramirez
Pasadera resident, Mary
Buren parent [email protected] X
Marcos Ramos USDA Rural Development [email protected] X Mirna Ramos 559-312-4957 X
Monica
RamosRamirez
Pasadera resident,
educator, Mary Buren
parent
monicaramosramirez@gm
ail.com X
Sonia Rios-Ventura Los Amigos de Guadalupe 805-868-0845 X Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino
Central Coast Climate
Justice Network [email protected] X X
Michael Roberts Community member
[email protected]
m X X
Gilbert Robles [email protected] X X
Kaleb Robles Local resident [email protected] X
Esther Robles Local resident [email protected] X Isidra Rodriguez X
Avdo Rodriguez X
Sudha Russell Pasadera resident [email protected]
Frances Sakaguchi
U.S. Economic
Development
Administration [email protected]
Margarita Salazar
Guadalupe Community
Changers 805-868-9183 X X
Hannah Sanchez City of Guadalupe
[email protected]
.us X X
Alicia
Sanchez
Scott
USDA Forest Service Los
Padres National Forest
[email protected]
ov
Kristine Schilpp California State Parks
[email protected].
gov
Noora Shehab
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
shehabsehovic.noora@epa
.gov
Abdulfetah Sigal
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency [email protected]
Danna Stroud California Go-Biz
[email protected]
v X
Appendix A: Contact List A-6
Guadalupe, California
Shannon Sweeney
City of Guadalupe Public
Works
[email protected]
.us X X
Carmen TaFolle 805-266-3441 X
Rosalba Torres Translator Feliz
[email protected]
m X
Christine Thomas
Central Coast Tourism
Council
hello@centralcoasttourism.com
Erika Weber
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
Center [email protected] X X
Jasmine White
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency [email protected] X X
Mark Wilkinson
Santa Barbara County
Trails Council [email protected] X
Denna Zamarron New Guadalupe resident
[email protected]
m X
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-1
Guadalupe, California
APPENDIX B: WORKSHOP EXERCISE RESULTS
The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities workshop with Guadalupe, California involved several exercises that helped define workshop participants’ vision, goals, and actions they wish to take to strengthen outdoor recreation and downtown revitalization efforts in their community. The following appendix documents many of these activities that shaped the action plan developed through this planning process. This appendix summarizes the following:
▪ Visioning and Values Exercises
▪ Opportunities and Challenges Exercise
▪ Assets and Opportunities Mapping Exercise
▪ Itinerary Planning Exercise
▪ Offers and Asks
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-2
Guadalupe, California
Visioning and Values Exercises
As a part of the workshop’s opening session, participants were asked to illustrate their broad vision for Guadalupe by sharing one word that they felt describes the community and by sharing what outdoor recreation looks like to them. The planning assistance team created word clouds summarizing the responses to highlight the most common words and phrases participants used in answering these prompts. The word clouds and complete responses are listed below.
One Word About Guadalupe
• Home
• Extraordinary
• Family
• Diamond
• Ruralness
• Hidden-gem
• Possibilities
• Strong
• Kind
• Beautiful
• Corazon
• Solidaridad
• Kindness
• Culture
• Love
• Beach
• People
• Wind
• Peaceful
• Heart
• Inclusive
• Historic
• Progreso
• Uniqueness
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-3
Guadalupe, California
• Acogedor
• Unidad
• Union
• Multicultural
• Blessed
• Friendly
• Unlimited
• Resilience
• Welcoming
• Potential
• Vida
• Unity
• Opportunity
• Family
• Amable
• Visionary
• Community
• Challenge
• Resilient
• Poderosos
• Big-heart
What Does Outdoor Recreation Look Like to You
• Access
• Biking
• Youth-sports
• Safe
• Roadways
• Horseback-riding
• Beach
• Fishing
• Safe-space-for-children
• Swimming
• Dunes
• Hiking
• Space-free-from-noise
• Peace
• Walking
• Making-connections
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-4
Guadalupe, California
• Educational-opportunities-aboutthe-area
• Peace-of-mind
• Soccer
• Being-one-with-nature
• Having-fun
• Gardening
• Comfortable-space
• Skatepark
• Dog-park
• Farmer’s-market
• Adult-dance-lessons
• Yoga
• Outdoors
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-5
Guadalupe, California
Opportunities and Challenges Exercise
The planning assistance team asked participants to identify Guadalupe’s assets and challenges related to outdoor recreation and downtown revitalization. Participants brainstormed individually and then placed their ideas on flip charts. The compiled responses to this exercise are summarized below.
Opportunities:
• Growing Population
• Me gustaría que la ciudad de Guadalupe tuviera más alumbrado en sus calles • Caring community
• Beach access
• Youth activities
• Location!
• More resources
• Activities/classes for young children
• Guarderia se está mejorando
• Mas viviendas
• Location
• Una buena oportunidad que ya está funcionando es CAPSL la escuelita • Land
• Develop
• Enthusiasm
• Vision
• Open space
• Community is ready (enthused)
• New community buildings
• New parks
• The Levi Project from Santa María to Guadalupe
• Beach
• Weather
• This community has beautiful views and sight lines
• Weather is amazing
• Poner semáforos de luz para los vehículos
• Poner un Walmart, tiendas comerciales
• Community support
• Natural beauty
• State & federal partners
• Historical significance and stories
• Natural resources
• Dunes
• Complex community
• La unión de la comunidad es primordial
• Casas
• Safe
• People are looking for things to do
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-6
Guadalupe, California
• Building parks
• Las escuelas
• Soccer field in the park
• Un gimnasio al aire libre para las personas que les gustan hacerlo. Gratis or no muy caro
• Espacio para hacer cambios en Guadalupe al aire libre, deseos de muchas cosas que cambiaria nuestra comunidad y teneros una comunidad que lo necesita • Train
• Weather
• Wind
• Safety
• Restaurants
• Volunteers
• Isolation
• Progreso
• Trabajo
• Semotosos
• Multipurpose trail between Guadalupe and Santa Maria for biking, hiking, and bicycling • Shuttle transportation from and to the beach and Oso Flaco from Guadalupe • Classes bilingues para los niños y trabajo
• Trabajo
• Semáforos
• Esto tranquilo union con lo gerente cuando hay union de pueblo • Guad Squad - Tight Community
• Outdoor concerts in the park
• Mayor seguridad
• Pueblo humilde y trabajador
• Pueblo de paz
• Flat
• Vacant buildings
• Work ethic
• Character
• Royal Theater
• Outdoor gym
• Community trash pickup/cleaning day (Ex: clean a park, redo Benotus) • Support the new gym “Guadalupe Fitness” and the new “Social Club”. They need help with the parking lot
• Un lugar para personas
• Mayores para hacer
• Ejercicios
• Un parque para los dog
• Que alguim euseneste a manejoy
• Beach
• Wetlands
• Football field at Jack O Connell park
• Community is growing
• Communication
• “Gateway to the Dunes”
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-7
Guadalupe, California
• Love our beach and how easy it is to bike around town, but bike lanes would be great :) • Hiking
• Grants
• Networking
• Agriculture
• Current organization program “Expand & Support”
• Sports programs
• Bike lanes or paths/trails
• Great location, beautiful green rolling hills
• Beautiful/historic buildings (just needs maintenance) • Strong sense of community
• Recreation events/community events downtown
• Los Amigos de Guadalupe’s presence in Guadalupe has yielded increased community participation as well as collaboration among civic, cultural, and city groups • New businesses
• Hwy 1 improvement (Caltrans)
• Good people
• History
• Resilience
• Wonderful people
• Tons of heart
• Great caring community
Challenges:
• Santa Maria 10 minutes away - competition from money, staffing, isolation, no hotels • Money
• Maintenance
• Resistance from landowners
• Boundaries
• State highways
• Rain
• Manpower
• Time
• Resources
• Doers not complainers!
• Available/affordable retail spaces
• Safety
• Accessibility
• Zonas mas seguros para salir a caminar (safer places to go for a walk) • Landlocked
• Not enough trees
• Autobuses (buses)
• Bibliotecas (librarias)
• Cheaper rent
o Para mi vivienda que oiga mas casas de renta más baratas o Rentas mas bajas
o Renta más alto (rent too high)
o Rent to be lowered
• Juegos para niños (games for kids)
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-8
Guadalupe, California
• Que aygan mas comercios (more shops)
• Deportes (sports)
• Un parque de patinaje para nuestros jovenes (skate park for our kids) • Que haiga mas tiendas grandes (more large stores)
• Nesecitamos más transportación (need more transportation) • Que aygan mas personas amables y un buen corazon (more kind people and a good heart)
• More jobs
• Falta de vivienda (homelessness?)
• Mas transportación (more transportation)
• Limpia de calles (street cleaner)
• Ayuda para adultos (help for adults)
• Roads for bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc.
• More affordable first-time buyer new homes
• Should be Starbucks, McDonalds, other big stores so we don’t go all the way to Santa Maria
• Las barreras que se oponen es que se necesita dinero para hacer esos cambios y el apollo de la ciudad (the barriers are that money is needed to make changes and the support of the city)
• Tienda grande (large store)
• They should build more houses
• Poner más areas verdes (more green areas)
• Trails
• Flat
• Vacant buildings
• Infrastructure
• Regulations
• Grant strings
• Royal theater
• Bureaucracy
• Political will
• They should get more land
• Me favorece saber que es un pueblo muy tranquilo donde puedo salir a caminar (It helps me to know that it is a very quiet town where I can go for a walk) • Construir como pequeños hoteles y un lugar de diversión para los bicitantes (small hotels and something fun for cyclists?)
• Available open space
• Structured activities for adulats
• Investigar como empezar para hagar el dinero
• River Leving
• Unsafe traffic
• Broken beach
• Biggest challenge now is reopening the Guadalupe dune preserve, people have been using that as their main recreation for hiking, biking, fishing, family • Money to build the recreations, but also money to provide scholarships + funds for families to afford to go (ex. YMCA scholarships)
• No to gentrification!
• Not enough value to the federal government to build a levee • funding/resources
• Levee
• Farmers
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-9
Guadalupe, California
• Need Guadalupe dunes reopened, our main recreation
• Beach access
• No hotels
• Brand
• Walking/hiking trails
• Guadalupe dunes reopened is the jewel to revitalize the city • Maintaining and increasing collaboration among the defiant groups is a challenge • Need the beach opened and the river levee extended
• Beach restrictions for access
• Trails
• Bad roads due to big trucks/major potholes
• Not enough parking downtown
• Lack of aesthetic/theme
• Poor lighting, not enough trees/landscapes/shrubs
• Buildings not maintained
• Industrial buildings/parking lots not maintained + visible from street • Businesses don’t stay long in Guadalupe - need support • Money for developing a plan to serve all economic status families and provide grants and programs
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-10
Guadalupe, California
Assets and Opportunities Mapping Exercise
The workshop also included an exercise to help participants identify Guadalupe’s assets and opportunities by mapping outdoor recreation assets, community assets, and big ideas or opportunities.
Guadalupe City and Downtown:
Comment Type Label
Library Community/Supporting Asset 1
Pasadera Housing Buildout Community/Supporting Asset 2
Leroy Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 3
Padrecito Ministries Community/Supporting Asset 4
Theatre Community/Supporting Asset 5
Dunes Center Community/Supporting Asset 6
Wetlands Opportunities or Big Ideas 7
Escalante Meadows Housing + Community
Center Community/Supporting Asset 8
Chevron Site - RV Camping? Opportunities or Big Ideas 9 Potential Bike shop Opportunities or Big Ideas 10
Potential Trails to Beach Opportunities or Big Ideas 11 Central Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 12
Potential Farmer's Market Site Opportunities or Big Ideas 13 Potential Farmer's Market Site Opportunities or Big Ideas 13 Potential Farmer's Market Site Opportunities or Big Ideas 13 Amtrak Community/Supporting Asset 14
Community Gateways - Welcome Sign Community/Supporting Asset 15 Community Gateways - Welcome Sign Community/Supporting Asset 15 Boys & Girls Club Community/Supporting Asset 16
New Middle School (USDF $ - Admin
Buildings) Community/Supporting Asset 17
Event/Wedding Venue Opportunities or Big Ideas 18
City Hall Community/Supporting Asset 19
Downtown Beautification Process Opportunities or Big Ideas 20 New Water Tank Community/Supporting Asset 21
Senior Center Community/Supporting Asset 22
New Caltrans Bridge over River Community/Supporting Asset 23 Bowling Alley + Arcade (Open Lot Partially
Owned by City) Opportunities or Big Ideas 24
Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements Opportunities or Big Ideas 25 Basque House - Potential Hotel Opportunities or Big Ideas 26 Potential Campground - County Land Opportunities or Big Ideas 27 Bike Hostel Opportunities or Big Ideas 28
Cannabis Dispensary Community/Supporting Asset 29
Cannabis Dispensary Community/Supporting Asset 29
Cannabis Processing Facility Community/Supporting Asset 30 Pool (New Jr. High) Opportunities or Big Ideas 31
West Main & Guadalupe St - Circulation
Issues Opportunities or Big Ideas 32
Dog Park (Or Somewhere) Opportunities or Big Ideas 33
Karaoke/Multipurpose Center Opportunities or Big Ideas 34 Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results B-11
Guadalupe, California
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results B-12
Guadalupe, California
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-13
Guadalupe, California
Santa Barbara County:
Type Type Label
Dunes Outdoor Recreation Asset 1
Point Sal Beach/State Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 2
Oso Flaco Dunes Outdoor Recreation Asset 3
Le Roy Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 4
Jack O'Connell Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 5
Downtown Outdoor Recreation Asset 6
Waller Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 7
Rancho Maria Golf Course Outdoor Recreation Asset 8
Rice Ranch Trails Outdoor Recreation Asset 9
Nipsmo Park Outdoor Recreation Asset 10
Monarch Dunes Golf Course Outdoor Recreation Asset 11
Blacklake Golf Course Outdoor Recreation Asset 12
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail Outdoor Recreation Asset 13
Righetti High School Community/Supporting Asset 14
Police/Fire/City Hall Community/Supporting Asset 15
Veteran's Hall Community/Supporting Asset 16
Santa Maria Airport Community/Supporting Asset 17
Amtrak Community/Supporting Asset 18
Allan Hancock College Community/Supporting Asset 19
Bus Hub Community/Supporting Asset 20
ATSU Medical Training Community/Supporting Asset 21
Marian Medical Center Community/Supporting Asset 22
Rodeo Grounds Community/Supporting Asset 23
Santa Maria Fairpark Community/Supporting Asset 24
Santa Maria Leuce Trail Opportunities or Big Ideas 25
Central Park Opportunities or Big Ideas 26
Open Space - Pasadera Opportunities or Big Ideas 27
Highway 1 - Bike Route Opportunities or Big Ideas 28
Rodeo Grounds Opportunities or Big Ideas 30
Beginning of Trail Opportunities or Big Ideas 29
11th St - Multi-Purpose Trail Opportunities or Big Ideas 31 Wetlands Trail Opportunities or Big Ideas 32
Guadalupe to Dunes Opportunities or Big Ideas 33
Reopen Royal Theater Opportunities or Big Ideas 34
Farm to Table Restaurant Opportunities or Big Ideas 35
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results B-14
Guadalupe, California
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-15
Guadalupe, California
Opportunities
• More retail/businesses – rec + entertainment
• Lodging – hotel + bike hostel
• Streetscape beautification
Gaps
• Bike shop
• Access to beach
• Lodging
Actions
• Improve signage within/around downtown to beach
• ID trail to beach route
• Connect with entrepreneurs/small businesses/trainers
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-16
Guadalupe, California
Itinerary Planning Exercise
Workshop participants were asked to plan a few days in Guadalupe for various user groups, highlighting things to do in the area and what resources would be needed.
Participants were also asked to summarize the overarching opportunities, challenges, and action ideas they identified while planning their itineraries. Results from the activity are below.
