CAP Luncheon: Capital Region Climate Priorities Plan (March 2024)
At the Cleaner Air Partnership’s March 2024 Quarterly Luncheon, attendees learned about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program and opportunities to address regional air quality issues.
CAP events are an opportunity to learn about important air quality topics affecting the Sacramento region. Thank you to the generous contributors to the Cleaner Air Partnership: Sac Metro Air District, Teichert, CEMEX, SMUD, Sutter Health, Sacramento Association of REALTORS®, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, PG&E, and Nikola Motors.
A huge thank you to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District!
CAP Technical Advisory: Portable Equipment Regulation in the Capital Region (February 2024)
At the February 14th, 2024 CAPTAC meeting, participants learned about the Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) at the state and local level.
Thank you to the generous contributors to the Cleaner Air Partnership: Sac Metro Air District, Teichert, SMUD, Sutter Health, Sacramento Association of REALTORS®, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, PG&E, El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, CEMEX and Nikola.
Subject Matter Experts:
- Kelly Weatherford – California Air Resources Board
- Karla Sanders – Feather River Air Quality Management District
- Angela Thompson – Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
- Emmanuel Orozco – Placer County Air Pollution Control District
- Paul Hensleigh – Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District
Presentation Slides:
Housing Stanislaus Summit
On November 4th, Valley Vision, in partnership with the County of Stanislaus, hosted the Housing Stanislaus Summit aimed at unveiling crucial data and findings pertaining to housing trends, the challenges faced in housing development, and proposed solutions aimed at increasing the housing supply throughout Stanislaus County. The full report (along with a Spanish version), along with the PowerPoint and recording of the event can be found below.
California Jobs First (CERF) Collaborative Meeting: Research Presentation – November 13, 2023
On November 13 2023 from 3:30pm – 5:30pm Valley Vision’s research partner Cities GPS presented their updated research findings to the Capital Region’s Collaborative for the CA Jobs First project formerly known as CERF. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the VV slides and meeting minutes.
Livability Summit 2023 Panelists & Speakers
The Livability Poll: A Wellness Check of the Sacramento Region
by Evan Schmidt, CEO of Valley Vision
Valley Vision fields a quality of life poll, the Livability Poll, that tracks residents’ experiences with issues such as affordability of necessities, access to services, job and career satisfaction, safety and belonging, as well as residents’ perspectives of the Sacramento Region. The Livability Poll’s findings were revealed at the Livability Summit and served as the basis for presentations, speakers, and discussions that followed throughout the day. Evan presents some of the more notable findings from The Livability Poll fielded in the summer of 2023.
You can read the full poll report here.
View the PowerPoint here.
Evan Schmidt is the CEO of Valley Vision, a nonprofit organization that leads regional and statewide initiatives to advance livability by supporting social equity, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability. She oversees the organization’s six impact areas of Workforce Development, Clean Economy, Food and Agriculture, Broadband and Digital Equity, Healthy Communities and Leadership and Civic Engagement. She is committed to building communities that are vibrant and sustainable and where every person has the opportunity to meet their potential. Under her leadership, Valley Vision creates the foundation for collaboration, research, and vision that enables us to meet those goals.
Keynote: Transformative Economic Development
Judith Taylor, Partner at Hr&A Advisors
View the PowerPoint here.
Judith Taylor is a Partner at HR&A Advisors, in her role, she focuses on creating vibrant, equitable, and resilient communities with over two decades of experience in real estate and inclusive economic development. Her expertise combines technical economic knowledge with a profound understanding of community values to drive transformative yet practical change for public and private clients.
Transforming Corridors
Spotlight on the Built Environment
Presented by Kacey Lizon and Aaron Laurel
The Sacramento region is full of corridors and industrial areas that are skeletons of the functions they once served. Many of them are right in the heart of our communities, ready for something new. Many of our region’s commercial corridors struggle today with vacant or underutilized lots and lack the density or mix of residential and commercial uses that support a sense of place that can attract more people. Learn about what it takes to transform these corridors and bring back the energy and vibrancy that once filled these spaces.
View the PowerPoint here.
Kacey Lizon, Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Programs, Sacramento Area Council of Governments
In her role as Deputy Executive Director for Planning & Programs, Kacey serves the 22 cities and six counties of the Sacramento region. During her 20-year tenure at SACOG, Kacey has played an instrumental role in innovations in regional planning and smart growth planning processes. She has led initiatives in land use, housing, transportation, transit-oriented development, environmental and rural planning. She has played a critical role in SACOG’s sustainable communities strategy work since the enactment of SB 375. Kacey is a board member of the California Chapter of the American Planning Association and member of the California Planning Roundtable.
