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Community Economic Resilience Fund

California Jobs First

SBC is still using:

Website: https://www.sierrabusiness.org/archives/cerf/

Program Name: CA Jobs First (CERF)

Waiting for State brand guide for next steps.

CERF Rebrand

So first up on the agenda is the infamous CERF rebrand that we are so excited about! Really this is on brand for the current CERF process in that the state has asked us to start using the new name - California Jobs First without a brand guide or any other direction! So SBC will start referring to CERF as California Jobs First, but we aren’t sure if there is an agreed upon acronym yet - will that be CJF or some other catchy name, we don’t know! But I want you to all be aware if you see CA Jobs First in the news, at work, in communications from SBC - it is the same program. Nothing programmatic has changed at this point, but just be aware that this is out there. You are welcome to start using the new name in your external communications.

All official communications from the SBC CERF team will use the CERF@ email address, and our website URL for CERF is still the same. We don’t know if these will need to change, but we will do a big campaign around it if we do to make sure you don’t miss any communications from us.

Any questions about the new name?

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February

November

December

January�2024

March

May

April

June

July

Catalyst App Due

Regional Summary

Report Due

Catalyst Funding Awarded

CERF Implementation Application

Regional Strategies Report Start

Regional Strategies Report Due

HRTC and Subcommittee Meetings

Regional Strategies Report Progress

HRTC and Subcommittee Meetings

Now - July 2024 Timeline

HRTC and Subcommittee Meetings

Here is the Program timeline from about right now - going back in time a few weeks to show that the Catalyst application was turned in at the end of November. We are busy this month with finalizing the regional report summary and hosting the subcommittee meetings and the HRTC meetings. We need to turn the Regional Summary Report into the state by December 31st. Then in January we will start getting more information about the Regional Strategies report. This will entail a set of economic strategies that strengthen climate resilience and public health while aligning with state goals. The HRTC and Subcommittees will be a part of identifying these strategies, vetting them, and making sure the recommendations are aligned with the future we all want to see in the region. I have a slide with more information on that report in just a minute.

Importantly, in May, we should know about Catalyst next steps - whether that is the start of contracting or at a minimum award announcements.

In June, the strategies report is due to the state. And in July, the state has said that Implementation Guidelines will be released. Remember these are for ready to go projects and will be a competitive statewide SFP. Another really important thing to remember is that all of these things - the strategies report, the catalyst predevelopment funds, and the implementation funds will likely all need to tie back into the key sectors we have identified. So we will touch on these sectors one more time. But first -

Any questions about the timeline?

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Catalyst Application Outcomes

Programmatic - $2.8M

Administration/Regional Convenor Costs
Research Costs
Outreach Costs
Travel Costs
HRTC Programmatic Costs
HRTC Reimbursement Costs
Subcontractor Costs (e.g., ESCOG, ITCC, MLJT, SBRC)

Projects - $9M

No specific projects included (not a requirement in the application!)

Requested full amount - $9M towards regional projects in pre-development stages

Building framework with HRTC and Subcommittees for how projects will be identified and chosen

Sector Investment Coordinators - $1.5M

Outline of five $300,000 subcontracts with expertise in:

Wildfire resilience, Forest Health and Wood Products
Sustainable Recreation/Tourism and Small Business
Rural Healthcare
Sustainable Agriculture
Clean & Reliable Energy

Here is how our application intends to support those goals set out by the state. We have budgeted just under $3M for Administrative and Convening Costs, Research Costs, Travel Costs, Outreach to disinvested communities, and maintaining the HRTC infrastructure and funding our existing CERF partners who have been an extremely valuable part of the Planning Phase. This is intended to continue to build capacity within existing economic development organizations in the region.

The full $9M is requested for Projects. Remember that no specific projects were intended to be in the application. Today we will begin really focusing on building out the project framework - eligibility and vetting criteria. Once we have a better idea of the state’s timeline for awarding, contracting, and distributing Catalyst Funds, this group will begin working on a timeline for how the region will submit projects for pre-development funds, how the subcommittees will vet them and make recommendations to the HRTC Council, and eventually how the HRTC will vote to allocate funds. Hopefully we have a good understanding of the state’s timeline in early to mid Winter 2024.