Group 1:
Day 1
Day 2:
Day 3:
Activity Location/destination Supplies and services needed, source
Transportation/route to
next stop
Walk/hike Dunes
Something at
night – Roller
Rink
• Theme
nights +
local
vendors
Activity Location/destination Supplies and services needed, source
Transportation/route to
next stop
Event at Royal
Theater
Royal Theater
Walking and
enjoying
downtown
Downtown
Guadalupe
Local shopping Guadalupe City
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-17
Guadalupe, California
• Opportunities
o Restaurants – existing merchants change business plan to be more supportive of what community wants – Cultural richness through food o Guadalupe Cultural Center + Museums
o Music
o Dunes
• Gaps
o Building community
o Nothing to do – things close at 8 pm
o Want to be more than restaurants
o LODGING
o Money to support programs
o Communication
o Unity first
o Consistent community events – Farmer’s Market
• Action Items
o Guadalupe History Museum
o Want something to do at night
Roller rink
Activity Location/destination Supplies and services
needed, source
Transportation/route to
next stop
Dunes Center
Western Tavern
Museum
Programs for
adults –
business/parenting
classes; fill
educational gaps
Recreation for
adults – adult
fitness classes
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-18
Guadalupe, California
o Social media reaching out to inform community of events o Festivals
o Bilingual documents at museums
• Outreach
o Newsletter/Social Media
o Develop recreational programs
o Directly engaging with farm workers and bilingual community o Youth hiring
o Lack of communication but also programs
Most people hear things through word of mouth
Group 2: Youth
Day 1:
Day 2:
Activity Location/destination Supplies and services needed, source
Transportation/route to
next stop
Bus ride Near their home $2 bus fair Guadalupe Bus Flyer Walk to Ice
Cream
Padre Café Walk/Bike/Skate
Dinner 2 Guys Pizza Ride home
Dance/Karaoke
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-19
Guadalupe, California
Day 3:
• Opportunities
o City Hall Swing Dance
o Boys + Girls Highschool Programming
Cooking and sewing
o Intentional outreach to indigenous community/Mixteco
o Christmas train w/ Amtrak
o Splash pad/ water elements
Activity Location/destination Supplies and services needed, source
Transportation/route to
next stop
Breakfast Guadalupe Café Walk/Bike/Skate
Town Cleanup Downtown Plaza Dunes Center
Movie + Food Royal Theater “Tickets” for volunteers Near big heart sign + Projector
Skate/Relax Skate Park Near Pedestrian Bridge
Dinner Downtown
Viva el Arte de
Santa Barbara
City Hall Free
Activity Location/destination Supplies and services
needed, source
Transportation/route to
next stop
Breakfast/Picnic Dunes Car
Farmer/Downtown
Arts/ Market
Indigenous Culture
Bus ride
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-20
Guadalupe, California
o First Fridays – highlight indigenous culture
• Gaps
o Space for youth to develop Home Economics skills, dance, social space, bilingual space + Spanish classes
o Youth space for meals/hang outs late night
o Local farmer’s market
o Mole competition/festival
o Lights for parks/sports
• Action Items
o Space for teen mom – childcare support/events
o Highlight Mixteco culture through festival
o Establish local farmer’s market
o Connect entertainment and learning skills
o Partner with local restaurants to offer incentive for visitors of town Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-21
Guadalupe, California
Offers and Asks
At the conclusion of the workshop, each participant shared one offer, or something they can or would like to provide to advance the action plan; and one ask, or what they hope or expect from the process moving forward.
Name Offer Ask
Melanie Backer Help on the team working
on access to the beach and
beach trail access
Let me know of more
people (??)
Hanna Mira Beyeler I’d like to participate in a
RERC steering committee
that would meet
bimonthly/quarterly to
provide updates/support
to the various entities as
they work towards larger
workshop goals/action
items
Increased funding options,
connections to other RERC
participants
Todd Bodem As City Administrator I will
take the lead to work
collaboratively with others
Actual success
Amy Crimmins-Neal I would like to be involved
in the farmers market
action of the action plan
There is support from the
city to provide a
committee, security, and
location/space to make
this happen
Margarita Dominguez I would attend meetings to
support
I would like to see the
beach open in a short time
Bob Havlicek Pursue micro enterprises at
the Escalante Meadows
community center when
it’s opened
I hope the momentum will
continue
Celsa L. Hernandez Informales a las personas
que no pudieron venir
Esperar que se realizen lo
más pronto possible
Ariston Julian Keep the fire going on the
city side
Continued connections
with others and all
Adilene Luna Martinez Seguir participando o
apoyando a la comunidad
Appendix B: Workshop Exercise Results
B-22
Guadalupe, California
Garret Matsuura Continued support for
local planning efforts
Community to share
experience and get
additional participation
Marshall Neal I know marketing, I can
write things
José Nichols Seek out funding, engage
other nonprofits to
advance the overnight
accommodation for
bicyclists, support other
priorities identified during
the two days
Hannah Sanchez Cultural festival, adult
programming, youth
classes, billboard
Shannon Sweeney To get things built Be patient
Unknown Champion one of the
planning committees for
any of the action plan
items
I hope these action plans
attract my former
classmates to come back
and get involved
Unknown Involvement in the action
plan
Pushing forward, don’t let
the momentum end
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-1
Guadalupe, California
APPENDIX C: FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
This compendium of funding and technical assistance resources was developed for the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. For more information on the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Program, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/recreation-economy-rural-communities Federal Funding and Technical Assistance.................................................................................. C-2 Non-Federal Funding and Technical Assistance .................................................................... C-28 State-Specific Funding and Technical Assistance .................................................................. C-41 Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-2
Guadalupe, California
Federal Funding and Technical Assistance
Active Communities Tool (ACT) – This CDC tool helps cross-sector teams create an action plan for improving community-built environments that promote physical activity consistent with their community context.
www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/resources/active-communities-tool/index.html Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program – This FHWA competitive grant program supports planning and active transportation implementation at the network scale, rather than on a project-by-project basis. Grants will be for State and local governments or organizations to plan, design, and construct networks of safe and connected active transportation facilities that connect between destinations within a community or metropolitan region. Grants may fund projects to plan, design, and construct an active transportation spine, a facility that connects between communities, metropolitan regions, or States.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability/index.cfm
Americorps – Americorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program: The program was created to invest in Americorps Seniors projects focused on Indigenous and Native communities, advancing opportunities for older adults to make an impact, through their time and experience. Through the Native Nations and Indigenous Elders SDP funding opportunity, applicants must demonstrate how they will engage adults ages 55 and older to address one or more of the Indigenous Elders SDP prioritie
https://americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2023-americorps-seniors-nativenations-indigenous-elders-senior Americorps – State and National Native Nations Planning Grants: AmeriCorps is committed to working on a Nation-to-Nation basis with Native Nations and upholding the federal government’s Tribal trust responsibility. AmeriCorps planning grants provide support to a grant recipient to develop an AmeriCorps program that will engage AmeriCorps members in implementing evidence-based interventions to solve community problems. Grant recipients are awarded up to $240,000 for a 12-month planning period and are encouraged to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle if they deem the fit with AmeriCorps to be of use to their community.
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=343170 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): ARC is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-3
Guadalupe, California
community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. The Area Development program relies on a flexible “bottom up” approach to economic development, empowering Appalachian communities to work with their state governments to design impactful investment opportunities supporting ARC’s mission and investment priorities. ARC’s Area Development program makes investments in two general areas: critical infrastructure and business and workforce development. Critical infrastructure investments mainly include water and wastewater systems, transportation networks, broadband, and other projects anchoring regional economic development.
Business and workforce investments primarily focus on entrepreneurship, worker training and education, food systems, leadership, and other human capital development.
In addition, ARC invests in Business Development Revolving Loan Funds to help the Region’s smaller businesses access capital. All ARC Area Development grant proposals originate at the state level in consultation with the ARC state program manager.
ARC’s service area:
https://www.arc.gov/about-the-appalachian-region/
ARC’s investment priorities:
https://www.arc.gov/investment-priorities/
ARC’s Business Development Revolving Loan Funds:
https://www.arc.gov/business-development-resolving-loan-fund-grants/ ARC State Program Managers:
https://www.arc.gov/state_partner_role/state-program-manager/ Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) – READY Appalachia: READY Appalachia is ARC’s new community capacity-building initiative offering flexible funding to organizations in four key economic development pillars: nonprofits, community foundations, local governments, and Local Development Districts, and free training to the Appalachians that work for them. Participants in each READY Appalachia learning track access 10 weeks of cohort-based learning, skill development, and grant opportunities to increase their capacity to solve pressing issues and create positive economic change.
https://www.arc.gov/ready/
Benchmarking report - This interactive, online report by the League of American Bicyclists provides publicly available data on biking and walking for all 50 States, and 76 cities made up of the 50 most populous cities in the United States, the most populous city for every State whether or not it is one of the 50 most populous in the country, and every Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community. The data provided in the Benchmarking Project comes from the Federal government, survey responses from State and city officials, and national nonprofit organizations. Recent additions to the site include State Fact Sheets that provide a snapshot of key data such as active commuting, public health, Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-4
Guadalupe, California
and road safety, and other topics explored in-depth on data.bikeleague.org. These Fact Sheets can serve as a resource for discussions about biking and walking in each State. https://data.bikeleague.org/
Bipartisan infrastructure law landing page - This webpage provides lay explanations of changes to the Transportation Alternatives and Highway Safety Improvement Programs, infographics showing how funding flows from the Federal government to local communities, and State-specific fact sheets on the Transportation Alternatives Program. https://saferoutespartnership.org/healthy-communities/policy-change/federal/BILbackground-resources Build America Center - This USDOT program will offer educational programs, information, and resources for transportation agencies in all areas of alternative and innovative project financing and delivery. It will help public entities access technical assistance in financial planning and innovation project delivery methods, as well as provide education and training.
https://bac.umd.edu/
Building resilient infrastructure and communities - direct technical assistance: This FEMA program provides full support to communities that may not have the resources to begin climate resilience planning and project solution design on their own. www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities/directtechnical-assistance Bureau of Indian Affairs – Tribal Tourism Grant: The grant funding it to retain consultants to perform feasibility studies on Tribal tourism opportunities or develop a tourism business plan.
https://www.bia.gov/service/grants/ttgp
Center of Excellence on New Mobility and Automated Vehicles Project - This FHWA program provides funding to collect, conduct, and fund research on the impacts of new mobility and highly automated vehicles on land use, urban design, transportation, real estate, equity, and municipal budgets. This program has led communication and outreach activities with highway stakeholders, including State Departments of Transportation and other public agencies and industry groups, to improve understanding of the issues and needs related to AV.
https://highways.dot.gov/automation
Citizen’s institute on rural design (cird) - The program is funded by National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council. The program focuses Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-5
Guadalupe, California
on communites with populations of 50,000 or less. Their goal is to enhance the quality of life and econonmi citality of rural America trhought planning, design, and creative placemaking. The program offers competeitve funding to small towns and rural and tribal communities to host a local design workshop. It also includes support for rual communities through the Design Learning Cohort which provides peer learning, training in design, planning, community engagement, and facilitaition techniques, one-on-one technical assistance on the community design challenge, and support in navigating fudning opportunities.
www.rural-design.org/
Create thriving, activity friendly communities - Developed in partnership with CDC and other Federal agencies, the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity launched a site that houses a growing collection of resources to help practitioners, decision makers, and community members make the business case for improving the built environment such as implementing Complete Streets. These resources can be used to help communities use economic indicators to apply infrastructure investments in more equitable ways. www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/resources/active-communities-tool/index.html DOT Navigator - Coordinating and improving access to the range of DOT Technical Assistance Resources the DOT Navigator is an online portal to access the myriad of technical assistance resources across the Department, and to provide guidance to potential applicants for DOT funding. Many materials are translated into Spanish. Monthly bulletins provide updates on new technical assistance resources, trainings, and webinars on a range of topics.
www.transportation.gov/dot-navigator
Environmental and climate justice program (ecj) - This EPA program provides EPA with approximately $3 Billion for ECJ program grants and technical assistance for environmental and climate justice efforts that benefit overburdened communities. www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-seeks-input-inflation-reduction-act-environmentaland-climate-justice-program Fostering multimodal connectivity newsletter - This quarterly publication is intended to provide real-world examples of ways that multimodal transportation investments promote economic revitalization, provide access to jobs, and achieve safer communities through support of accelerated project delivery, technology and design innovation, and public/private partnerships.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability/newsletter/
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-6
Guadalupe, California
Fish and Wildlife Service – Recovery Lands Acquisition Grant: Recovery Land Acquisition grants promote State and Federal cooperation in listed species conservation by leveraging funds to acquire specific parcels of land, through fee simple or conservation easement, in support of Service-approved recovery plans and outlines. The ESA conveys the importance of recovery plans as a central organizing tool for guiding the recovery process by requiring their development for every listed species.
Fish and Wildlife Service- U.S. Small Grants Program: Projects must involve only longterm protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit migratory birds. This program supports the DOI and FWS mission of protecting and managing the nation's natural resources by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to conserve land and water and to expand outdoor recreation and access. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/searchgrants.html?keywords=tribal%20hertiage Fish and Wildlife Service – North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants: North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants increase bird populations and wetland habitat, while supporting local economies and American traditions such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, family farming, and cattle ranching. Wetlands protected by NAWCA provide valuable benefits such as flood control, reducing coastal erosion, improving water and air quality, and recharging ground water.
The U.S. Standard and Small Grants are a competitive, matching grant programs that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the NAWCA. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds.
Fish and Wildlife Service – Youth Engagement, Education and Employment: The grant is a cooperative agreement with member organizations of the FWS Youth Corps to engage with youth and veterans in projects under the Authority of the Public Lands Corps Act.
The purpose of the PLC is to provide work and educational opportunities for youth in the areas of natural and cultural resource conservation, development, and scientific research. Youth perform work on our nation’s public lands that cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing personnel levels. The PLC allows the Service to enter into partnerships using a financial assistance/cooperative with partner organizations to employ youth in PLC projects and internships.
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/searchgrants.html?keywords=Youth%20Environmental%20Outdoor%20Education%20and%20 Camps
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-7
Guadalupe, California
Green and complete streets toolkit - This EPA tool is for communities that have adopted Complete Streets Policies and would like to integrate roadside green infrastructure to compliment walkable and/or bike friendly streets. (no website) Green infrastructure wizard (GIWiz): GIWiz is an interactive application that provides access and guides users to the wide range of tools, research and resources that can support and promote water management and community planning decisions. www.epa.gov/sustainability/giwiz
Green streets handbook: A resource guide with strategies and examples for using roadside green infrastructure to manage wet weather and improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians.
www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/green-street-handbook
Human environment digest - This monthly publication shares the latest information from a range of Federal and non-Federal sources, addressing transportation and its relationship to the human environment.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability/he_digest/
Intersections initiative - The Intersections Initiative is a year-long partnership between America Walks, the League of American Bicyclists, and the Safe Routes Partnership supported in part by the CDC. The initiative is designed to help build capacity to apply for infrastructure funding to support active and public transportation projects and identify the policies and practices that make this a reality. Community leaders, organizations, and local governments can work with subject matter experts to navigate Federal funding opportunities and build community demand. https://intersections-initiative.org/
Legacy roads and trails program - This Forest Service Program was authorized and funded to direct work towards urgently needed road and trail repair and maintenance, road decommissioning, and removal of fish passage barriers. The program emphasizes areas where Forest Service roads may be contributing to water quality problems in streams and water bodies that support threatened, endangered, and sensitive species or community water sources. The Forest Service’s Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT) provides education on best mitigation practices and shares best practices.
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)— This FHWA program provides training, technical assistance, and technology transfer services to help local and rural road agencies manage and maintain their roadway systems. The LTAP Centers (one in each Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-8
Guadalupe, California
State) are in the process of developing a general training “Tips and Tricks for Applying for Federal Assistance.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/clas/ltap
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) — This Center is funded by FTA and promotes the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and communities. NADTC provides technical assistance to bikers by providing resources and training on accessible transportation to empower communities and support individuals.
www.nadtc.org/
National Center for Mobility Management—This Center is federally funded through a cooperative agreement with FTA, and pursues, facilitates, and supports partnerships between transportation/mobility management agencies and organizations that provide health-related, social, and community services to older adults, people with disabilities, and/or low-income individuals and families. The goal is to enhance transportation options for all through coordination and mobility management practices and strategic partnerships. The technical assistance that is provided is mostly in connection with transit, but it does provide some technical assistance related to bicycling in connection with transit. Examples include bike libraries and using micro mobility to supplement transit options.
https://nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org/
National Endowment for the Arts—Challenge America: Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved.
https://www.arts.gov/grants/challenge-america
National Endowment for the Arts - Citizen’s Institute on Rural Design: CIRD is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council and design partner, To Be Done Studio. The program supports Local Design Workshops that address the selected community’s specific rural design challenge, and a Design Learning Cohort program that will invite at least 15 rural communities to engage in peer learning and expert-led sessions online. All rural communities of 50,000 or less are eligible to apply for the CIRD opportunities. Applications from nonprofits, tribal or municipal governments, regional planning and arts organizations, and other community partners are accepted.
https://www.rural-design.org/
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-9
Guadalupe, California
National Endowment for the Arts—Our Town: Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities. Our Town projects advance local economic, physical, or social outcomes in communities, ultimately laying the groundwork for systems change and centering equity. These projects require a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount.
https://www.arts.gov/grants/our-town
National Fish and Wildlife Federation – America the Beautiful Challenge: The America the Beautiful Challenge will seek to advance conservation and restoration projects that are consistent with the principles outlined in the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful report and that focus on at least one of the following core areas of need:
-Conserving and restoring rivers, coasts, wetlands, and watersheds -Conserving and restoring forests, grasslands, and other important ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks
-Connecting and reconnecting wildlife corridors, large landscapes, watersheds, and seascapes
-Improving ecosystem and community resilience to coastal flooding, drought, and other climate-related threats
-Expanding access to the outdoors, particularly in underserved communities Applicants are encouraged to develop large landscape scale and/or cross jurisdictional projects that advance existing conservation plans or are informed by Indigenous Traditional Knowledge.
https://www.nfwf.org/programs/america-beautiful-challenge?activeTab=tab-3 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) – Grant Opportunities: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provides funding on a competitive basis to projects that sustain, restore and enhance our nation's fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. https://www.nfwf.org/apply-grant
National Fish and Wildlife Federation – Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program Grants: The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program focuses on the stewardship and restoration of coastal, wetland and riparian ecosystems across the country. Its goal is to meet the conservation needs of important species and habitats, providing measurable and meaningful conservation and educational outcomes. The program requires the establishment and/or enhancement of diverse partnerships and an Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-10
Guadalupe, California
education/outreach component that will help shape and sustain behavior to achieve conservation goals.
