Broadband & Digital Equity Webinar | Year-End Review and Strategies for Closing the Gaps in 2026 (December 2025)
Valley Vision, as manager of the Capital Region Coalition for Digital Inclusion (CRCDI) and Capital Area Broadband Consortium (CCABC), welcomed Broadband and Digital Equity stakeholders and organizations to the “Year-End Review and Strategies for Closing the Gaps in 2026” Webinar on Friday, December 5th, 2025 from 10AM-12PM.
Valley Vision presented updates on CCABC and CRCDI projects and opportunities in the region, including the launch of the new CRCDI website, resources such as Valley Vision’s Broadband for Business Report, and project spotlights such as the CETF California Green Technology Initiative and AB617 Communities Empowerment Initiative, which includes the Get Connected! Call Center, a resource to support low-cost internet enrollment for residents of South Sacramento’s AB617 Communities.
Scott Adams, Deputy Director of Broadband and Digital Literacy at the California Department of Technology (CDT) presented updates on the State’s Broadband for All Initiative. Upcoming opportunities for engagement with CDT include:
- CDT Digital Equity Stakeholder meeting on December 17th (register HERE).
- Digital Equity Resource Survey to provide new and update resources for Digital Equity Resource Finder (complete the survey HERE by January 12th).
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Commissioner Darcie Houck shared year-end updates across several projects, including the Federal Funding Account, Last-Mile Network progress, BEAD, CASF program changes, and more.
Hawksbill Group facilitated the closing panel “Collaborating to Close the Gaps: A Discussion with Service Providers,” with insights from representative of Comcast, Race Communication, and AT&T on opportunities for engagement and collaboration to support local broadband deployment.
2025 Biomass & Beyond: Growing a Resilient Regional Bioeconomy
On November 5th, Valley Vision hosted a Biomass Symposium to help create a resilient regional bioeconomy. At this second interactive workshop, attendees learned about biomass utilization in the region, challenges with upscaling biomass solutions, and opportunities for local and regional collaboration. Additionally, attendees heard from state and local experts, learned about regional projects, and were informed about policies and programs that can advance biomass solutions for our forests and agricultural lands.
Thank you to all contributors who helped make this event a success!
This event is in partnership with Placer County Water Agency, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, the Cleaner Air Partnership, the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, and We Prosper Together.
Huge thank you to our guest speakers and subject-matter experts who joined us at the event, shared valuable insights, and helped moved the needle on biomass solutions for our forests, agricultural lands and communities:
- Kate Gordon – Chief Executive Officer, California Forward
- Eric Guerra – Board of Director for Sacramento Region Air Districts, California Air Resources Board
- Dr. Cindy Chen – Woody Biomass & Forest Products Advisor, UC Ag & Natural Resources
- Eric Martin – Director of Public Works, NorthStar Community Services District
- João Mario Soares – Chief Executive Officer, Engeman Energy
- Matt Summers – Chief Operating Officer, West Biofuels
- Elizabeth Betancourt – Natural and Working Lands Policy Advisor, California Department of Conservation
- Julia Levin – Executive Director, Bioenergy Association of California
- Lisa Lien-Mager – Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildfire Resilience: Wildfire Task Force, California Natural Resources Agency
Included is the full presentation from the symposium:
Why should California and the Capital Region invest in Biomass Utilization?
In 2023, biomass diverted over 7 million tons of waste from landfills, and provided approximately 5% of California’s in-state energy supply. With an estimated 47 million bone- dry tons of biomass resource potential statewide, California is poised to lead in bio-based innovation through forest restoration, waste diversion, and bioindustrial development.
Biomass utilization has untapped potential to help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, manage agricultural and forest waste for rural and urban economic growth, and protect and improve public health and natural resources in all of our communities.
Keeping Up the Momentum and Ways To Stay Involved!