Aaron Laurel, City Manager, City of West Sacramento
Aaron was appointed by the City Council to serve as West Sacramento’s City Manager and the Port of West Sacramento’s Chief Executive Officer in July 2018. He has nearly 20 years of experience in local government, including over 16 with the City of West Sacramento. Before becoming City Manager, he served as the City’s Economic Development and Housing Director, overseeing investments in infrastructure and real estate, business attraction, affordable housing, and management of the Port of West Sacramento.
Community Economic Resiliency
An Action Plan for Inclusive Economic Growth
Presented by Renee John and Ebony Joy Benzing
A thriving regional economy and equitable communities depend on inclusive economic opportunities. Valley Vision is proud to lead the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) program, fostering collaboration to create a vision for an inclusive and prosperous regional economy. In this segment, we’ll explore Valley Vision’s work on CERF, introduce communication resources, and encourage conversations about shifting our culture towards more collaborative, equity-centered efforts.
View the Powerpoint here.
Renee John oversees Valley Vision’s 21st Century Workforce, Health Communities, and Clean Economy impact areas. She came to Valley Vision with ten years of experience initiating and leading projects for community-based nonprofit organizations. Renee has also worked in the region supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. She is a proud graduate of California State University Sacramento (Go Hornets!) and California’s community college system (Sierra College). Her driving force is working to ensure all community members have access to opportunity to live a healthy, fruitful life.
Ebony Joy Benzing is the interim Director for the North Far North Center of Excellence (NFN COE) for Labor Market Research, hosted by Los Rios Community College District. Ebony is committed to using data to connect students and adult learners to good jobs. Ebony joined the NFN COE in 2019 as the research manager. Prior to these roles, she taught mathematics to middle and high school students in Sacramento. Ebony graduated from UC Davis with dual bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Neighborhood Transformation
A Spotlight on Del Paso Boulevard
Moderated by Daniel Kaufman
Daniel Kaufman (Moderator), Co-Founder and Principal at Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies.
Daniel helps design and lead the strategic direction of Third Plateau, a Sacramento-based agency driving social change. He enthusiastically works to ensure the firm is ever-evolving, learning, and growing to best meet the needs of changemaking leaders and organizations. An entrepreneur-at-heart, Daniel serves as a mentor, advisor, and strategist for an array of nonprofit executives, philanthropists, and civic leaders.
Gina Warren, Co-Founder and CEO of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Wellness Foundation
With a mission to navigate and disrupt intergenerational trauma and poverty in Del Paso Heights (DPH) and surrounding neighborhoods, Dr. Warren leads an interdisciplinary, multigenerational team that includes fourteen Peer Support Specialists generationally rooted in DPH. Dr. Warren offers both clinical and grassroots perspectives while operating with a strategic vision, innovative leadership, and an unwavering commitment to raise ACEs awareness to mitigate human suffering and help build a healthy community.
Janet Rice, President of DAD partners
Janet Rice is President of DAD Partners, Inc a premier consulting company located in Del Paso Heights dedicated to the mission of providing extraordinary service and value to a variety of clients in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has served on numerous boards and committees and is a visionary leader and executive professional with a proven track record of spearheading major real estate development projects that revitalized communities to help ensure sustained economic growth.
Erica Taylor, Vice President, Communications & Community Relations at Golden 1 Credit Union
Erica’s background includes work in radio and television promotions and marketing, as well as a broadcast journalist. She joined Golden 1 in 2015, overseeing the organization’s external communications, government relations, community partnerships, corporate giving, and financial education. Erica has led numerous initiatives for Golden 1 aimed at addressing local needs, volunteering, charitable partnerships, and social programs. In addition to currently serving as Valley Vision’s board chair, she also holds board positions with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and Sacramento Covered. In 2015, Erica was named the “Young Professional of the Year” by the Sacramento Metro Chamber. She was also named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” by the Sacramento Business Journal in 2012. She also won the “Best Posture” award at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in the third grade.
California Jobs First (CERF) Subregional Committee Resource Pages
CERF Tahoe/Nevada Subregional Committee Resource Page
Subregional Partners
The Tahoe/Nevada Subregion is jointly led by the Tahoe Prosperity Center and the Nevada County Economic Resource Council.