Funding priorities for this program include:
-On-the-ground wetland, riparian, in-stream and/or coastal habitat restoration -Meaningful education and training activities, either through community outreach, participation and/or integration with K-12 environmental curriculum -Measurable ecological, educational and community benefits -Partnerships: Five Star projects should engage a diverse group of community partners to achieve ecological and educational outcomes.
https://www.nfwf.org/programs/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grantprogram?activeTab=tab-1 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Northern Great Plains Program: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to conserve and restore grasslands and wildlife species in the Northern Great Plains. The goal of the Northern Great Plains Program is to maintain and/or improve interconnected grasslands in focal areas to sustain healthy populations of grassland-obligate species while fostering sustainable livelihoods and preserving cultural identities. Particular species of interest include grassland obligate songbirds, black-footed ferret, pronghorn, and greater sagegrouse. https://www.nfwf.org/programs/northern-great-plains-program/northern-great-plains2023-request-proposals National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Bring Back the Native Fish Program: Bring Back the Native Fish awards grants to projects that conserve aquatic ecosystems, increase instream flows and build partnerships that benefit native fish species throughout the United States. The program also provides grants to implement the goals of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
Bring Back the Native Fish also supports projects that advance innovation in fisheries management, including developing decision support tools, landscape-scale assessments to determine where to implement restoration to maximize native fish recovery, piloting innovative restoration techniques, identifying key flow restoration thresholds that enhance fish habitat and water quality in flow-limited systems, and innovative public outreach methods like crowd-sourcing data or information needed for native fish conservation. Intermountain West native trout and char including Yellowstone/Snake River, Colorado River, San Juan and Greenback cutthroat trout, bull trout, Apache trout and Gila trout
https://www.nfwf.org/programs/bring-back-native-fish
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-11
Guadalupe, California
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Walmart – Walmart Acres for America: Acres for America priorities include: Conserve critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife; Connect existing protected lands to unify wild places and protect migration routes; Provide access for people to enjoy the outdoors; and,
Ensure the future of local economies that depend on forestry, ranching and recreation. https://www.nfwf.org/programs/acres-america?activeTab=tab-1 National Forest Foundation – Matching Awards Program: On-the-Ground Conservation and Restoration Projects that Improve Forest Health and Outdoor Experiences https://www.nationalforests.org/grant-programs/map
National Park Service (NPS) – Chesapeake Gateways Network Grants: NPS Chesapeake Gateways welcomes grant proposals purposely focused on advancing equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement across two strategic themes: Advance a Major Inclusive Interpretive Initiative with an Equity Lens and Promote Resilient Communities & Landscapes Through Tourism, Sustainability, Conservation & Local Economies. Eligible communities are located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. https://www.nps.gov/chba/getinvolved/grants.htm
National Park Service (NPS) – Community Assistance: This website provides an overview and links to NPS funding, project assistance, and special designation programs that are available to the public and community groups.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/community-assistance-national-regional-programs.htm National Park Service (NPS) – Federal Land Acquisition: The Federal portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund is used to acquire lands, waters, and interests therein necessary to achieve the natural, cultural, wildlife, and recreation management objectives of the National Park Service.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/federalside.htm
National Park Service (NPS) – Historic Preservation Grant Programs: The NPS Historic Preservation Grant Programs can assist communities with a variety of historic preservation and community projects focused on heritage preservation. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1623/whatwedo.htm
National Park Service (NPS) – Land and Water Conservation Fund: The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides grants to states for park and recreation-related land acquisition and development. Individual state pages for LWCF funding are most helpful. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/stateside.htm
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-12
Guadalupe, California
National Park Service (NPS)—Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program:
ORLP is a nationally competitive grant program that delivers funding to urban areas – jurisdictions of at least 50,000 people – with priority given to projects located in economically disadvantaged areas and lacking in outdoor recreation opportunities.
These awards help underserved communities address outdoor recreation deficits by supporting projects in cities and densely populated urbanized areas that create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors.
https://lwcfcoalition.org/orlp
National Park Service (NPS) – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA): RTCA Supports community-led conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the country. RTCA's network of planning and design professionals collaborate with community groups, nonprofits, tribes, and state and local government to design trails and parks, conserve and improve access to waterways, and protect special places. www.nps.gov/rtca
National Park Service – Challenge Cost Share Program: The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Challenge Cost Share program is intended to support specific National Park Service mission-related projects that align with the goals of project partners.
Challenge Cost Share projects must support one or more of the following funding themes:
-Addressing the Climate Crisis. Projects that address the climate crisis and build resiliency to a changing climate. Projects could include developing green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and/or creating sustainable energy sources. -Conservation Projects (Lands and Waters). Projects that increase the acres of protected or restored lands and waters.
-Advancing Equity for Youth from Underserved Communities. Projects that increase equitable access to parks for youth and young adults from underserved communities. -Outdoor Recreation. Projects that increase public access to new and restored outdoor recreation opportunities.
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1837/index.htm
National Park Service – Save America’s Treasures: SAT funds the preservation, rehabilitation, and conservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections. Eligible properties must be either currently: 1) individually listed as a National Historic Landmark or be a contributing property within a National Historic Landmark district, or 2) individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance (properties listed at the state or local significance are not eligible) Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-13
Guadalupe, California
or be a contributing property within a nationally significant National Register Historic District. Properties include buildings, sites, structures and objects.
Eligible collections must be determined to be of national significance based on the supportive description of its significance within the application. Collections include artifacts, documents, sculptures and other works of art. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/save-americas-treasuresgrants.htm National Park Service – Inclusive Storytelling Grant: This grant will also support the work to document, interpret, and share stories about communities that have been historically excluded from participation in the outdoors – either through a community’s physical presence on public lands (e.g. segregation, forced removal, lack of accessible accommodations, environmental racism) or through the narrative of who belongs in the outdoors. Also consider submitting a proposal if your work strives to document or interpret stories that eliminate barriers, promote access, and cultivate connections to the many benefits of spending time outside, in cultural and historical spaces or to promote identification with parks as a beneficial element in society. https://www.nationalparks.org/grant-applications
National Telecommunications and Information Administration – Internet for All: Funding has been provided with the goal of connecting everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed internet. This multi-agency effort sponsors programs that support high-speed internet planning, infrastructure, and adoption. https://www.internetforall.gov/programs
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC): The NBRC provides grants in support of community and economic development projects (including outdoor recreation) across a region that includes much of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and all of Vermont.
NBRC’s largest annual grant opportunity is the State Economic & Infrastructure Development (SEID) program, which funds projects up to $1 million (for true infrastructure), or $350,000 (for non-infrastructure) per project. The SEID opportunity typically opens in March/April, with applications due in May, and awards made in early fall. For updates on funding opportunities, and a comprehensive listing of projects previously funded, please see NBRC’s website.
https://www.nbrc.gov
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) – Catalyst Program: The purpose of this program is to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. The Catalyst Program includes funding from NBRC’s core appropriations (SEID) and the Infrastructure Investment and Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-14
Guadalupe, California
Jobs Act (IIJA). Catalyst funds will be used to support the economic revitalization of Northern Border communities through investments in infrastructure and noninfrastructure projects. https://www.nbrc.gov/content/Catalyst
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) – Forest Economy Program: The purpose of this program is to support the forest-based economy, and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the 4-state NBRC region. Whether funded directly or through partnerships, funds will be awarded to support projects in the forest economy, which may include community development projects, workforce training and development initiatives, marketing and education campaigns, business planning and technical assistance support, and public infrastructure projects.
https://www.nbrc.gov/content/FEP
Pedestrian and bicycle information center - This organization is partially funded by FHWA and its mission is to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. This organization develops and shares resources vital to advancing mobility, access, equity, and safety for people who walk, bike, and roll. One of their three functional areas is “technical assistance and workforce development” where they provide webinars, training, presentations, reports, discussion guides, and issue briefs as well as adhoc technical assistance when requested at the Federal, State, and local levels. www.pedbikeinfo.org/
Shared Use Mobility Center – This Center is federally funded through a cooperative agreement with FTA and connects the public and private sectors, pilots programs, conducts new research, and provides policy and technical expertise to cities and regions. The Center provides technical assistance such as crafting and releasing requests for proposals, managing vendor negotiations, selecting vehicle locations, creating pricing structures, incorporating guidance from community-based organizations, and building stakeholder and community support. https://sharedusemobilitycenter.org/technical-assistance/ Spark mini-grant program - As part of the CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative, the League of American Bicyclists will award $1,500 to organizations seeking to improve their communities through biking.
https://bikeleague.org/applications-our-2023-community-spark-grants-are-now-open/ Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-15
Guadalupe, California
State funding strategies workgroup - This virtual work group brings together active transportation organizations and advocates working to increase State and local funding for walking and bicycling. They have monthly meetings and discuss the “what” and the “how” - lessons learned, effective strategies, and the tips that they can offer to advocates pursuing funding for walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School at the state and local levels.
https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/blog/join-state-funding-strategies-workgroup Sustainable Forestry Initiative – Sustainable Forestry Initiative Conservation Grants: The SFI Conservation Grants Program supports projects that engage non-profit organizations, SFI-certified organizations and other stakeholders in SFI’s mission of advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaboration. The SFI Conservation Grants Program strives to quantify and demonstrate the value of SFI-certified forestlands, and lands providing fiber through the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard, toward mitigating climate change impacts, enhancing biodiversity, and protecting water resources.
https://forests.org/conservationgrants/
Transportation alternatives program state of states: On a quarterly basis, Safe Routes Partnership tracks States' progress awarding and obligating Transportation Alternatives Program funds. This tracking offers actionable insights for advocates and local governments.
https://saferoutespartnership.org/blog/brand-new-our-state-states-quarterlytransportation-alternatives-program-implementation Tribal Technical Assistance Program – This FHWA program was designed to build the capability of the 573 federally recognized tribes to manage their highway assets by providing training and technical assistance that strengthen Tribal capacity for selfgovernance of transportation programs. This program has resources available to respond to questions in the following areas: Safety, Construction Management, Planning, Design, Environment, Construction Management, Contract Administration, Maintenance and Asset Management.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/clas/ttap
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grants: The primary objective of the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant program is to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a Notice published in the Federal Register and an announcement posted on Grants.gov.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-16
Guadalupe, California
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/socially-disadvantagedgroups-grant U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Continuum of Care: The U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a first-of-its-kind package of resources to address unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments, including funds set aside specifically to address homelessness in rural communities. The $322 million available under this NOFO will enhance communities’ capacity to humanely and effectively address unsheltered homelessness by connecting vulnerable individuals and families to housing, healthcare, and supportive services. This Special NOFO strongly promotes partnerships with healthcare organizations, public housing authorities and mainstream housing providers, and people with lived expertise of homelessness.
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/coc/specialCoCNOFO U.S. Department of Labor – Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC): The WORC Initiative funds grant projects within the Appalachian, Lower Mississippi Delta, and Northern Border regions. These grants are designed to address the employment and training needs of the local and regional workforce, created in collaboration with community partners and aligned with existing economic and workforce development plans and strategies.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/dislocated-workers/grants/workforce-opportunity U.S. Department of Transportation—Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding Opportunities: The link below will take you to a table that indicates potential eligibility for pedestrian and bicycle activities and projects under U.S. Department of Transportation surface transportation funding programs. Activities and projects need to meet program eligibility requirements. Project sponsors should integrate the safety, accessibility, equity, and convenience of walking and bicycling into surface transportation projects. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/funding/funding_opportuniti es.pdf
U.S. Department of Transportation – Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program (PROTECT): Provides funding to ensure surface transportation resilience to natural hazards including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters through support of planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure.
https://www.transportation.gov/rural/grant-toolkit/promoting-resilient-operationstransformative-efficient-and-cost-saving Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-17
Guadalupe, California
U.S. Department of Transportation – RAISE Grants: This program helps communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact. RAISE discretionary grants, which were originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants, can be used for a wide variety of projects. Recent examples of funded projects include dedicated bus lanes in Baltimore, highway and bridge repair in New Mexico, dock replacements in Alaska, and a rail-to-trail project in Arkansas. Overall, USDOT has awarded $9.9 billion to more than 700 projects. https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants
U.S. Department of Transportation – Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program: The first-ever Federal program dedicated to reconnecting communities that were previously cut off from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure. Eligible facilities can be a highway, including a road, street, or parkway or other transportation facility, such as a rail line, that creates a barrier to community connectivity, including barriers to mobility, access, or economic development, due to high speeds, grade separations, or other design factors. Funding supports planning grants and capital construction grants, as well as technical assistance, to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or replacement of eligible transportation infrastructure facilities. https://www.transportation.gov/grants/reconnecting-communities U.S. Department of Transportation – Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program: The BIL created the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, which makes $10 million available over five years to provide states, local governments, and tribal governments with grants to support project development leading to future applications to DOT credit or grant programs. The grants can support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help them advance infrastructure projects. The first notice of funding opportunity will include two fiscal years and will make $3.4 million available to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/RuralandTribalGrants U.S. Department of Transportation – Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES): An initiative to address disparities in rural transportation infrastructure by developing user-friendly tools and information, aggregating DOT resources, and providing technical assistance. The ROUTES Initiative aims to ensure rural transportation infrastructure’s unique challenges are considered in order to meet priority transportation goals of safety, mobility, and economic competitiveness. https://www.transportation.gov/rural
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-18
Guadalupe, California
U.S. Department of Transportation – Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A): This is a discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The following activities are eligible for the SS4A program: Develop or update a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan); Conduct planning, design, and development activities in support of an Action Plan; Carry out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
U.S. Department of Transportation – Thriving Communities Program: The Thriving Communities Program (TCP) aims to ensure that disadvantaged communities adversely or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes have the technical tools and organizational capacity to compete for federal aid and deliver quality infrastructure projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive.
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Federal Lands Access Program: Improves transportation facilities that provide access to, are adjacent to, or are located within Federal lands. Funds, distributed among States by formula, supplement State and local resources for public roads, transit systems, and other transportation facilities, with an emphasis on high-use recreation sites and economic generators.
https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/flap/
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Recreational Trails Program: The Recreational Trails Program provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. Each State administers its own program, usually through a State resource agency, and has a state coordinator. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/rtpstate.cfm http://www.recreationaltrailsinfo.org/
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside: These set-aside funds from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBD) program funding include all projects and activities that were previously eligible under the Transportation Alternatives Program, encompassing a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements such as Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-19
Guadalupe, California
historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/factsheets/transportationalternativesfs.cfm U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) Program: The Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program (NSFLTP) of The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) (Pub. L. 114-94, section 1123), provides funding for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of nationally-significant projects within, adjacent to, or accessing Federal and tribal lands. This Program provides an opportunity to address significant challenges across the nation for transportation facilities that serve Federal and tribal lands.
The NSFLTP Program provides discretionary funding for projects that have an estimated construction cost of at least $25 million. Construction projects with an estimated cost equal to and exceeding $50 million receive priority consideration in the selection process. Section 1123 of the FAST Act requires that projects have at least 10% of costs matched by funds not provided under any USDOT programs authorized under titles 23 or 49 of the U.S. Code, unless authorized under any other provision of law. FHWA shall consider criteria established under section 1123 of the FAST Act in rating all applications for funding under the Program in addition to the Secretary’s objectives. https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs/significant U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Recreational Trails Program: The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses.