Our region is positioned to be a leader in the bioeconomy. We saw it clearly at the Biomass Symposium. Projects are coming online, local municipalities are prioritizing and investing, and there is growing interest and engagement from communities. We also heard that investors are pulling together billion dollar funds and ready to build up business. Valley Vision is excited to support the movement by putting in time, resources, and collaborative energy into building an ecosystem that works for everyone.
We’re thrilled to announce our first set of resources to keep this momentum going:
- Technical assistance for those ready to start a project including personalized one-on-one support.
- A webinar series designed to turn great ideas into financeable, actionable projects.
- And a new advisory committee to help guide policy recommendations, build the ecosystem, and identify emerging opportunities for collaboration and investment.
If you signed up for the biomass symposium, you will receive updates and information on upcoming webinars, events, and resources. Feel free to reach out to Lindsey Nitta, Working Lands Sector Investment Coordinator, at lindsey.nitta@valleyvision.org to receive technical assistance, share ideas, needs, and opportunities.
To recap last year’s Biomass Symposium, access event materials and resources here and watch the recording below :
For inquiries about the Biomass Symposium and Valley Vision, please contact Kathy Saechou, Project Manager, at kathy.saechou@valleyvision.org.
Livability Summit 2025 Post-Event Materials
The 2025 Livability Summit, presented by Valley Vision & SACOG, took place on Wednesday, October 1st (California Clean Air Day) at the Citrus Heights Event Center. Nearly 350 leaders attended the event. See below for meeting resources, slides, photos, and more.
Links to Key Event Resources:
Presentation Slides: 2025 Livability Summit
“Impact Story” Videos by KJ2 Productions
Valley Vision and SACOG worked with KJ2 Productions to produce 4 videos highlighting 7 high-impact projects from around the region. These projects encompass awards from the We Prosper Together program as well as SACOG’s work to invest in community-led planning for more livable communities.
- Future Fire Academy & Downtown Yuba City: https://youtu.be/S7VIKBUgNZk
- Roseville & Rancho Cordova Chambers Digital Tools Initiative: https://youtu.be/zjEX0iL6UPc
- UC Davis Bioinnovation Lab & West Sac Greens Go: https://youtu.be/xlhENQcUBIs
- Marysville Chinatown & Yuba City Playzeum: https://youtu.be/P59-KwYAffA
Photos by Tia Gemmell (link to website):
CAP Luncheon: Rethinking Mobility – July 24th, 2025
Cleaner Air Partnership’s quarterly luncheon, focused on SACOG’s Mobility Zones Program, took place on Thursday, July 24th at the Robertson Community Center, where attendees learned about how communities with high transportation and equity needs across the 6-county region helped to co-create a community-centered model for infrastructure project development, paving the way for how transportation projects are prioritized for state and federal investments.
Thank you to SACOG for your work on improving access to clean mobility options and quality of life for all in the region!
Special thanks to Kathleen Aziz, Principal Transportation Planner, for a stellar presentation and insightful discussion on the Mobility Zones Project and the community-centered effort to prioritize transportation investments in Yolo, Yuba, Sutter, El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento counties.
CAP events are opportunities to learn about important air quality topics affecting the 6-county Sacramento region. Thank you to the generous contributors to the Cleaner Air Partnership: Sac Metro Air District, Teichert, SMUD, CEMEX, Sutter Health, Sacramento Association of REALTORS®, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, PG&E, and the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District.
Apprenticeships in the Capital Region
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships provide hands-on training and a clear path to a rewarding career. In the Capital Region, these programs are tailored to meet the needs of industries like healthcare, technology, and construction, helping participants build skills and connections.
Benefits of Apprenticeships
- Earn a wage while learning valuable skills.
- Gain industry-recognized credentials.
- Work alongside experienced professionals.
- Access pathways to long-term career growth.
Innovative Programs
Valley Vision works to connect apprenticeships in the Capital Region through partnerships with local employers and educators. Explore their initiatives to see how they’re shaping the future of work.
Hear from Apprenticeship Programs
Watch this video to learn how apprenticeships are transforming lives in the Capital Region.
Visual Overview
This guide highlights key facts about apprenticeships in California.
