If you are working in California to make streets safer or to increase access to schools and parks so that children and families in your community can have more opportunities for physical activity – we can help!

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership can assist your efforts to make your community a place where kids can easily be active and healthy. We are offering long-term, free technical assistance to a disadvantaged community in California that are working to obtain funding to support of walking, bicycling and Safe Routes to School.  We are specifically interested in helping communities seeking funding from the State’s Active Transportation Program (http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/ATP.htm), in either the 2018 or 2019 cycles.

We are currently working with four communities throughout the state, and have an exceptional opening for our fifth and last spot.

If your community is selected, you will receive technical assistance over several months valued at more than $20,000 to help you achieve your goals, including:
• Regular one-on-one consultation with your project lead
• An in-person one-day workshop
• An action plan specific to your project
• Help navigating the application process for the Active Transportation Program.

Eligibility is limited to those who are eligible to apply to the State of California’s Active Transportation Program, but who have not previously received ATP funding for this project. At the current time, eligible applicants include local government agencies, school districts and other government entities. Nonprofits and community-based organizations are ineligible to apply, but can partner with a government agency on this application. Please see the draft 2018 ATP Guidelines (http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/ATP.htm) for information on eligibility and the type of projects available for funding.  Applicants must also be willing and able to commit staff time and availability to the project during the technical assistance period.

To apply, simply describe your community need in detail on the application form available here.  Our staff of experts will review and score the applications and select a community for this opportunity. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but are due December 15, 2017, by 5pm PT. If you have any questions during the application process, please contact Jonathan Matz, California Senior Policy Manager: jonathan@saferoutespartnership.org.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership improves the quality of life for all kids, families and communities by advancing policies that support physical activity, healthy community design, active transportation initiatives, and infrastructure improvements, especially in underserved communities.  With a diverse staff spread across the country, we share our expertise and knowledge to inspire and encourage action in local communities. In California, we have four policy staff that work at the regional and state level to advance policies that improve active transportation and increase funding for walking and bicycling. We have been actively involved in the development of the Active Transportation Program and other regional and state funding program and policies that advance Safe Routes to School for many years and are excited to offer this technical assistance opportunity with generous support from The California Endowment.