Each State administers its own program. Colorado's RTP Coordinator is Fletcher Jacobs:
[email protected]
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration – Federal Lands Transportation Program: The FLTP provides funding for transportation facilities owned and maintained by the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and with the enactment of the FAST Act, the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and independent Federal agencies with natural resource and land management responsibilities. The program focuses on improving Federal lands transportation facilities (FLTFs) that are located on, adjacent to, or provide access to Federal lands. The FLTFs must be owned and maintained by the Federal government and must be included in the national FLTF inventory.
https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs/transportation Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-20
Guadalupe, California
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) – Economic Development Integration (EDI) Funding and Resources: EDA’s Economic Development Integration (EDI) team works with a wide range of federal partners to help communities access programs and coordinate resources to optimize federal assistance. The funding and resources page provides useful and relevant information about tools and funding opportunities available to communities.
https://eda.gov/integration/funding-resources/
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) – Economic Development Integration (EDI) Funding and Resources: EDA’s Economic Development Integration (EDI) team works with a wide range of federal partners to help communities access programs and coordinate resources to optimize federal assistance. The funding and resources page provides useful and relevant information about tools and funding opportunities available to communities.
https://eda.gov/integration/funding-resources/
U.S Economic Development Administration (EDA) - Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs. Through this program, EDA provides grants ranging between $100K to $30million (with EDA Funding 50-80% of project costs depending on certain criteria). Each project funded under this program must be consistent with at least one of EDA’s Investment Priorities: 1. Equity 2. Recovery & Resilience 3. Workforce Development 4. Manufacturing 5. Technology-Based Economic Development 6.
Environmentally-Sustainable Development 7. Exports & Foreign Direct Investment. Each project must be consistent with the region’s current Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), or if a CEDS does not exist, an equivalent EDA-accepted regional economic development strategy that meets EDA’s CEDS or strategy requirement.
https://www.eda.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/category?category=266289 U.S. Economic Development Administration – Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Grant: Competitive Grants: $240 million to help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future.
https://eda.gov/arpa/travel-tourism/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Brownfields Program: EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, environmental job training, technical assistance, training, and research. To facilitate the Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-21
Guadalupe, California
leveraging of public resources, EPA's Brownfields Program collaborates with other EPA programs, other federal partners, and state agencies to identify and make available resources that can be used for brownfield activities.
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-epa-brownfield-grant-funding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF): The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.
https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program: EPA's new EJ Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program will establish technical assistance centers across the nation providing technical assistance, training, and related support to communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners. The services provided will include training and assistance on writing grant proposals, navigating federal systems such as Grants.gov and SAM.gov, effectively managing grant funds, community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants.
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communitiestechnical-assistance-centers U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement Program: EPA's EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program provides funding for eligible applicants for projects that address local environmental and public health issues within an affected community. The CPS Program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities.
https://www.epa.gov/environmental-justice/environmental-justice-collaborativeproblem-solving-cooperative-agreement-0 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA – The Environmental Justice Government-toGovernment (EJG2G) Program - The EJG2G program provides funding to governmental entities at the state, local, territorial and tribal level to support and/or create model government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-governmentgovernment-program Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-22
Guadalupe, California
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program: EPA's EJ Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks.
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-small-grants-program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Office of Community Revitalization: EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization works with communities to help them grow in ways that expand economic opportunity while protecting human health and the environment.
The Office of Community Revitalization conducts research; produces reports and other publications; provides examples of outstanding smart growth communities and projects; and works with tribes, states, regions, and communities through grants and technical assistance programs on a range of smart growth topics.
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
USDA Forest Service – Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program: Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program (CitSci Fund) was launched in 2017 to support innovative projects that address science and resource management information needs while connecting people to the land and one another. It is an opportunity for USDA Forest Service units and partners to apply for up to $60,000 over the course of 6 years for collaborative citizen science projects.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/citizen-science/competitive-funding-program USDA Forest Service – Community Forest & Open Space Program: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program provides financial assistance grants to local governments, Indian tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations (including land trusts) to establish community forests that provide defined public benefits such as recreational opportunities, the protection of vital water supplies and wildlife habitat, demonstration sites for private forest landowners, economic benefits from timber and non-timber products.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/community-forest/program USDA Forest Service – Forest Legacy Program: The Forest Legacy Program is a conservation program administered by the USDA Forest Service that provides grants to state agencies to permanently conserve important forest lands that support strong markets for forest products, protect air and water quality, provide recreational opportunities, and sustain important fish and wildlife habitat. https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-23
Guadalupe, California
USDA Forest Service – Forest Stewardship Program: The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) works in partnership with state forestry agencies, cooperative extensions, and conservation districts to connect private landowners with the information and tools they need to manage their forests and woodlands. FSP works to assist landowners to actively manage their land and related resources, keep land in a productive and healthy condition for present and future owners and increase economic benefits of land (e.g., timber harvesting) while conserving the natural environment. FSP also helps landowners identify goals for their land and the management activities needed to realize them. https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-stewardship/ USDA Forest Service – Regional Research Stations: Forest Service R&D research needs to reflect the diversity of natural resources across the country. To accomplish this, research is conducted at nearly 80 locations across the United States, organized around five regional research stations plus the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico and the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. R&D laboratories are complemented by a network of 80 experimental forests. In addition, R&D research includes collaborations in other countries.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/stations
USDA Forest Service – Urban & Community Forestry Program: The Urban and Community Forestry Program supports the health of all our nation’s forests by creating jobs, contributing to vibrant regional wood economies, enhancing community resilience, and preserving the unique sense of place in cities and towns of all sizes. By working with our state partners to deliver information, tools and financial resources, the program supports fact-based and data-driven best practices in communities, maintaining, restoring, and improving the more than 140 million acres of community forest land across the United States. Technical support is provided to communities by state forestry agencies and non-profit partners for local actions, such as conducting tree inventories, preparing management plans and policies, and planting and caring for trees. https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf USDA Forest Service and American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) – NATIVE Act: This program will award grants of up to $250,000 out of a total funding amount of approximately $900,000 and is intended to advance the intent and purpose of the NATIVE Act through supporting and investing in efforts to enhance and integrate cultural tourism/cultural recreation to empower Native American communities and to advance the National Travel and Tourism Strategy. The program seeks applications from Tribal Nations, Tribal Enterprises and native nonprofits that border and/or have historic ties to USFS managed lands and USFS Regions.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-24
Guadalupe, California
https://www.aianta.org/request-for-proposal-us-forest-service-aianta-native-act-grant/ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): The NRCS has several grants and technical assistance programs that support community conservation efforts. Some of them include:
Conservation Technical Assistance: NRCS can provide farmers and landowners technical assistance to manage their natural resources in a responsible and sustainable way.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Provides landowners and land managers with financial assistance to address natural resource concerns on private, working lands through conservation practices. Issues addressed can include soil erosion, water quality impacts, soil quality degradation (soil compaction, soil productivity/health), low plant productivity, and degraded wildlife habitat.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): Provides financial assistance to conservation minded agricultural and forestry producers by paying for existing conservation activity AND for newly adopted conservation measures. Adopting a new conservation activity is a requirement for program participation.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/ USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) – Conservation Innovation Grants:
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or nongovernmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals.
CIG enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. NRCS administers CIG. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mt/programs/financial/cig/ USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service – Regional Conservation Partnership Program: The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-25
Guadalupe, California
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/rcpp/ USDA Rural Development – Business and Industry Loan Guarantees: Provide guarantees on loans made by private lenders to help new and existing businesses gain access to affordable capital by lowering the lender’s risk and allowing for more favorable interest rates and terms.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industry-loan-guarantees/ USDA Rural Development – Community Facilities Program: Provides affordable loans, loan guarantees, and grants to construct, expand, or improve facilities that provide essential public services in rural areas, such as health care, education, public safety, and others.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/community-facilitiesprograms USDA Rural Development – Inflation Reduction Act Funding for Rural Development (IRA): IRA represents the largest single investment in rural electrification since the passage of the Rural Electrification Act in 1936. The Act provides funding to USDA Rural Development to help eligible entities purchase renewable energy and zero-emission systems and make energy-efficiency improvements that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act
USDA Rural Development – Rural Business Development Grants: Help small and emerging private businesses and/or nonprofits in rural communities startup or expand businesses. Funds may be used to acquire or develop land, buildings, plants, and equipment; build or improve access roads, parking areas, utility extensions, and water and waste disposal facilities; provide technical assistance; establish revolving loan funds; and support rural distance learning programs that provide educational or job training. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants USDA Rural Development – Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants: The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-innovationstronger-economy-rise-grants Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-26
Guadalupe, California
USDA Rural Development – Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program: The program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
The program also provides training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=343324 USDA Rural Development – Single Family Housing Programs: Provide loans, loan guarantees, and grants to give families and individuals the opportunity to buy, build, repair, or own safe and affordable homes located in rural America. Includes grants and loans for rural housing, housing preservation, and direct home loans. Eligibility for these loans, loan guarantees, and grants is based on income and varies according to the average median income for each area.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/single-family-housingprograms
USDA Rural Development – Summary of Major Programs: A summary document that catalogs the more than 40 programs USDA has to support rural America, including telecommunications, electric, community facilities, water and environment, business and cooperative programs, and single and multi-family housing programs. https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD_ProgramMatrix.pdf
USDA Rural Development – Telecom Programs: Loans and grants to build and expand broadband networks in eligible rural areas. Loans build broadband networks and deliver service to rural households and businesses and provide capital for rural telecommunications companies and broadband providers. Grants are reserved for communities with the highest need.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/telecom-programs USDA Rural Development – Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Programs:
Provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-waste-disposal-loan-grant-program U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Created in 1953, SBA helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small businesses and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
If you need access to capital to help you achieve your business goals, the SBA offers various funding programs for all business types. Whether you need to create a Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-27
Guadalupe, California
successful business plan, get expert advice on expanding your business, or train your team, SBA’s resource partner network is here to help!
For Funding Programs: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs For Local Assistance visit: https://www.sba.gov/localassistance/find?address=87107&pageNumber=1 Walkability action institute - National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) collaborates and receives financial support from the CDC on a multiday “course” for interdisciplinary teams representing approximately six regional/metropolitan planning organizations, or county or municipality jurisdictions from within a State. The interdisciplinary teams are comprised of public health, transportation, planning, elected officicals, and other disciplines attend the course, develop team action plans, and implement policies, plans, projects, or system improvements to improve the design of their communities, regions, and states to support safe and accessible walking and biking over the long term.
https://chronicdisease.org/page/WAI/
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-28
Guadalupe, California
Non-Federal Funding and Technical Assistance
AARP Community Challenge Grants: These grants fund projects that help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress towards livability for people of all ages in communities across the nation. 2019 projects were designed to create vibrant public places, demonstrate the tangible value of “Smart Cities,” deliver a range of transportation and mobility options, and/or support the availability of a range of housing choices.
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/ The Access Fund – Climbing Conservation Grant: The Access Fund’s Climbing Conservation Grant Program funds projects that preserve or enhance climbing access and opportunities and conserve the climbing environment throughout the US. Since our inception in 1991, Access Fund has funded over $1.4 million to local organizations, climbers, and public agencies (see our Grant History).
Because we're a member-supported nonprofit organization, we fund projects that demonstrate local climber support, collaboration with land managers, and a commitment to long-term change. Your group’s efforts should be quantifiable, with specific objectives, a detailed budget, and measures for evaluating success. Most grant requests range from $1,000 to $4,000. Access Fund considers requests for more than $10,000, but these projects should have national significance and use a high degree of matching funds. If requesting more than $10,000, please reach out to [email protected] before submitting your application. Read through the projects that were awarded during 2019's Second Round to see examples of proposals that were vetted and awarded by Access Fund's grant committee. https://www.accessfund.org/take-action/apply-for-funding/climbing-grant-application America Walks – Technical Assistance for Walkable Communities: America Walks provides technical assistance and “rapid-response” services at no charge. We regularly receive questions on a variety of walking topics, including starting community groups, getting a crosswalk installed, passing a Vision Zero policy, and more. We respond with advice, best practices, case studies, and provide connections to other practitioners. https://americawalks.org/programs/technical-assistance-for-walkable-communities/ American Trails – Legacy Trails Grant Program: American Trails has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to create the Legacy Trails Grant Program. The goal of the program is to support projects that restore, protect, and maintain watersheds on our national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service identifies and prioritizes watershed acres or Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-29
Guadalupe, California
areas where Forest Service roads and trails may impact water quality in streams and water bodies. American Trails will be looking to fund projects that restore fish and aquatic organism passage, improve trail resiliency, preserve trail access, decommission unauthorized trails, and convert unneeded Forest Service roads to trails. American Trails is administering this grant program, and is soliciting applications for funding, with awards up to $100K per project.
https://www.americantrails.org/legacy-trails-program
American Trails – The Trail Fund: These grants are for work on motorized or nonmotorized trails/project that are open to the public anywhere in the United States.
We will focus our funding on state and local lands, and Federal lands will be accepted.
For trails located on US Forest Service land can be funded through the Trail Partner Funding.
https://www.americantrails.org/apply-for-the-trail-fund#eligibility Athletic Brewing Co – Two for the Trails: Grants are for trails, beaches, waterways, parks, and urban areas needing outdoor maintenance.
https://athleticbrewing.com/pages/two-for-the-trails
Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s: Together with their partners in conservation, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are working to positively shape the future of the outdoors through donations, grant-making and advocacy. They invest in programs and initiatives aimed at conserving wildlife and habitat, connecting new audiences to the outdoors, advocating for access and sportsmen’s rights, supporting military and veterans, and strengthening communities in the Missouri Ozarks.
https://about.basspro.com/community/support/?lcab.rdr=TRUE Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation – Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation Grants: Some eligible project areas of interest: Education Improve educational opportunities for citizens of Western Montana Art and Culture
Art programs
Theatrical, artistic and educational programs for youth Creative and cultural expression
http://www.thegallagherfoundation.org/application-process.html Blue Zones – Made to Move: The Made to Move program is a competitive funding opportunity created to assist communities in advancing active transportation through local project development, implementation, and supporting policies. With the ultimate goal of promoting more walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly environments for all ages, Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-30
Guadalupe, California
incomes, and abilities, this funding opportunity will be awarded to five mid-sized communities in the United States. Each community will receive $100,000 plus technical assistance from the Blue Zones, LLC, built environment team. https://www.bluezones.com/made-to-move/
BNSF Railway – BNSF Grants: Eligible projects: Environmental, sustainability or conservation projects, Health & human services, Cultural and historic preservation http://www.bnsffoundation.org/how-to-apply/
Bullitt Foundation – Bullitt Foundation Grants: The Bullitt Foundation awards grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations and Canadian Charities or those that identify themselves as a validly organized and operating municipal corporation, public agency, or Native American Tribe. The Foundation funds projects in four main areas:
Regional Ecosystem Health
Deep Green Buildings
Resilient Cities, Healthy Communities
Energy, Climate and Materials
https://bullittfoundation.force.com/Grantee/s/
Causality Brand Grant: Causality offers both full (pro bono) and matching (partial, funding requirement of 50 percent) service grants to nonprofits for brand marketing and creative services such as brand assessment and development, identity design or logo refresh, marketing materials, marketing campaign development, website design and build, digital/social media graphics, and more.
https://www.causalitybrandgrant.com/
Cinnabar Foundation – Conservation Program Grant: Grant Program Areas:
~Community Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture
~Conservation Education & Research
~Environmental Advocacy
~Private Land Conservation
~Public Lands (access, advocacy, stewardship, wildlife habitat) ~Water Quality and Fisheries
https://www.thecinnabarfoundation.org/special-project-grants.html Cliff Family Foundation: The Cliff Family Foundation awards grants on an annual basis for general operational support as well as for specific projects. The Foundation’s funding priorities include strengthening foods systems, enhancing equitable community health outcomes, and safeguarding the environment and natural resources. Priority is given to Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-31
Guadalupe, California
applicants that address two of their funding priorities at the same time, demonstrate strong community ties, and operate within visible and clearly defined plans for positive change.
https://cliffamilyfoundation.org/grants-program
Community Transportation Association of America – Rural Passenger Transportation Technical access program
: Funded by USDA Rural Development, this program helps rural communities enhance economic growth and development by improving transportation services. The program provides planning assistance for facility development, transit service improvements and expansion, new system start-up, policy and procedure development, marketing, transportation coordination, training, and public transit problem-solving activities. https://ctaa.org/rural-tribal-passenger-transportation-technical-assistance/ Doris Duke Charitable Foundation - Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Environment Grants: Through the Environment Program, the foundation typically awards grants via invited proposals and, occasionally, open funding competitions. A variety of foundationsupported funding opportunities are also available through regranting programs administered by partner organizations. The foundation’s land capital funds are typically distributed through regranting competitions administered by regional conservation organizations.