Additional Resources
Reconnecting NorCal Summit – June 27, 2025
On June 27th, Valley Vision and UC Davis co-hosted a Northern California convening of community advocates engaged in transportation and equity projects at the UC Davis Conference Center. At the Reconnecting NorCal Summit, participants addressed the past and recurring impacts of adverse and inequitable transportation and land use planning, and how those planning practices are continuing to impact disinvested communities and communities of color. At the convening, participants had the opportunity to assist UC Davis and their UC research partners in their work to evaluate specifically how projects and practices are addressing the harms caused by inequitable transportation and land use planning, and informed UC researchers of best practices and policy recommendations for redressing these harms with a restorative Justice lens.
The final presentation slide is included below:
Many thanks to the community advocates who joined us in these discussions! Additionally, thank you to Professor Jesus Barajas PhD of UC Davis for collaborating with us to ensure diverse communities and diverse voices were represented and elevated at the convening!
UC Project Purpose: The Restorative and Racial Justice in Reconnecting Communities project seeks to use a restorative justice lens to evaluate specifically how projects and practices are addressing the harms caused by inequitable land use and transportation planning. The Northern California convening is a part of this project, and brought together community advocates to help meet the project goal.
The UC project and research efforts will wrap-up at the end of this year in December 2025, and a report of research findings will be published and available for public access and review early next year in 2026. *Please check back early next year for a link to the report. Thank you!
Fermentation, Brewing & Viticulture Advisory Event Materials
Strong Workforce Program
Cross-Sector Advisory:
Advisory on Agriculture, Business, and Entrepreneurship
Residents Guide Air Pollution Monitoring in South Sacramento – Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative
About the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI)
The Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative, led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Aclima, is an effort to monitor air quality in 64 Consistently Nominated AB 617 Communities using sensor-equipped vehicles, called Aclima Platforms.
Community concerns and feedback will help guide where air quality monitoring occurs and will help shape the Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP), putting communities in a better position to develop strategies for emissions reduction.
With the help of community members and community organizations, Aclima will draft Community Air Monitoring Plans (CAMP) for each of the communities: Florin, Meadowview, and Oak Park/Fruitridge.
On April 16, 2025, Valley Vision hosted the first of two air quality community feedback meetings, part of the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI) funded by California Climate Investments. Held at the Pannell Meadowview Community Center, the event brought together community members living and working in Florin, Meadowview, and Oak Park/Fruitridge, to share air quality concerns and help shape the Community Air Monitoring Plans. Thank you to all who participated!
The meeting presentation is available below in three languages, and key activities included:
- Project Overview and Welcome remarks from Councilmember Mai Vang
- Mapping activity to identify air quality concerns in Florin, Meadowview, and Oak Park/Fruitridge
- Majority vote decision by attendees to define the monitoring boundaries for all three communities
- Next steps on how to stay involved in the project
Valley Vision hosted a second air quality community feedback meeting for the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI) on May 1, 2025 at the Oak Park Community Center. This event brought together community members living and working in Florin, Meadowview, and Oak Park/Fruitridge, to review and make changes to the Draft Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) and help decide on neighborhood boundaries and where to monitor pollution levels for Florin, Meadowview, and Oak Park/Fruitridge. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
The meeting presentation is available below in three languages, and key activities included:
- Project Overview and Welcome remarks from the Oak Park Neighborhood Association
- Recap Meeting #1 and Review the Draft Community Air Monitoring Plan
- Majority vote decision by attendees to decide on monitoring boundaries and targeted monitoring locations for all three communities
- Next steps on how to stay involved in the project
Meeting #3 will be hosted online by Aclima and CARB staff in May 2026. They will share the project results, answer questions, have community member share their experiences engaging with the project, and discuss possible next steps.
Community members can stay up to date with the project by visiting Aclima’s website at aclima.earth/ca-smmi
Project Timeline
For questions, contact Kathy Saechou at Valley Vision (kathy.saechou@valleyvision.org).