Tahoe Prosperity Center is the community and economic development organization in Lake Tahoe. We consider ourselves the “Valley Vision” of the Lake Tahoe region and have recently completed our regional economic recovery and resiliency strategy – Envision Tahoe. This inclusive, collaborative and year-long effort, funded by the US Economic Development Administration just wrapped up in June 2022 with our
Envision Tahoe Prosperity Playbook. Thankfully, the timing is well-suited for us to keep planning and to then prepare implementation proposals that align with the State’s CERF goals and our own regional, community and economic development priorities. We bring leadership, a strong collaborative plan and one that is based in regional inclusivity, data and community support and agreement.
Nevada County Economic Resource Council works in economic and community development in the full spectrum of Nevada County. Our organization, with its wide spectrum of Board Members that touch the most critical points in the community, believes we can be a valuable resource for both the planning and implementation phase of this grant.
TPC and NCERC are also supported by Sierra Business Council, in order to engage the Truckee area.
Primary Contact Information
If you have questions regarding this Subregion Committee, please reach out to:
Tahoe Prosperity Center
Derrick Martin, Program Manager
derrick@tahoeprosperity.org
Nevada County Economic Resource Council
Gil Matthew, Executive Director
gil@ncerc.org
Next Meeting Information
More information coming soon!
Previous Meeting Materials
September 2023
Capital Region CERF Meetings and Events Calendar
CAP Technical Advisory: Biomass Utilization in the Region (September 2023)
At the Cleaner Air Partnership’s September 2023 Technical Advisory Committee meeting, participants discussed opportunities and challenges surrounding biomass utilization in the 6-county Sacramento region.
Thank you to the generous contributors to the Cleaner Air Partnership: Sac Metro Air District, Teichert, SMUD, Sutter Health, Sacramento Association of REALTORS®, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, PG&E, El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, CEMEX, Clarity and Nikola.
Subject Matter Experts:
- Kerri Timmer – Placer County
- Paul Hensleigh – Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District
- Chuck Smith – Stonebridge Sustainability Solutions, Inc.
- Martin Twer – The Watershed Center
Additional Resources and Links:
- Mobile/Modular Wood Processing Technologies – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z0gkUvpnayTYn09MlvIr0lmCge4rMbcLrzk02BQ1V8g/
- Sometimes Simple is Best: Heartwood Biomass Project brings Jobs, Environmental Benefits to Tuolumne County – https://www.rcac.org/press-release/heartwood-biomass-project-brings-jobs-environmental-benefits-to-tuolumne-county
- Examples of Advanced Wood Building Products and Technologies – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SuzH6CXbosBVzS41Nb7OqQhPBXP1uvbe
- My “Resources” Google Drive – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-njmNNXiwyle6oRDQFNZhTKcbjZsuJUo
- Colorado Forest Products Database™ – https://csfs.colostate.edu/colorado-forest-products-database/
- Nerding out: Products Made from Wood – https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/woodproducts.pdf
- Air Curtain Incinerators Technology – https://airburners.com/technology/principle/
- Biomass Operations in California – https://www.calbiomass.org/facilities-map/
- California’s Forest Products and Biomass Power Plant facilities Interactive Map – https://ucanr.edu/sites/WoodyBiomass/California_Biomass_Power_Plants/
California Jobs First (CERF) Roundtables
In 2022 and 2023, Valley Vision hosted roundtables on the California Jobs First (CERF) for counties within the capital regions in order to inform about the program and identify early opportunities and alignments.
California Jobs First (CERF) Collaborative Meetings: Summer of Collective Learning Series
The Summer of Collective Learning series were held from June to August in 2023 to give us time to learn and plan together around the California Jobs First (CERF) program. Each monthly meeting featured a collective learning session on topics related to the California Jobs First (CERF) program’s values and goals, as well as time dedicated to advancing our region’s efforts.
California Jobs First (CERF) Collaborative Meeting: Summer of Collective Learning- August 24, 2023
This was the final Collaborative meeting in the “Summer of Collective Learning” series on August 24th from 3:00pm – 4:30pm. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom and was open to current Collaborative members as well as those interested in getting involved. The session featured the Salinas Inclusive Economic Development Initiative and collaborative partners with Mujeres en Acción learning about their efforts to influence inclusive recovery and economic development, especially as it relates to the preservation and creation of quality, family-sustaining jobs in Salinas. Additionally, we introduced our identified Subregional Hub Partners and provided updates on our region’s progress, including the announcement of the Leadership Council nomination and selection timeline. In addition to viewing the recording below, you may also download the VV slides and meeting minutes.