Unsolicited proposals about future support for projects that fall within the Environment Program's three primary grantmaking strategies can be submitted through a letter of inquiry. Please review our areas of focus to determine whether your proposal fits our objectives by visiting the program’s What We Support page. https://www.ddcf.org/funding-areas/environment/grant-making-process/ Fluor Giving: Grants are only made to organizations that are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations or qualifying non-governmental organizations. An emphasis is placed on programmatic and operating support. Special event and fundraising support is generally not considered. Priority is given to organizations that align to Fluor’s strategic focus areas and provide opportunities for employee volunteerism. Fluor’s key focus areas are Education, Public Health and Critical Human Needs, Economic Development, and Environment.
https://www.fluor.com/sustainability/community
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation – FTPF Orchard Grant: Fruit Trees For Your Community
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-32
Guadalupe, California
global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries.
https://www.ftpf.org/apply
GrantWatch: A website listing thousands of current grants, funding opportunities, awards, contracts and archived grants.
https://www.grantwatch.com/
High Stakes Foundation - High Stakes Foundation Grants: We fund transformational ideas that promote equality, climate change solutions, economic development, local agriculture, sustainable communities, ecosystem preservation and leadership in Montana.
https://highstakesfoundation.org/home-page/
Institute of Museum and Library Services – Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants: This program is designed to assist Native American tribes in improving core library services for their communities. Reflecting IMLS’s agency-level goals of championing lifelong learning, strengthening community engagement, and advancing collections stewardship and access, the goals for this program are to improve digital services to support needs for education, workforce development, economic and business development, health information, critical thinking skills, and digital literacy skills; improve educational programs related to specific topics and content areas of interest to library patrons and community-based users; and enhance the preservation and revitalization of Native American cultures and languages. https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-enhancementgrants International Mountain Biking Association – Trail Accelerator Grant: Eligible projects:
Projects that serve mountain bikers as the primary users, though multi-purpose humanpowered trail uses are viable as well. Projects that will result in a visible and substantial increase in access, improved mountain bike experiences, and greater community benefit.
Projects where the Trail Accelerator grant stands to leverage additional resources to ensure the success of the project. Projects that promote community development, volunteer recruitment, new rider development, youth riding, and engaging marginalized community members. Higher preference will be given to projects that demonstrate a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
https://www.imba.com/trails-for-all/trail-accelerator-grants Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-33
Guadalupe, California
Irving Foundation - The Irving Foundation is interested in supporting organizations whose work focuses on educating youth for self sufficiency in New England or Montana.
Focus areas include the arts, STEM, environmental stewardship, or health. http://www.theirvingfoundation.org/apply
Jerry Metcalf Foundation – Jerry Metcalf Foundation Grants: Eligible project purposes:specific projects, buildings, assets and endowments, operation and administration costs and matching funds. The Foundation supports projects in these areas: the visual, performing, and literary arts, historical research and preservation, environmental research and conservation, and education and community health. https://www.jerrymetcalfmontana.org/grantguidelines.html KaBoom! Playground Grants: Several KaBoom! grants support the development of playgrounds in communities.
https://kaboom.org/grants
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation – Trail Heritage: Grants fund preservation, protecions and interpretation of the natural, historic, educational, and cultural resources of the Lewis and Clark national Historic Trail. Projects must meet goals of the LCTSE Program:a) Enhance public access, enjoyment, or knowledge of significant or identifiable Lewis and Clark sites;
b) Protect, preserve, or restore a threatened and important Lewis and Clark site or associated natural or cultural resources;
c) Involve partners such as a private property owner; youth groups such as schools, Boy Scouts/Girls Scouts of America; government agencies; other non-profit organizations or land trusts; and especially Indian Tribes.
d) Are sustainable or maintainable by the requesting Chapter or organization https://www.lewisandclark.org/grants/
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust – Strategic Projects: Grant projects must serve Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Capital project grants support construction, renovation, land purchase and other capital projects. Organizations must be tax-exempt.
Funds: Arts and culture, education, scientific research, human services, health. https://murdocktrust.org/grant-opportunities/
Move United – Adaptive Equipment Grants: Move United, in partnership with The Hartford, is empowering youth and adults with disabilities to achieve amazing things by making adaptive equipment and sports more accessible. The program goal is to make a significant impact in adaptive sports by empowering 60,000 people, including youth and Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-34
Guadalupe, California
adults with disabilities, to participate sports and recreation over 10 years. After providing 38 Move United Member Organizations with grants in 2018-2022, The Hartford and Move United are excited to announce we are inviting the next round of Member Organizations to apply to be a new partner to help advance the goal to grow adaptive sports programs.
https://moveunitedsport.org/equipment-grant-opportunity/ National Center for Rural Road Safety: A national hub of training, resources, and technical assistance for rural road safety improvements. The center is intended to develop and share multidisciplinary rural road safety training, resources, and technical assistance that is dynamic, collaborative, and responsive. The funding page provides updated links to grants and funds that focus on rural transportation safety. https://ruralsafetycenter.org/resources/funding/
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): NRPA provides information about grant and fundraising opportunities that are available for park and recreation agencies and affiliated friends groups and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. https://www.nrpa.org/our-work/Grant-Fundraising-Resources/ National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance: NWSA is a network of volunteer-based organizations to provide stewardship for America’s enduring resource of wilderness.
They have variety of funding grant programs ($2-10,000 range) related to stewardship and trails. Applications are usually due by late March of each year. https://www.wildernessalliance.org/funding_programs
Northwestern Energy – Conservation Grant: Grant will be considered for requests regarding environmental preservation including habitat, fish and wildlife protection. https://www.northwesternenergy.com/in-your-community/charitable-programs Otto Bremer Trust – Health and Wellbeing Grant: Examples include early education and parenting programs, community recreation, physical and mental health services, youth support and enrichment, post-secondary education and job skills. https://ottobremer.org/social-return/#How-To-Apply--Schedule Outride Bike – Outride Fund: Outride Fund supports projects related to youth cycling, including education, youth rider development, bike-cooperatives, earn-a-bike programs, and trail/bikepark/pump track projects.
https://outridebike.org/outride-fund
Parks for All / Hydro Flask – Parks Grant: Must meet one of the following criteria:
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-35
Guadalupe, California
New parks category Projects large and small in scale are vital for increasing the outdoor spaces available for everyone. From the creation of small urban parks, to the expansion of large trail systems, we seek to fund new trails for walkers and runners, bikers and hikers and swimmers and paddlers too. New parks applications should involve the completion of trail miles, park infrastructure, or other similar outcomes. If your project contributes to the creation of new parks or trails, from planning to construction, with specific outcomes or milestones in 2023, we encourage you to apply under this category.
Park maintenance and restoration category There is tremendous work needed to care for, restore, and maintain our outdoor spaces and our ability to continue to enjoy them.
Ideal programs think creatively about engaging communities in stewardship work and creating connections between people and the land. If your program focuses on caring for and improving outdoor spaces to improve recreation experiences and involves over 1,000 person-hours in the course of this work, please complete the application under this category.
Park access / education category Supporting more equitable access and the education (and confidence) for all to enjoy our parks is a core tenant of the Parks for All program.
Specifically, we seek to support projects that break through the barriers faced by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Latinx, Asian, womxn, LGBTQIA2S+, Disabled, and other historically marginalized communities. We want to work with nonprofits that are helping change the narrative of time outside and are addressing issues of representation and access. Ideal programs build inclusivity through innovative programming, and/or developing hundreds of new outdoor participants through experiential immersion. If your program seeks to develop new outdoor lovers, this category is for you.
Single use plastics reduction Hydro Flask launched its #RefillForGood initiative in July 2020, uniting the brand with consumers and global thought leaders to eliminate singleuse container waste. #RefillForGood is our rally cry to make good changes for good reasons, educating people to protect and preserve green spaces through simple, achievable actions – such as choosing reusable alternatives to single-use bottles and containers. We welcome organizations who share this mission to apply with projects aimed at reducing single use plastics. Project-examples might include beach cleanups, park water bottle refill station installations, or single use plastic reduction awareness campaigns in parks.
https://www.cybergrants.com/pls/cybergrants/quiz.display_question?x_gm_id=7616&x_ quiz_id=10610&x_order_by=1
Patagonia – Patagonia Environmental Grants: We support innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities. We focus on places where we’ve built Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-36
Guadalupe, California
connections through outdoor recreation and through our network of retail stores, nationally and internationally.
We believe local battles—campaigns to protect a specific stand of forest, a stretch of river, a native wild species or a community suffering from pollution—build public support and confront larger, more complex issues like climate change, loss of biodiversity and environmental justice.
We encourage work that brings historically marginalized communities to the forefront of the environmental movement and defends communities whose health and livelihoods are threatened by environmental exploitation.
We support multipronged campaigns that push for greater environmental protections and force the government to abide by its own laws.
https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/
People for Bikes: The People for Bikes Community Grants Program provides funding for important projects that build momentum for bicycling in communities across the U.S.
These projects include bike paths and rail trails, as well as mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale bicycle advocacy initiatives. Grant cycles are 1-2 per year and are up to $10,000.
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/grants
Project for Public Spaces – Community Placemaking Grants: Provides funding to USbased nonprofits and government agencies to address inequalities in public space access by working directly with local stakeholders to transform public spaces or cocreate new ones. We do this by providing direct funding, technical assistance, and capacity building facilitated by Project for Public Spaces. https://www.pps.org/community-placemaking-grants
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: This website lists many federal, state, and local government funding mechanisms, as well as grants, partnerships, and other creative funding methods available for trail building – for acquisition and maintenance. • Acquisition Funding: https://www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-buildingtoolbox/funding/acquisition-funding/ • Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Trail and Infrastructure Funding:
https://www.railstotrails.org/media/1167725/bil_eligibilities_2021final.pdf • Carbon Reduction Program:
https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/climate/crp/ • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality:
https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/climate/cmaq/ • Earmarks: https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/earmarks/ Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-37
Guadalupe, California
• Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program:
https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/equity/nae/ • New Federal Funding for Trails: https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/ • Maintenance Funding: https://www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-buildingtoolbox/funding/maintenance-funding/ • Rural Surface Transportation Grant:
https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/rstg/
Safe Routes Partnership – Safe Routes to Parks: The Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program provides in-depth technical assistance and grant funding to ten communities working to improve safe, secure park access for people of all ages and abilities in low-income communities and communities of color. https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/healthy-communities/saferoutestoparks Shell Oil Grant Program: Shell partners with leading organizations that are aligned to our global footprint and have proven track records for making a difference in our three areas of focus: Community, Education, and Environment. While the program generally funds large national non-profit organizations it also invests in local communities where Shell has a strong presence. Typically, Shell chooses to work with community organizations with which we have established or proactively developed relationships. https://www.shell.us/sustainability/request-for-funding-from-shell.html#vanityaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2hlbGwudXMvc3VzdGFpbmFiaWxpdHkvcmVxdWVzdC1mb3ItYS1n cmFudC1mcm9tLXNoZWxsLmh0bWw
Smart Growth America – Community Connectors Grants: The Community Connectors program to help advance locally driven projects that will reconnect communities separated or harmed by transportation infrastructure and tap available federal and state funds to support them. 15 teams from small to mid-sized cities (between approximately 50,000 and 500,000 in population) will be selected to receive a capacity-building grant to advance these projects.
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/community-connectors-grants/ Spanish Peaks Community Foundation – Spanish Peaks Community Foundation Grants:
Grant applications are focused on local organizations and projects that deliver direct community services, educational support, affordable access to outdoor resources and recreation, and cultural opportunities that enrich the Big Sky community. https://spanishpeaksfoundation.org/grant-application/
T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program: T-Mobile's Hometown Grant program is investing big in small towns by awarding up to 100 towns a year with project funding—up to Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-38
Guadalupe, California
$50,000 each. The program focuses on projects that revitalize community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less. Recipients are selected and awarded on a quarterly basis.
https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants
Temper of the Times Foundation – Temper of the Times Foundation Grants: Temper of the Times Foundation provides funds only to nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3) public charities by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation does not provide grants to individuals, for-profit organizations, or government agencies. Grants are typically between $5,000 and $15,000 and are awarded for projects that will lead to measurable outcomes for wildland ecosystem conservation and restoration in the United States. Grants may be used to fund the production of print, radio, or television ads, to pay for advertising space or airtime, or to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets. Because grants are for wildland ecosystem advertising campaigns, not for general organizational support, they may not be used to cover costs associated with the production of organization newsletters, membership campaigns, or for staff salaries. In addition, the Foundation cannot fund lobbying efforts or candidates for political office.
http://temperfund.org/
The Conservation Alliance: The Conservation Alliance Grants Program seeks to protect threatened wild places throughout North America for their habitat and recreational values. These grants are given to registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations working to protect the special wild lands and waters in their backyards. While these funds are often for protecting land, they have been utilized for providing pedestrian access to wild lands, which includes trail development.
http://www.conservationalliance.com/grants/
The Conservation Fund – Balancing Nature and Commerce Course: The Conservation Fund’s Conservation Leadership Network offers several resources, including the Balancing Nature and Commerce Course. This course is an opportunity for gateway communities from around the country to participate in 2 webinars and a 3-day inperson workshop to catalyze collaborative action, cultivate local leadership and advance solutions. During the course, community-based teams will identify opportunities to build healthier communities based upon their unique assets and hear about the latest trends in resilient natural and cultural resources, diverse recreation assets, accessibility as a foundation, and revitalized main streets and downtowns. Teams will develop specific action plans for implementation when they return home.
https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work/conservation-leadership-network Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-39
Guadalupe, California
Together Outdoors – Grant Programs: The goal of Together Outdoors is to fund outdoor inclusion initiatives that are “by the community, for the community." They use a trustbased approach to dismantle historical barriers to funding. In this initial pilot round of grants, Together Outdoors will make one-time awards of $5,000 to $10,000. Funding supports two main initiatives. “Research + Resources” provides monetary support for the development of research and resources concerning inclusion in the outdoors, such as toolkits, educational resources, audio and video resources and linguistic translations. “Activating Change Outdoors” supports outdoor recreation-related programming, events and leadership development initiatives that benefit communities of color and intersecting minority groups.
https://www.togetheroutdoors.com/grantprograms
Toshiba America – Toshiba America Foundation Grants: Sixth to 12th grade teachers can apply for a grant of up to $5,000 and more than $5,000 to help bring an innovative project can improve STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and math) learning in their classroom. Applications must be for project-based learning. https://www.toshiba.com/taf/612.jsp
Trail Trust – Trail Grant: Focus Areas: Trail Building and Maintenance: We want to meaningfully support trail building and land maintenance for both bikes and powered vehicles.
Responsible Recreation: We aim to promote the safe and responsible use of trails/land by educating the public about minimizing the environmental impact of outdoor adventuring.
Expanding Access: We seek to diversify the population that participates in the bike and powered vehicle industries which have historically seen inadequate diverse representation.
https://forms.benevity.org/69197437-ab71-40ee-a391-efa01b49b98a Trout Unlimited – Embrace a Stream (EAS) : Embrace A Stream (EAS) is a matching grant program administered by TU that awards funds to TU chapters and councils for coldwater fisheries conservation. Trout Unlimited (TU) chapters and councils are asked to submit project proposals that best address the needs of native and wild salmon, steelhead and trout following TU’s protect, reconnect, restore, and sustain conservation model.
https://www.tu.org/get-involved/volunteer-tacklebox/fundraising-resources/grantscorporate-fundraising/embrace-a-stream/ Union Pacific – Union Pacific Foundation Local Grant, Community Spaces - Possible eligible project: Provide clean, safe, equitable and accessible outdoor recreational Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-40
Guadalupe, California
and/or educational opportunities that foster an appreciation for our natural environment.
Beautify neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, in order to improve livability, promote commerce and, ultimately, attract more residents, businesses and visitors to town.
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities – Innovative Finance for National Forests Grant Program: This grant program, developed in partnership with the USDA Forest Service National Partnership Office and the National Forest Foundation, develops, refines, and scales tools, templates, and approaches that direct private investment capital to improve the health of the National Forest System through projects that deliver environmental and social outcomes and financial returns. Project activities may take place on the National Forest System; on adjacent state, private or tribal lands; or across boundaries provided outcomes contribute to the health of Forest Service ownership. http://www.ifnfgrants.org/
Vision Maker Media – Fund Your Film: Vision Maker Media funds Native American and Alaska Native media at all stages of development, including Native Youth media projects, creative shorts, and public media.
https://visionmakermedia.org/fund-your-film
Waste Management – Community Impact Growth: With a commitment to sustainability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, we give priority consideration to organizations and programs that preserve and/or enhance renewable resources.We’re committed to enhancing communities through programs that make them cleaner and better places to live.When we ensure that our neighborhoods and communities are safe and sustainable, we provide the best living environment for customers, employees and stakeholders. https://www.wm.com/us/en/inside-wm/social-impact/community-impact Weyerhaeser – Giving Fund: Giving Fund support communities where Weyerhaeuser has a significant presence or business interest. Focus areas for funding are: affordable housing; education and youth development; environmental stewardship; human services; civic and cultural growth; workforce development; and diversity, equity and inclusion.
https://www.weyerhaeuser.com/company/values/citizenship/giving-fund/a Wildlife Conservation Society – Climate Adaptation Fund: The WCS Climate Adaptation Fund (“the Fund”) strives to increase the pace and scale of impact in adaptation for wildlife and ecosystems by increasing innovation, accelerating learning, and mainstreaming proven adaptation approaches.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-41
Guadalupe, California
The WCS Climate Adaptation Fund will provide up to $2.5 million in competitive grants in 2022. Awards will be made to non-profit conservation organizations applying for one of two grant categories:
Adaptation Implementation projects that apply innovative approaches to conservation actions designed to help wildlife and ecosystems adapt to climate change. These projects must include a monitoring plan to inform adaptive management decisions and evaluate progress towards project outcomes. These grants will be up to $300,000 over 3 years.
