Long Beach Youth Climate Corps Program
Climate Action & Environmental City Council Committee
March 15, 2022
LONG BEACH YOUTH CLIMATE CORPS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Background
Program Development
Program Design
Next Steps
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4 LB YOUTH CLIMATE CORP PROGRAM
On November 9, 2021, City Council approved creation of a $5 million Long Beach Youth Climate Corp Program
• Long Beach will receive $6.3 million through 2021
CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Program (State Grant) funded by the American Rescue Plan Act
• Focus is youth in under-resourced neighborhoods to help address urgent challenges through paid career pathways
• All funding must be spent by June 2024 (CA State fiscal year) 3 4
STATE GRANT FUNDING REQUIREMENTS
Participants (16-30):
• Are low-income, unemployed and/or out of school
• Are justice-involved, in/transitioning from foster care • Are engaged with mental health or substance abuse system • Applicants meeting two of above criteria must be 75% of selected participants
Outcomes:
• Paid youth job placements in public agencies or non-profits • After-program placement in permanent jobs or continuing education
5 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• Reviewed existing data and models:
• Federal, State and Regional green job efforts/reports • Existing City plans, including:
• Consulted with Conservation Corps, City Departments, Public Survey on design program/placement opportunities
6 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
To ensure grant-required outcomes, the City has identified key strategies for paid climate-related placements:
• In existing City/Non-Profit climate-related programs that meet all grant requirements, timing, and outcomes
• Immediate, shovel-ready projects with tangible real-world experience
• Provide skill development and training for future long-term job placement
• Foster experiential stewardship by providing resources and diverse learning opportunities
7 PROGRAM DESIGN: CLIMATE PLACEMENT AREAS
Urban Greening and Natural Systems Services
• Tree planting and urban forest management
• Water efficient landscaping/irrigation installation
• Native ecosystem restoration, mulch program
• Environmental stewardship, ambassador programs
• Rain gardens and rainwater rescue
Types of possible placements
• City Departments (Parks, Recreation & Marine; Public
Works, Office of Sustainability, Development Services)
• Non-Profit Placement Partners
8 PROGRAM DESIGN: CLIMATE PLACEMENT AREAS
Urban Agriculture and Food Security
• Urban farms, community gardens, nurseries, Master
Gardener training
• Food resiliency, food distribution/crop swaps
event and helping set up healthy market locations
• Operating public orchards and fruit tree programs
Types of possible placements
• City Departments (Health & Human Services; Parks,
Recreation and Marine; Office of Sustainability)
• Non-Profit Placement Partners
9 PROGRAM DESIGN: CLIMATE PLACEMENT AREAS
Waste Reduction and Clean Energy
• Composting, recycling and food waste programs
• Green Business outreach and assessments
• Rooftop solar outreach and installation
• Energy efficiency planning and installation
Types of possible placements
• City Departments (Public Works; Office of
Sustainability; Economic Development)
• Non-Profit Placement Partners
10 Approximately 380 Youth Paid Placements
• Placement positions will range from entry level to
more technical/advanced, earning between $16.00-$27.00 an hour
• Most placements will encompass approximately 450-500
hours
• Placement determinations to be made by Pacific Gateway during the intake process
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: YOUTH PLACEMENTS
11 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: PLACEMENT PROCESS
12 Pacific Gateway Innovation Network's Role:
• Recruit and hire youth program participants
• Identify climate-related placement partners
• Set up and facilitate youth training and wrap around services • Track and report program metrics
• Identify long-term training or education pathways
City/Nonprofit Placement Partners Role:
• Submit placement opportunities via City survey
• Lead climate-related projects, management youth
• Support placements in long-term career growth
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: PLACEMENT ROLES
ANTICIPATED IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
13 Sustainable City
Commission
Outreach Session
February 2022
Climate Action
& Environmental
Committee Mtg
March 2022
Program
Completion
June 2024
Program Overview
to City Council
April 2022
Anticipated
Funding Award
May 2022
Program
Start
Summer 2022
Youth Climate
Corps Survey
Feb-Mar 2022
2022 2023 2024
Program Duration
2022 - 2024
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Sustainable City Commission Presentation
on February 24, 2022:
• 70 CBOs informed of opportunity to provide input
at Commission meeting
• 8 public speakers provided comments
Launched Youth Climate Corps Survey
• Provided in English, Khmer, Spanish, Tagalog
• Survey fliers at LB Libraries
• Gather input on focus goal areas
• Collect interest from eligible community-based
organization and non-profit placement partners
• Collect interest from eligible youth
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COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SUMMARY
86 RESPONSES
RANKING PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS:
1st
2nd
3rd
28 ORGANIZATIONS
REFERRED
25 INTERESTED
APPLICANTS
Urban Agriculture
& Food Security
Urban Green &
Natural Systems
Services
Waste Reduction &
Energy Efficiency
Tree planting and urban forest
management
Establishing and supporting
urban farms
Establishing and supporting
recycling, composting, and food
waste programs
Applicants ranked these project types as the #1
priority for supporting focus areas
NEXT STEPS
• Memo to City Council outlining community feedback and program implementation (anticipated April 2022)
• Accept grant funding (anticipated May 2022)
• Program Kickoff with first youth job placements in (Anticipated Summer 2022)
• Program will be tracked and reported as a part of the Long Beach Recovery Act throughout implementation
16 Thank you
Larry Rich
Sustainability Coordinator, Office of
Sustainability
[email protected]
Eli Romero
Workforce Development Officer, Economic
Development
[email protected]
Meredith Reynolds
Special Deputy City Manager for Recovery
[email protected]
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