Residents Guide Air Pollution Monitoring in South Natomas – Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative
About the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI)
The Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative, led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Aclima, is an effort to monitor air quality in 64 Consistently Nominated AB 617 Communities using sensor-equipped vehicles, called Aclima Platforms.
Community concerns and feedback will help guide where air quality monitoring occurs and will help shape the Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP), putting communities in a better position to develop strategies for emissions reduction.
With the help of community members and community organizations, Aclima will draft a Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) for South Natomas.
On April 14, 2025, Valley Vision and Gardenland-Northgate Neighborhood Association (GNNA) hosted the first of two air quality community feedback meetings, part of the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI) funded by California Climate Investments. Thank you to GNNA for helping us coordinate a meaningful and engaging event! Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center to share air pollution concerns and help shape the Community Air Monitoring Plan for South Natomas!
The meeting presentation is available below and key activities included:
- Project overview and welcome remarks by GNNA
- Mapping activity to identify air pollution concerns in South Natomas
- Majority vote decision by the community to define the monitoring boundary
- Next steps on how to stay involved in the project
Valley Vision and Gardenland-Northgate Neighborhood Association (GNNA) hosted a second air quality community feedback meeting for the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI) on April 29, 2025 at the Stanford Settlement Center. This event brought together community members living and working in South Natomas to review and make changes to the Draft Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) and help decide on neighborhood boundaries and where to monitor pollution levels in South Natomas. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
The meeting presentation is available below in three languages, and key activities included:
- Project Overview and Welcome remarks from GNNA
- Recap Meeting #1 and Review the Draft Community Air Monitoring Plan
- Majority vote decision by attendees to decide on monitoring boundaries and targeted monitoring locations for South Natomas
- Next steps on how to stay involved in the project
Meeting #3 will be hosted online by Aclima and CARB staff in May 2026. They will share the project results, answer questions, have community members share their experiences engaging with the project, and discuss possible next steps.
Community members can stay up to date with the project by visiting Aclima’s website at aclima.earth/ca-smmi
Project Timeline
For questions, contact Kathy Saechou at Valley Vision (kathy.saechou@valleyvision.org).
High Voltage Electrical Careers Event Materials
Strong Workforce Program
Cross-Sector Advisory: Energy, Construction, Utilities, and Advanced Manufacturing
Building Resilience in the Capital Region (March 2025)
Valley Vision’s two collaboratives, Cleaner Air Partnership and Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, hosted a regional workshop at the California Endowment Center where speakers from Yuba Water Agency, Sutter Roseville Medical Center, and Coldwell Banker shared the economic, public health, and environmental impacts of wildfires. With over 80 participants from the public and private sector, this event was a perfect opportunity to discuss how the region can establish cross-sector wildfire resilience through innovative partnerships and collaboration.
Resources including the presentation slides are listed below:
- Yuba Water Agency: Watershed Resilience and Forest Health
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce The Preparedness Payoff: Sacramento
- Report: Wildfire smoke impacts respiratory health more than fine particles from other sources: observational evidence from Southern California
Many thanks to the presenters:
- JoAnna Lessard, PhD Yuba Water Agency
- Dr. Vanessa Walker, Sutter Roseville Medical Center
- Erin Stumpf, Coldwell Banker
This event was hosted in collaboration with the Cleaner Air Partnership and the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative.
USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center Quarterly Webinar (January 2025)
Institutional Procurement: A Path Toward Food System Resilience
The USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center’s recent quarterly webinar, “Institutional Procurement: A Path Toward Food System Resilience”, featured speakers from UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology, Health Care Without Harm, and Center for Good Food Purchasing. Speakers discussed their organizations role in the purchasing of local, sustainable foods in hospitals, universities, and other large institutional settings. Presentations focused on organizations’ role in implementing procurement criteria and scoring, such as Center for Good Food Purchasing Scoring System, addressing challenges through multi-stakeholder equitable collaboration with community partners, such as HCWH’s Anchors in Resilient Communities Initiative, and the importance of effective data tracking systems to provide institutions data as a value proposition.
.