Adaptation Mainstreaming projects that work to facilitate the conditions necessary to increase the uptake of an adaptation approach with known benefits. These grants will be up to $100,000 for 2 years.
https://www.wcsclimateadaptationfund.org/program-information Yamaha – Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative Grant: Grant awarded to non-profit or tax exempt groups (clubs & associations), public riding areas (local, state and federal), outdoor enthusiast associations and land conservation organizations, and communities with an interest in protecting, improving, expanding and/or maintaining access for safe, responsible and sustainable use by motorized off-road vehicles. https://yamahaoai.com
State-Specific Funding and Technical Assistance
California
California Arts Council – Grant Programs and Applications: A full list of grant opportunities addressing aspirational areas in the CAC’s strategic framework, including increased capacity building for local arts agencies, general operating support, multiyear grant opportunities, geographic equity, small organization prioritization, and funding for individual artists.
https://arts.ca.gov/grants/grant-programs/
California Department of Conservation – Funding, Grants, and Easements: financial incentive programs to further California's goals to conserve agricultural lands, restore and manage watersheds, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. https://www.conservation.ca.gov/information-for/funding-grants-easements California Department of Fish and Wildlife – Grant Programs: CDFW grant programs fund projects that sustain, restore, and enhance California’s fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Focus areas include drought response, fish and wildlife management, watershed restoration, planning, and protection, and oil spill prevention and response.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-42
Guadalupe, California
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Grants
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – California Forest Improvement Program: California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) program encourages private and public investment in, and improved management of, California forest lands and resources. This focus of CFIP is to ensure adequate high quality timber supplies, related employment and other economic benefits, and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations. Cost-share assistance is provided to private and public ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land. Cost-shared activities include management planning, site preparation, tree purchase and planting, timber stand improvement, fish and wildlife habitat improvement, and land conservation practices. https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/california-forest-improvement-program-cfip/ California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – Forest Health: CAL FIRE’s Forest Health Program funds active restoration and reforestation activities aimed at providing for more resilient and sustained forests to ensure future existence of forests in California while also mitigating climate change, protecting communities from fire risk, strengthening rural economies and improving California’s water & air. Through grants to regionally-based partners and collaboratives, CAL FIRE seeks to significantly increase fuels management, fire reintroduction, treatment of degraded areas, and conservation of forests.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/forest-health/
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – Forest Legacy: The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program is to protect environmentally important forest land threatened with conversion to non-forest uses. Protection of California’s forests through this program ensures they continue to provide such benefits as sustainable timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, watershed protection and open space. Intact forests also contribute significantly to the storage and sequestration of carbon.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/forest-legacy/
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – Wildfire Prevention: CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention Grants Program provides funding for fire prevention projects and activities in and near fire threatened communities that focus on increasing the protection of people, structures, and communities. Qualifying projects and activities include those related to hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-43
Guadalupe, California
https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/wildfire-prevention/
California Department of Housing and Community Development – Technical Assistance to Improve the Delivery of Homelessness Programs: HCD is offering technical assistance to California counties and Continuums of Care (CoCs) to enhance, develop, build capacity, or improve the design and the delivery of programs and services for people experiencing homelessness. Using an on-demand response model, HCD will deploy consultants to provide more than 13,000 hours of assistance, at no cost to the jurisdictions.
https://www.hcd.ca.gov/technical-assistance
California Department of Parks and Recreation – Division of Boating and Waterways:
DBW invests in publicly accessible recreational boating facilities and boating safety activities throughout California. DBW funding allows local agencies to renew deteriorated facilities or to develop new public access. Boating safety education grants help in training, basic boating education and boating instruction safety centers, and equipment grants assist law enforcement agencies with the purchase of patrol boats and other safety equipment. DBW grants also are involved in furthering environmentally sound boating practices through its clean and green programs, abandoned vessel and boater sewage management grants, as well as research on climate change and wave prediction.
http://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28715
California Department of Parks and Recreation – Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division: Grants provided by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division provide for well-managed, safe off-highway vehicle recreation in the state. The funding provided by its grants supports numerous entities, including local and federal agencies, educational institutions, Native American communities and nonprofits. The financial assistance helps organizations and agencies implement sustainable, environmentally responsible off-highway vehicle programs. http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1164
California Department of Parks and Recreation – Office of Grants and Local Services:
addresses California's diverse recreational, cultural and historical resource needs by developing grant programs, administering funds, offering technical assistance, building partnerships and providing leadership through quality customer service. The funding has established indoor and outdoor recreation in every corner of the state, built trails, acquired and restored sensitive habitat, built natural and cultural interpretative facilities, and fostered outdoor natural experiences for thousands of children, youth and families.
Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-44
Guadalupe, California
More than 7,400 California parks have been created or improved through OGALS’ grant programs.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1008
California Environmental Protection Agency – Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program: The RLF provides U.S. EPA-funded grants, up to $200,000, for brownfields sites where redevelopment or reuse is planned. Under this program, local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and tribes who are not considered to be responsible parties could be eligible for a grant to help with the cost of implementing a hazardous substance or petroleum cleanup.
https://dtsc.ca.gov/revolving-loan-fund-rlf-program/
California Grants Portal: Free database of funding opportunities available through State of California grantmaking agencies. Search the database and sign-up to receive notifications.
https://www.grants.ca.gov/
California Natural Resources Agency – Museum Grant Program: This competitive grant program intends to solicit project proposals that assist the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) in supporting and enhancing museums that are deeply rooted in, and reflective of, previously underserved communities. https://resources.ca.gov/grants/california-museum
California Natural Resources Agency – Urban Greening Program: This program will fund projects that reduce greenhouse gases while also transforming the built environment into places that are more sustainable, enjoyable, and effective in creating healthy and vibrant communities. These projects will establish and enhance parks and open space, using natural solutions to improving air and water quality and reducing energy consumption, and creating more walkable and bike-able trails. https://resources.ca.gov/grants/urban-greening
California Office of Historic Preservation – Incentives and Grants for Historic Preservation: A brief outline of some of the grant and other incentive programs that are available to help support preservation efforts.
https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1073
California Transportation Commission – Active Transportation Program (ATP): This program was created to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. The goals of the ATP include, but are not limited to, increasing the proportion of trips accomplished by walking and biking, increasing the Appendix C: Funding and Technical Assistance C-45
Guadalupe, California
safety and mobility of non-motorized users, advancing efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals, enhancing public health, and providing a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of users including disadvantaged communities. Since its inception, the ATP has funded over 800 active transportation projects across the state benefiting both urban and rural areas. More than 400 of the funded projects are Safe Routes to Schools projects and programs that encourage a healthy and active lifestyle throughout students' lives. In addition, every cycle has seen more than 85% of funds going towards projects that will benefit disadvantaged communities throughout the state.
https://catc.ca.gov/programs/active-transportation-program California Transportation Commission – Bike Program: The Bicycle Facilities Unit (BFU) is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Caltrans bicycle program with a goal to fully integrate bicycles into all aspects of the California transportation system. To do this, the BFU promotes safe, well designed bicycle facilities and the funding, regulations, and education that make such facilities possible. It envisions connected networks of bikeways that fit well with other transportation modes, increase safe transportation options for California citizens, and lessen the carbon footprint of California transportation. BFU works with local, State, and federal transportation agencies to improve cycling for all Californians.
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/fed-and-state-programs/bike-program California Wildlife Conservation Board – Public Access Program: The Public Access Program is one of the original Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) programs. Initially the Public Access Program worked with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to support projects focused on the protection and development of public access areas and the promotion of hunting and fishing opportunities. This program funded construction of fishing piers, fishing ponds, boat ramps, wetlands for waterfowl, duck blinds, and development of parking lots and restrooms at CDFW-managed wildlife areas. Over time the public demand for other wildlife-oriented uses grew to include uses such as bird watching, kayaking, and hiking. The WCB's authority expanded to new partners, and broadened its program to accommodate new uses, including ADA trails, kayak "put-in" areas, interpretive signs, and bird observation shelters. https://wcb.ca.gov/Programs/Public-Access
Visit California – Tourism Development Programs: Provides training, funding, and technical assistance to address a variety of tourism development needs. Programs include digital optimization, crisis response, sustainable tourism and destination stewardship, and rural marketing.
https://industry.visitcalifornia.com/partner-opportunities/programs Appendix D: References D-1
Guadalupe, California
APPENDIX D: REFERENCES
This compendium of references was developed for the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. For more information on the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Program, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/recreation-economy-rural-communities Community Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion................................................... D-2 Community and State-Specific Strategies and Examples ..................................................... D-3 Land Conservation, Stewardship, Parks, and Health............................................................... D-4 Main Street Revitalization and Economic Development....................................................... D-5 Outdoor Recreation............................................................................................................................ D-8 Trails and Transportation................................................................................................................ D-13 Appendix D: References D-2
Guadalupe, California
Community Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA). AIANTA has served as the national voice for American Indian nations engaged in cultural tourism. In addition to serving as the voice for Indian Country tourism, AIANTA provides technical assistance and training to Tribal nations and Native-owned enterprises engaged in tourism, hospitality, and recreation.
https://www.aianta.org/
https://www.aianta.org/resources/publications/
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies. A Regional Multistate Collaboration Toolkit. (2022). The Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is intended to support economic, workforce, and community development projects through partnerships across states in the Appalachian Region with planning and implementation grants funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This toolkit provides case study examples of successful regional multistate partnerships and offers more detailed information regarding partnership building, grant operations, challenges, and best practices involved in building a successful multistate initiative.
https://www.arc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Case-StudiesToolkit_Final_081522r1.pdf Diversify Outdoors. Diversify Outdoors is a coalition of social media influencers – bloggers, athletes, activists, and entrepreneurs – who share the goal of promoting diversity in outdoor spaces where people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse identities have historically been underrepresented. We are passionate about promoting equity and access to the outdoors for all, that includes being body positive and celebrating people of all skill levels and abilities.
https://www.diversifyoutdoors.com/
Outdoor Afro: Where Black People and Nature Meet. Outdoor Afro has become the nation’s leading, cutting-edge network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Outdoor Afro is a national not for profit organization with leadership networks around the country. With nearly 90 leaders in 30 states from around the country, the organization connects thousands of people to outdoor experiences, who are changing the face of conservation.
https://outdoorafro.org/
Together Outdoors: Together Outdoors is an initiative of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and is a coalition of under-represented individuals and diversity, equity, and inclusion champions on the frontlines who are working to make the outdoors more Appendix D: References D-3
Guadalupe, California
inclusive for all. This coalition has been and will continue to be designed and pursued in close partnership with these key experts who are actively work together to make the outdoors a more inviting place through education, inclusion, equity, and action.
Together Outdoors has created a Resource Hub that features search functionality – the ability to sort content by resource type, focus area, activity type, target group, or activity.
Users also able to submit content and organizations.
https://resourcehub.togetheroutdoors.com/
Community and State-Specific Strategies and Examples
Oregon Outdoor Recreation Network. The Travel Oregon website has many great resources on many aspects of outdoor recreation.
https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/programs-initiatives/outdoorrecreation/outdoor-recreation-development/ Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Outdoor Recreation Plan Webinar Series. (October 2020). This video series was produced to support Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan.
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/PAOutdoorRecPlan/Pages/default.aspx
1. Recreation for All: https://youtu.be/P6Ubw9yrbjE
2. Sustainable Systems: https://youtu.be/ORTzpvo9VcA
3. Funding and Economic Development: https://youtu.be/HYid2q9Ay-Q
4. Technology: https://youtu.be/BSquMY-Kde4
5. Health and Wellness: https://youtu.be/StUz6s2J8pc
Skowhegan, Maine. Skowhegan Americorps Outdoor Recreation Program. (2016).
Residents of Skowhegan came together to share ideas for the future of their town, resulting in the Skowhegan Strategic Plan for Community Transformation at which voters adopted during the June 2016 town meeting.
https://runofriver.org/outdoor-recreation-plan/
https://mainstreetskowhegan.org/strategic-planning/
State of Colorado. Colorado Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) (2019). Colorado’s SCORP considers both conservation and recreation together and looks at current and changing demographics and recreation trends to help the outdoor recreation sector be culturally relevant and respond to future shifts. https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Trails/SCORP/Final-Plan/SCORP-WithoutAppendices.pdf Appendix D: References D-4
Guadalupe, California
The Conservation Fund. Conservation Leadership Network Project Profiles. This landing page provides access to various rural and gateway community projects from across the U.S., with many examples of communities that have successfully leveraged the outdoor recreation economy.
https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work/conservation-leadership-network/ourprojects Tompkins County, New York. Tompkins County Outdoor Recreation Tourism Implementation Plan. (2018). Identifies collective steps to develop and promote Ithaca and Tompkins County as a premier regional destination for outdoor recreation. https://www2.tompkinscountyny.gov/files2/tourism/2018-AprilOutdoor%20Rec%20Implementation%20Plan.pdf Vermont Urban and Community Forestry. Town Forest Recreation Planning Toolkit and Webinar Series. (June 2020). This toolkit offers the resources needed to develop a town forest recreation plan for your community from start to finish, including step by step planning and detailed materials organized around planning themes such as stories, existing conditions, public engagement, natural resources, plan development, and implementation. Links to several webinars in the “Town Forest Recreation Planning Webinar Series” are also included below.
https://vtcommunityforestry.org/places/town-forests/recreation-planninginitiative/recreation-planning-toolkit • New Tools for Sustainable Forest Based Recreation Webinar https://youtu.be/UTHEj0AC3pE
• Connecting Downtowns w/Trails for Economic Vibrancy Webinar https://youtu.be/s1SQoUqN22s
• Trails for People and Wildlife Webinar
https://youtu.be/uhbYUMrgLqU
• Mountain Biking Trails 101 Webinar
https://youtu.be/zCmco-WDrPM
• Trail Building & Maintenance Webinar
https://youtu.be/Irv9eqoUQNE
Land Conservation, Stewardship, Parks, and Health
National Park Service and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook: A Tool for Planners, Parks & Recreation Professionals, and Health Practitioners. A workbook to help strengthen the design and implementation of community-based parks and trails projects.
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/rtca/upload/Parks-Trails-and-Health-Workbook_2020.pdf Appendix D: References D-5
Guadalupe, California
The Trust for Public Land and the City Parks Alliance. The Field Guide for Creative Placemaking and Parks (2017). How-to guide that connects creative placemaking with parks and open spaces by strengthening the role of parks and open space as an integrated part of comprehensive community development, advancing arts- and culturally-based approaches to park making, and highlighting the role of parks as cultural products unto themselves.
https://www.tpl.org/field-guide-creative-placemaking-and-parks U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP). STEW-MAP is a research methodology, community organizing approach, and partnership mapping tool developed by scientists at the USDA Forest Service Northern Research station that answers the question: who takes care of the local environment? This question is important because stewards, or civic groups that engage in caring for local nature, play a significant role in building stronger, healthier, greener, and more resilient communities.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs156.pdf
Main Street Revitalization and Economic Development
International City/County Management Association and Smart Growth Network. Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities. (2010). Focuses on smart growth strategies that can help guide growth in rural areas while protecting natural and working lands and preserving the rural character of existing communities. https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/putting-smart-growth-work-rural-communities Main Street America Resource Center. The Main Street Resource Center is a comprehensive digital library containing a broad range of member resources, including their signature Main Street Approach handbooks and guides, newly released revitalization toolkits, and the popular Main Street Now Journal archive. There are some non-member materials available here as well.
https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/resourcecenter
McMahon, Ed. Why Some Places Thrive and Others Fail: The New Formula for Community Revitalization. Virginia Town and City. (January/February 2017). This article describes why some communities can maintain and build on their economic vitality and quality of life in an ever-changing world.
https://www.vml.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/VTCJanFeb17_pg21-25.pdf National Association of Counties (NACo). Resources for Transitioning Economies. (2015).
Website developed by NACo and the National Association of Development Organizations to share publications, tools and training, funding and other resources on Appendix D: References D-6
Guadalupe, California
economic diversification with communities and regions seeking to strengthen their local economies.
http://diversifyeconomies.org/
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Planning for Prosperity in Small Towns and Rural Regions. (2015). Contains materials developed by NADO and its partners through the HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative capacity building program, including publications, webinars, workshop materials, and other information on a variety of topics such as economic resilience, entrepreneurship, community engagement, downtown redevelopment, food systems, and many more. https://www.nado.org/online-resource-planning-for-prosperity-in-small-towns-andrural-regions/ National Association of Development Organizations, WealthWorks Rural Economic Development Case Studies. (2019). Series of case studies examining how rural communities are applying concepts of wealth creation, an approach to community and economic development that is demand-driven, focusing on market opportunities that capitalize on a community’s existing assets or underutilized resources. Includes stories of communities building lasting livelihoods and supporting local ownership and control of assets related to outdoor recreation, tourism, and more. https://www.nado.org/wealthworks-case-studies/
National Endowment for the Arts. How To Do Creative Placemaking: An Action-Oriented Guide to Arts in Community Development. (2016). This action-oriented guide is focused on making places better. It includes instructional and thought-provoking case studies and essays from leading thinkers in creative placemaking and describes the diverse ways that arts organizations and artists can play essential roles in the success of communities across America.
https://www.arts.gov/publications/how-do-creative-placemaking Project for Public Spaces (PPS). The Power of Ten. The Power of 10+ is a concept PPS developed to evaluate and facilitate Placemaking at multiple city scales. The idea behind this concept is that places thrive when users have a range of reasons (10+) to be there.
This concept can be applied to outdoor recreation economy resources and assets at the main street, town, and area scale, namely to increase the reasons for people to come, stay longer, and do more in a place.
https://www.pps.org/article/the-power-of-10
Smart Growth America. (Re-)Building Downtown: A Guidebook for Revitalization. (2015).
This guide uses Smart Growth America’s seven-step approach to downtown Appendix D: References D-7
Guadalupe, California
redevelopment and is aimed at local elected officials who want to re-invigorate and strengthen neighborhood centers of economy, culture, and history. https://smartgrowthamerica.org/introducing-rebuilding-downtown-a-guidebook-forrevitalization/ The Democracy Collaborative. Community Wealth. This website offers resources, guides, case studies, videos and examples of strategies for building wealth in a community.
Some strategies are nonprofit and profit-making models such as community development corporations (CDCs), community development financial institutions (CDFIs), employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), community land trusts (CLTs), cooperatives, and social enterprise.
https://democracycollaborative.org/programs/cwb
U.S. Department of Agriculture. National Agricultural Library Rural Information Center.
The Rural Information Center (RIC), a service of the National Agricultural Library (NAL), assists rural communities by providing information and referral services to rural government officials, community organizations, libraries, businesses, and citizens working to maintain America's rural areas. The "Downtown Revitalization" sections features a wide variety of planning resources, case studies, funding, journal, and organizations.
https://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/community-development-resources https://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/downtown-revitalization
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development & University of Kentucky. Rural America Placemaking Toolkit (2022). This toolkit is a resource guide to showcase a variety of placemaking activities, projects, and success stories across rural America.
Specifically it includes a Technical Assistance Directory, Financial Assistance Directory, and a Placemaking Assessment Survey.
https://www.ruralplacemaking.com/
U.S. EDA. Tools for Economic Development. Through the Research and National Technical Assistance Program, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds the development and dissemination of new tools for economic development practitioners and policymakers to utilize to help make informed development decisions. https://www.eda.gov/grant-resources/tools
U.S. EPA. Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Rural Planning, Zoning, and Development Codes. (2012). Offers 10 essential fixes to help rural communities amend their codes, ordinances, and development requirements to promote more sustainable growth. https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/essential-smart-growth-fixes-communities Appendix D: References D-8
Guadalupe, California
U.S. EPA. Framework for Creating a Smart Growth Economic Development Strategy: A Tool for Small Cities and Towns. (2016). Provides a step-by-step guide to building a placebased economic development strategy for small and mid-sized cities, particularly those that have limited population growth, areas of disinvestment, or a struggling economy. https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/framework-creating-smart-growth-economicdevelopment-strategy U.S. EPA. Smart Growth Self-Assessment for Rural Communities. (2015). Tool designed specifically for rural communities that helps villages, towns, and small cities evaluate their policies to create healthy, environmentally resilient, and economically robust places.
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/smart-growth-self-assessment-rural-communities Outdoor Recreation
Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, Growing Rural Equitable Outdoor Recreation Economies. The Aspen Institute has several resources on the topic of making outdoor recreation economies more equitable for rural communities. https://www.aspencsg.org/growing-rural-equitable-outdoor-recreation-economies/ Bureau of Economic Analysis, Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account. Federal dataset measuring the economic activity as well as sales and receipts generated by outdoor recreational activities across the U.S. and by state. These statistics also measure each industry’s production of outdoor goods and services and its contribution to the U.S.
GDP. Industry breakdowns of outdoor employment and compensation are also included. https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/outdoor-recreation Daily Yonder. Provides articles on outdoor recreation, many based on Headwaters Economics research. A few relevant articles are listed here:
• How Outdoor Recreation Supports Rural Economic Development. (Feb 24, 2019). https://www.dailyyonder.com/speak-piece-outdoor-recreation-supports-ruraleconomic-development/2019/02/25/ • Recreation Is Bigger Share of U.S. Economy than Ag or Mining, Report Says. (May 10, 2018).)
https://www.dailyyonder.com/recreation-bigger-share-u-s-economy-ag-miningreport-says/2018/05/10/ • Rural “Recreation Counties” Show More Population Resilience. (Feb 10, 2019) https://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-recreation-counties-show-populationresilience/2019/02/11/ Appendix D: References D-9
Guadalupe, California
Headwater Economics. Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group that works to improve community development and land management decisions.
The organization receives funding from a wide variety of sources, including contracts with federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service; charitable foundations; and contract work for partner organizations. Its website provides outdoor recreation economic data by state in addition to other outdoor recreation industry research and analysis. https://headwaterseconomics.org/outdoor-recreation/ Several relevant reports are listed below:
• The Amenity Trap: How High-Amenity Communities Can Avoid Being Loved to Death. (2023). A report analyzing four major challenges and ways they uniquely affect amenity communities: housing, infrastructure, fiscal policy, and natural disasters.
https://headwaterseconomics.org/outdoor-recreation/amenity-trap/ • Best Practices for States to Fund Outdoor Recreation. (2017). Seven case studies illustrate best practices and lessons learned to develop programs for outdoor state recreation funding.
https://headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/state-recreationfunding/ • Economic Profile System. Tool allowing users to produce free, detailed socioeconomic reports at the community, county, or state level and including topics such as Land Use and Public Land Amenities as well as Agriculture, Timber, and Mining. EPS is also known as the Human Dimensions Toolkit by the Forest Service.
https://headwaterseconomics.org/tools/economic-profile-system/about/ • How Outdoor Recreation Supports Rural Economic Development. (2019). Report that finds that counties with outdoor recreation economies are more likely to attract new residents with greater wealth and have faster-growing wages than their non-recreation counterparts, particularly in rural communities. https://headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/trendsperformance/outdoor-recreation/ • National Forest Socioeconomic Indicators Tool. Tool allowing users to run free, easy-to-use reports detailing economics, demographics, land use, business sectors, and other topics for communities near every National Forest. https://headwaterseconomics.org/tools/forest-indicators/ • The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State. (2021, updated 2023). Report outlines the outdoor recreation economy impacts by state, using Bureau of Economic Analysis data.
https://headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/trendsperformance/outdoor-recreation-economy-by-state/ Appendix D: References D-10
Guadalupe, California
National Governors’ Association. Outdoor Recreation Learning Network. This resource highlights many opportunities for states to advance the outdoor recreation economy and conservation, stewardship, education, workforce training, economic development, infrastructure, equity, inclusion, public health, and wellness. http://nga.org/outdoors
National Park Service, River Access Planning Guide. An online and downloadable resource for planning river access. The step-by-step process guides planning for river access with recreation users in mind. This guide can assist the challenging task of providing for a variety of uses while protecting natural resources in rivers and other waterways. The guide’s approach provides a framework for meeting the needs of people seeking to enjoy river recreation on, off, and in the water. https://www.nps.gov/articles/river-access-planning-guide-a-decision-makingframework-for-enhancing-river-access.htm Northern Forest Center. The Northern Forest Outdoor Recreation Economy Symposium. (2018). Summarizes the 2018 gathering, which explored evolving trends in outdoor recreation and its role as a critical economic driver in the Northern Forest region. Links to presentations, notes, and priorities for each of the participating states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York).
https://northernforest.org/recreation-symposium/
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). OIA synthesizes the different strategies and programs currently employed in the U.S. and overarching themes, best practices, and lessons learned. Several relevant resources are listed below. https://outdoorindustry.org/
• Outdoor Participation Report. (2023). Study showing levels of participation in outdoor activities.
https://outdoorindustry.org/resource/2023-outdoor-participation-trends-report/ • State Funding Mechanisms for Outdoor Recreation. (2017). Provides a summary from Headwaters Economics that outlines state funding mechanisms for outdoor recreation.
https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/HeadwatersEconomics-v4-Screen.pdf • State-Level Outdoor Recreation Reports. (2021). Provides links to reports describing the participation in and economic impact of the outdoor recreation sector in every state and Congressional district.
https://outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/
• The Outdoor Recreation Economy. (2017). Summarizes the economic impact of the outdoor recreation sector across the U.S. and includes national statistics on Appendix D: References D-11
Guadalupe, California
consumer spending, jobs, and tax revenue, along with statistics for specific recreation activities.
https://outdoorindustry.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/04/OIA_RecEconomy_FINAL_Single.pdf • White Paper on State Leadership Roles for Outdoor Recreation. (2016). This white paper describes the role that states can play in promoting outdoor recreation, with examples from states that were early to adopt state-level directors of outdoor recreation.
https://industry.traveloregon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/OutdoorIndustry-Association-White-Paper-on-State-Leadership-Roles-for-OutdoorRecreation.pdf Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR). ORR promotes the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor recreation activities, educating decision makers and the public on balanced policies that conserve public lands and waterways and enhance infrastructure to improve the experience and quality of life of outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. ORR publishes many white papers, research, statistics, and reports on the importance of outdoor recreation.
https://recreationroundtable.org/
• Outdoor Career Path Module. These interactive profiles showcase real people in the outdoor industry and the career paths, motivations, and work / life balance attributes that have propelled them in their work.
https://osucore.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/orr-workforce-profiles2022/story.html • Outdoor Rec Drives Jobs: Careers in the Recreation Economy. (2023). This report provides a comprehensive look at the outdoor recreation economy and the breadth of high-quality jobs that exist within, tailored to workers with a variety of skillsets. It also includes links to workforce resources and academic programs supporting work in the recreation economy.
https://recreationroundtable.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WorkforceReport.pdf • Outdoor Recreation Drives the American Economy. This section of the ORR website hosts summary economic statistics overall and by state. The State site hosts summary statistics on the outdoor recreation economy by state, each of which links to the more detailed state report published by the US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA) data.
https://recreationroundtable.org/resources/national-recreation-data/ https://recreationroundtable.org/resources/state-recreation-data/ Appendix D: References D-12
Guadalupe, California
• The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Rural Economic Development Toolkit. (2021).
This toolkit outlines strategies for using outdoor recreation as a tool for economic development, including key best practices and examples from around the country.
https://recreationroundtable.org/rural-development-toolkit/ • Work in the Outdoors: Resources to Support the Outdoor Workforce and Career Paths in the Rec Economy (2022). To release the “Outdoor Rec Drives Jobs” report, ORR used this webinar to feature several of the outdoor professionals featured in the report and to share about their connection to the outdoor workforce. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOYCPtKIJkk
Sausser, Brooke and Jordan W. Smith, Ph.D. Elevating Outdoor Recreation. Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State. (July 2018). This study provides an overview and analysis of eleven state offices of initiatives of outdoor recreation. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1892/upload/Elevating_Outdoor_Rec_Together.pdf Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP). SORP is the nation’s leading association of outdoor recreation and related professionals who strive to protect natural and cultural resources while providing sustainable recreation access. The organization’s website provides access to webinars, scholarships, and tools for outdoor recreation planning including a library of all state comprehensive outdoor recreation plans (SCORPs) and technical resources.
https://www.recpro.org/
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal Outdoor Recreation Trends: Effects on Economic Opportunities. (2016). Summarizes participation trends and projections for 17 outdoor recreation activities common on federal lands, describes the current economic activity supported by outdoor recreation, and discusses how anticipated future changes in recreation participation and climate may impact the economic activity supported by outdoor recreation.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/53247
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recreation Economy at USDA Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities. (2020). USDA’s Forest Service, Rural Development, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture developed this resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy. It describes the roles of federal agencies and programs in the recreation economy and highlights numerous financing strategies and case studies from communities. https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/usdard_recreational_economy508.pdf Appendix D: References D-13
Guadalupe, California
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recreation Economic Values for Estimating Outdoor Recreation Economic Benefits from the National Forest System. (2017). This report presents the most recent update of the Recreation Use Values Database, based on an exhaustive review of economic studies spanning 1958 to 2015 conducted in the United States and Canada, and provides the most up-to-date recreation economic values available.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/54602
Utah State University. Gateway & Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative. The GNAR Online Community Toolkit is designed to be a resource for planners, public officials, community members, consultants, and all others who are working in communities with access to significant natural amenities and recreation opportunities. This toolkit provides resources, case studies, model ordinances, and other tools to help GNAR communities plan for and respond to the unique planning, transportation, economic, community development, and sustainability challenges and opportunities they face. The toolkit is a living resource; it will grow and adapt in order to provide the most useful and up-todate information possible. https://www.usu.edu/gnar/toolkit
Trails and Transportation
American Trails. Resource Library. Search thousands of articles, studies, training, and projects on every aspect of trails and greenways. This website also has a national map searchable by state for agencies, organizations, training, and state-specific resources relating to trails and greenways.
https://www.americantrails.org/resource-library/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increasing Physical Activity Through Community Design. This website contains a compilation of real world examples, an Implementation Resource Guide, and a Visual Guide to help communities implement recommendations for built environment approaches that combine one or more interventions to improve transportation systems (activity-friendly routes) with one or more land use and community design interventions (everyday destinations) to increase physical activity.
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/community-strategies/activity-friendly-routes-toeveryday-destinations.html Federal Highway Administration. Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. The Federal Highway Administration's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program promotes safe, comfortable, and convenient walking and bicycling for people of all ages and abilities. This program supports pedestrian and bicycle transportation through funding, policy guidance, Appendix D: References D-14
Guadalupe, California
program management, and resource development. The website contains information on funding resources, design and implementation, case studies, guidebooks, and other information.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/ https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/funding/funding_opportuniti es.pdf
Federal Highway Administration. Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks. (2016).
This document helps small towns and rural communities support safe, accessible, comfortable, and active travel for people of all ages and abilities. It provides a bridge between existing guidance on bicycle and pedestrian design and rural practice, encourages innovation in the development of safe and appealing networks for bicycling and walking, and shows examples of project implementation. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/small_towns/fh wahep17024_lg.pdf
Headwaters Economics. Trails Research and Searchable Benefits Library. (2019).
Compilation of 144 trail studies on the impacts of trails in a single library, searchable by type of benefit, use, year, and region.
https://headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/trails-pathways/trailsresearch/ Main Street America and Project for Public Places. Navigating Main Streets as Places: A People-First Transportation Toolkit. (2019). This toolkit provides guidance on how to evaluate streets and transportation through the lens of placemaking; balance the needs of mobility and other street activities; and build stronger relationships with other decisionmakers and the community. It’s a one-stop-shop toolkit featuring guidance and best practices for rural downtowns and urban neighborhood commercial districts. https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/navigatingmainstreets Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Trail-Building Toolbox. A one-stop-shop for the basics to create a vibrant rail-trail for your community, including technical tips and tried-and-true methods for generating neighborhood, political, and funding support for your project.
Parts of the toolbox include organization, acquisitions, funding, planning, design, and maintenance.
https://www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-building-toolbox/ Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Trail Towns. Provides examples, best practices, and resources for communities and regions seeking to start or grow Trail Town programs, Appendix D: References D-15
Guadalupe, California
which can help to entice trail users off the trail and into adjacent communities, supporting economic development.
https://www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-building-toolbox/planning/trail-towns/ Sate Routes to School National Partnership. Dollars and Deadlines: A State-by-State look at the Transportation Alternatives Program. The Transportation Alternatives program is a primary source of federal funding for biking and walking improvements. The Safe Routes Partnership created state-specific fact sheets that detail how local communities can access these funds.
https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/blog/dollars-and-deadlines-state-state-looktransportation-alternatives-program Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Get to Know Your Neighborhood with a Walk Audit. Walk audits are a great tool to gather information about street conditions, engage community members, and inform planning and traffic safety projects. This is a how-to manual to conduct your own walk audit. Though designed for safe routes to school, it can be applied to routes and connections between amenities in and around a downtown/Main Street area.
https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/sites/default/files/get_to_know_your_neighborho od_with_a_walk_audit.pdf
The Scenic Route. Getting Started with Creative Placemaking and Transportation. A guide for using creative placemaking strategies in transportation projects to reflect and celebrate local culture, heritage, and values.
http://creativeplacemaking.t4america.org/?utm_source=Design+- +2016+Highlights&utm_campaign=Design+2016+Highlights+Newsletter&utm_mediu m=email
State Capitol Office ▪ 925 L Street • Suite 1404 • Sacramento, CA 95814 • Phone (916) 447-4086 • Fax (916) 444-0383 Federal Office ▪ 600 Pennsylvania SE • Suite 207 • Washington, DC 20003 • Phone (202) 546-8696 • Fax (202) 546-4555 Southern California Office ▪ 1401 Dove Street • Suite 330 • Newport Beach, CA 92660 • Phone (949) 399-9050 • Fax (949) 476-8215 Central California Office ▪ 744 P Street • Suite 308 • Fresno, CA 93721 • Phone (949) 399-9050 • Fax (949) 476-8215 Northern California Office ▪ 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza • Suite 204 • Oakland, CA 94612 • Phone (510) 835-9050 • Fax (510) 835-9030
M E M O R A N D U M
To: Todd Bodem, City Administrator, City of Guadalupe
From: Cori Takkinen, Vice President, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Alex Gibbs, Grants Manager, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Christine Rose, Grants Coordinator, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Date: September 6, 2023
Subject: Grants and Funding Monthly Report
Overview
The purpose of this memo is to provide a monthly outline of upcoming funding opportunities and grant programs that could potentially meet the City’s funding needs in the near future. This memo is not a comprehensive list of all grants that are currently available, but ones that you may be able to submit competitive applications for relevant priority projects.
Future Opportunities
August 14 marked the Legislature’s return from its month-long Summer Recess. Lawmakers will have until September 14 to finish their consideration of measures and adjourn for the year. In the final month of the 2023 Legislative Session, members are tasked with considering the fates of over 1,000 measures, including high-profile spending measures like proposed statewide bonds.
These include massive spending proposals to improve the state’s behavioral health care continuum, support climate resiliency programs and goals, and provide funding for affordable housing production. These measures may be acted upon before September 14 for placement on the March Primary Election ballot or may be acted upon before Spring of 2024 for placement on the November General Election ballot.
In addition to the movement on bond proposals, lawmakers considered a final budget package to make final adjustments to the 2023 Budget Act. These changes include appropriating funding set aside in the Budget Act in June of 2023 to allow for further discussions and negotiations. In addition, the package contains technical changes, corrections, and updates identified after the budget was adopted. Looking ahead into the upcoming budget cycle, preliminary fiscal health indicators report an unprecedented state treasury liquidity and a slow in external cash flow borrowing, which suggest the 2024–25 budget cycle could have appropriate funds to support existing program expenditures. TPA advocates will continue to monitor the progression of ATTACHMENT 3
statewide bond proposals along with budget conditions to prepare the City for upcoming funding opportunities outside of the scope of traditional grant programs.
Looking Ahead: Grant Program Highlights
Transportation
Name Awards & Match Description Timeline
Department of
Transportation (DOT)
Strengthening
Mobility and
Revolutionizing
Transportation
(SMART) Grant
Program
Min Award for
Stage 1: $250,000
Max Award for
Stage 1:
$2,000,000
Max Award for
Stage 2:
$15,000,000
The purpose of the SMART Grants
Program is to conduct
demonstration projects focused on
advanced smart city or community
technologies and systems in a
variety of communities to improve
transportation efficiency and
safety. The program funds projects
that are focused on using
technology interventions to solve
real-world challenges and build
data and technology capacity and
expertise in the public sector.
October 10,
2023
California Air
Resources Board
(CARB) &
CALSTART
Clean Off-Road
Equipment Voucher
Incentive Program
(CORE)
Varies—refer to
manual for voucher
amount breakdown.
This voucher program is a project
intended to encourage the
purchase or lease of currently
commercialized zero-emission offroad equipment by providing a streamlined voucher process to
offset the higher cost of such
technologies. CORE voucher
amounts are based on the
incremental cost difference
between traditional equipment and
new zero-emission alternatives.
Select equipment that suits your
needs from the Eligible Equipment
Catalog.
Rolling—
voucher
requests are
accepted into
the queue in the
order they are
received.
Public Safety
Name Awards & Match Description Timeline
Department of
Homeland Security
(DHS)
State and Local
Cybersecurity Grant
Program
TBA
Match Required
The goal of SLCGP is to assist SLT
governments with managing and
reducing systemic cyber risk.
• CalOES is submitting their
cybersecurity plan to
FEMA/DHS by the end of
September.
Guidance
expected to be
released
September 30,
2023
• CalOES will then publish
information on how local
governments can apply for
funding.
• Email the program officer at
[email protected]
to be added to their listserv
for updates on the program.
Department of
Agriculture (USDA):
Forest Service
Community Wildfire
Defense Grant
Program
Creating or
updating a
CWPP:
$250,000 max
award
10% non-Federal
match
Implementing a
project described
within a CWPP:
$10 million max
award
25% non-Federal
match
CWDG is intended to help at-risk
local communities and Tribes plan
for and reduce the risk of wildfire.
This program prioritizes at-risk
communities in an area identified as
having high or very high wildfire
hazard potential, are low-income, or
have been impacted by a severe
disaster that affects the risk of
wildfire. The program provides
funding to communities to:
1. Develop and revise
Community Wildfire
Protection Plans (CWPP).
2. Implement projects
described in a Community
Wildfire Protection Plan that
is less than ten years old.
October 31,
2023
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA)
Assistance to
Firefighters Grant
(AFG)
No Award
Maximum
5-15% Match
Required Based
on Population
Administered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency,
the program provides funding to
help fire departments with critically
needed resources to protect the
public; to train emergency
personnel, and to foster
interoperability and support
community resilience, as well as
enhance through direct financial
assistance, the safety of the public
and to provide a continuum of
support for emergency responders
regarding fire, medical, and all
hazard events.
NOFO
Expected By
End of 2023
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA)
Staffing for
Adequate Fire and
No Award
Maximum
35% Match
Required
The FEMA SAFER grant program
assists local fire departments with
staffing and deployment capabilities
to respond to emergencies and
assure that communities have
NOFO
Expected By
End of 2023
Emergency
Response (SAFER)
adequate protection from fire and
fire-related hazards.
Parks and Recreation
Name Awards & Match Description Timeline
Game Time
Community
Champions
Playground Grant
Apply for 100%
matching funds
towards a
playground system
GameTime is offering up to 100%
matching funds on playground
systems, helping your community
bring play to more children and
families. The playground grant
funds are available for the
purchase of new play systems
based on need and on a first-come,
first-served basis.
October 20,
2023
California Department
of Parks and
Recreation
Outdoor Equity
Grants Program
Minimum grant
request per
Community Home
Base: $20,000
Maximum grant
request per
Community Home
Base: $700,000
No Match
Required
The Outdoor Equity Grants
Program (OEP) improves the
health and wellness of Californians
through new educational and
recreational activities, service
learning, career pathways, and
leadership opportunities that
strengthen a connection to the
natural world. OEP’s intent is to
increase the ability of residents in
underserved communities (with an
emphasis on youth) to participate
in outdoor experiences within their
community, at state parks, and
other public lands.
December 14,
2023
California Department
of Parks and
Recreation
Statewide Park
Development and
Community
Revitalization
Program: Round 5
TBA Statewide Park Program (SPP)
competitive grants will create new
parks and new recreation
opportunities in critically
underserved communities across
California. SPP embraces
meaningful engagement with local
residents where park designs
represent each community’s
unique recreation needs and
creativity.
TBA 2024
Water
Name Awards & Match Description Timeline
Bureau of
Reclamation: Water
Resources and
Planning Office
WaterSMART
Drought Response
Program: Drought
Resiliency Projects
for Fiscal Year (FY)
2024
Min Award:
$25,000
Max Award:
$5,000,000
Domestic Water
Supply Projects for
Tribes for
disadvantaged
communities
require a 5%
percent nonFederal costshare.
All other projects
require a 50%
non-federal costshare.
This program will fund projects that
can increase water management
flexibility—making our water supply
more resilient to the impacts of
drought and water supply
shortages. Projects may be divided
into four task areas:
A. Increasing the Reliability of
Water Supplies through
Infrastructure
Improvements.
B. Increasing the Reliability of
Water Supplies Through
Groundwater Recovery.
C. Projects to Improve Water
Management through
Decision Support Tools,
Modeling, and
Measurement.
D. Construction of domestic
water supply projects for
Tribes or disadvantaged
communities that do not
have reliable access to
water supplies.
October 31,
2023
California Coastal
Commission
Whale Tail Grants
Approximately $2
million available
Max Award:
$50,000
25% of funded
projects will be
small grants of up
to $20,000.
Whale Tail grants support
experiential education and
stewardship of the California coast
and its watersheds. Projects must
relate to the coast and ocean and
may fall into one or more of the
following categories: 1) youth
education programs, 2) programs
for educating the general public or
adults, 3) climate change
education and stewardship, 4)
shoreline cleanup and
enhancement programs with
community involvement.
Projects that engage communities
that have historically received
fewer opportunities for coastal and
marine education and stewardship
are highly encouraged.
November 6,
2023
Arts/Humanities
Name Awards & Match Description Timeline
CalHumanities
Humanities for All
Quick Grant
Min Award:
$1,000
Max Award:
$5,000
No Match
Required
Quick Grants are awarded three
times a year to small-scale public
humanities programs and projects
which take place within one year
from the award date. Projects
should be grounded in the
humanities, show potential to
provide high quality humanities
learning experiences for
participants and audiences, and
demonstrate capacity for
successful implementation.
Open
September 1,
2023 to
October 2,
2023
Institute of Museum
and Library Services
National Leadership
Grants for Libraries
Laura Bush 21st
Century Librarian
Program
Planning Grants
$50,000–$150,000
No Match
Required
Forum Grants
$50,000–$150,000
No Match
Required
Implementation
Grants
$50,000–
$1,000,000
Requests of more
than $250,000+
require at least 1:1
non-federal match
Applied Research
Grants
$50,000–$750,000
No Match
Required
The National Leadership Grants
for Libraries Program (NLG-L)
supports projects that address
critical needs of the library and
archives fields and have the
potential to advance practice and
strengthen library and archival
services for the American public.
Successful proposals will generate
results such as new models, tools,
research findings, services,
practices, and/or alliances that can
be widely used, adapted, scaled, or
replicated to extend and leverage
the benefits of federal investment.
The Laura Bush 21st Century
Librarian Program (LB21)
supports the training and
professional development of library
and archives professionals;
developing faculty and information
leaders; and recruiting, educating,
and retaining the next generation of
library and archives professionals
in order to develop a diverse library
and archival workforce and meet
the information needs of their
communities.
Applications
due September
20, 2023
Community Development
Name Awards & Match Description Timeline
Strategic Growth
Council
Community
Resilience Centers
(CRC) Program
Three types of
grants available:
Planning
$100,000–
$500,000
Project
Development
$500,000–
$5,000,000
Implementation
$1,000,000–
$10,000,000
SGC’s CRC program will fund
planning, development,
construction, and upgrades of
neighborhood-level Community
Resilience Centers to provide
shelter and resources during
climate and other emergencies,
such as extreme heat events and
poor air quality days. The program
will also fund ongoing year-round
community services and programs,
such as food distribution and
workforce development training,
that build overall community
resilience.
September 18,
2023
Department of
Resources Recycling
and Recovery
(CalRecycle)
Illegal Disposal Site
Abatement Program
Max Award:
$500,000
This program provides financial
assistance to help public entities
accelerate the pace of cleanup at
sites on which illegal dumping
occurs, improving public health
and safety in doing so.
September 20,
2023
California Public
Utilities Commission
(CPUC)
Last Mile Federal
Funding Account
$2 billion available
($1 billion for
urban counties
and $1 billion for
rural counties)
Max Award:
$25,000,000
The Federal Funding Account,
administered by the California
Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC), is a $2 billion grant
program for last-mile broadband
infrastructure projects to connect
unserved Californians.
September 29,
2023
Economic
Development
Administration (EDA)
FY 2023 Distressed
Area Recompete
Pilot Program
Strategy
Development
Grants:
$250,000 to
$500,000
EDA expects to
approve at least
20 Recompete
Plans. Recompete
Plan approval
itself does not
come with any
funding, but
The Distressed Area Recompete
Pilot Program (Recompete Pilot
Program) will invest $200 million in
persistently distressed
communities to create and connect
people to good jobs. This program
will create renewed economic
opportunity in communities that
have for too long been forgotten.
To do so, the program targets
areas where prime-age (25-54
years) employment significantly
trails the national average, with the
goal to close this gap through
large, flexible investments.
Phase 1
applications
due
October 5, 2023
NOFO for
Phase 2 will be
made available
in winter 2023.
Recompete Plan
approval is a
prerequisite to
participating in
Phase 2.
Applicants in Phase 1 must choose
whether they are pursuing a
Strategy Development Grant,
approval of a Recompete Plan, or
both.
Office of Brownfields:
Department of Toxic
Substances Control
(DTSC)
Equitable
Community
Revitalization Grant
(ECRG): Round 2
Community-Wide
Assessment
Grants: $350,000
Site-Specific
Investigation
Grants: $150,000
to $7,000,000
Site-Specific
Clean-Up Grants:
$300,000 to
$10,000,000
The Department of Toxic
Substances Control’s Office of
Brownfields Equitable Community
Revitalization Grant (ECRG) will
provide more than $250 million in
grants to incentivize cleanup and
investment in disadvantaged areas
of California. The program gives
California communities an
unprecedented opportunity to
address historic environmental
injustices and set a new path for
land use that will have immediate
and lasting benefits, such as
recreational uses (parks and other
green spaces), commercial
enterprises and housing. ECRG
funding is available through three
grants: (1) Community-Wide
Assessment Grants, (2) SiteSpecific Investigation Grants, and (3) Site-Specific Clean-Up Grants.
Applications
accepted from
August 14,
2023 until
October 9, 2023
Department of
Resources Recycling
and Recovery
(CalRecycle)
Tire-Derived
Aggregate (TDA)
Grant Program
Max Award:
$375,000
This program provides
opportunities to divert waste tires
from landfill disposal, prevent
illegal tire dumping, and promote
markets for recycled-content tire
products.
December 6,
2023
California Public
Utilities Commission
(CPUC)
California Advanced
Services Fund
(CASF) Adoption
Account
$20.024 million
available for FY
2023–24
Moneys in the CASF Adoption
Account are available to the
Commission to award grants to
increase publicly available or afterschool broadband access and digital inclusion, such as grants for
digital literacy training programs
and public education to
communities with limited
broadband adoption. The
Commission is required to give
preference to programs and
Application
Cycle
Deadlines:
January 1, 2024
July 1, 2024
January 1, 2025
projects in communities with
demonstrated low broadband
access, including low-income
communities, senior citizen
communities, and communities
facing socioeconomic barriers to
broadband adoption. Eligible
projects include digital literacy and
broadband access projects.
Housing and
Community
Development
Community
Development Block
Grant Program
(CDBG)
TBA CDBG partners with rural cities and
counties to improve the lives of
their low- and moderate-income
residents through the creation and
expansion of community and
economic development
opportunities in support of livable
communities. Projects must
address one of three national
objectives:
• Benefit to low- and
moderate-income persons
• Aid in the prevention or
elimination of slums and
blight, or
• Meet an urgent need
TBA
NOFO
expected to be
released
September
2023.
Applications
expected to be
due December
2023.
Governor’s Office of
Planning and
Research
ICARP Adaptation
Planning Grant
Program
TBA This program provides funding to
help fill local, regional, and tribal
planning needs, provides
communities the resources to
identify climate resilience priorities,
and supports the development of a
pipeline of climate resilient
infrastructure projects across the
state.
TBA
Economic
Development
Administration (EDA)
FY 2023 EDA Public
Works and
Economic
Adjustment
Assistance (PWEAA)
Programs
Min Award:
$100,000
Max Award:
$30,000,000
EDA supports bottom-up strategies
that build on regional assets to spur
economic growth and resiliency.
EDA encourages its grantees
throughout the country to develop
initiatives that present new ideas
and creative approaches to
advance economic prosperity in
distressed communities. Through
this NOFO EDA intends to
advance general economic
development in accordance with
EDA’s investment priorities, but
also to pursue projects that, where
Ongoing