And the full $1.5M for Sector Investment Coordinators was requested with the intention of funding 5 $300,000 contracts for organization with expertise in our 5 priority sectors.

Any questions here?

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An economic cluster focused on mitigating negative impacts and transforming outcomes for tourism and recreation today by increasing economic mobility, social fairness and environmental sustainability. The Eastern Sierra CERF region welcomes millions of visitors every year to its national and state parks and forests, ski resorts and historic small towns, and tourism and recreation are the top industries in this region. This sector would aim to achieve multibenefit outcomes focused on equity and climate resilience, not simply the promotion of tourism.

The primary reason for including Sustainable Recreation and Tourism as a priority sector is to balance the demands of visitation with quality of life for residents and reduce environmental impact, ensure equity and access for all, empower tribes and other disinvested communities to engage in and profit from tourism and recreation economies to increase economic mobility, invest in gaps in existing government funding opportunities, increase climate resilience, support small businesses and entrepreneurs, and create workforce development opportunities for skilled stewardship jobs, with government agencies and NGOs.

Sustainable Recreation & Tourism

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An economic cluster focused on forest ecosystem management, restoration, and resilience in order to preserve and enhance the values forested ecosystems bring to our communities. This cluster would include forest management practices including the application of traditional ecological knowledge, forest thinning, prescribed fire, prescribed grazing, non-industrial timber harvest, watershed management and improvement, and reforestation. This cluster would also include the development of the supply chains (environmental planning, licensed timber operators, trucking and logistics, wood utilization facilities, etc.) and the workforce necessary to support the forest economy.

This cluster would coordinate with the Clean Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, and Sustainable Tourism and Recreation sectors to include cross-cutting initiatives that meet multiple goals, such as renewable energy generation, livestock production, native plant and food production, and climate mitigation.

The primary reason for including Natural and Working Lands as a priority sector is to increase forested ecosystems for biological diversity, reduce the risk of high-intensity uncontrolled wildfire, increase native plant and livestock production through the application of traditional ecological knowledge, improve water quality and supply security, improve air quality and reduce the risk of wildfire smoke exposure, expand workforce capacity and skill and create clear career pathways for forest and forest supply chain workers, with an emphasis on workers in tribal community and the application of traditional ecological knowledge to the landscape.

Natural and Working Lands

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An economic cluster focused on increasing energy resilience, by focusing on localized and small energy grids that can reduce impacts from energy interruptions. This cluster will include energy efficiency, weatherization, building electrification, microgrids and storage, electric vehicle infrastructure and vehicle maintenance, and local renewable energy generation, such as biomass, hydrogen, and biofuels.

The primary reason for including Energy as a priority sector for the region is to increase energy resilience, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from energy and transportation, reduce regional energy costs/burden, and create a local workforce of high-road jobs that can bring the region into compliance with state and federal energy/greenhouse gas reduction goals and mandates (e.g., CPUC Renewable Portfolio Standard, SB 32, AB 1279), and maintain the transition to clean energy.

Clean Energy/Energy Resilience

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An economic cluster focused on building out the local and regional food supply, expanding regenerative agriculture, and making the best use of limited land and resources. This includes but is not limited to:

Identifying and implementing farming and ranching practices that thrive in the face of climate change.
Expanding local supply chains to increase food security.
Supporting entrepreneurship and manufacturing of value-added products.
Taking advantage of “agritourism” opportunities.
Promoting workforce and education opportunities that build interest and engagement in the food sector.
Large scale circular industrial composting system.

The primary reason for inclusion of this sector as a priority is to expand access to, and increase the resilience and reliability of local food supplies, while acknowledging the scope of CERF. Benefits of locally and sustainably produced/processed food and livestock include increased food security, reduced food miles, more entrepreneurial opportunities, and greater resilience in the face of climate impacts.

Sustainable Agriculture & Ranching

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SBC has included Community Healthcare as a CERF Eastern Sierra industry sector based on feedback collected from the community working groups, past HRTC meetings, and Subcommittee meetings. Between now and the December HRTC meeting, we invite you all to join us in conversation about what we want this industry sector to look like. What goals and outcomes can CERF tackle, and more specifically what potential projects could address capacity building under this sector?

Email CERF@sierrabusiness.org to set up a meeting with our team or share your thoughts.

Overcoming geographic, cultural, and other barriers to healthcare is a prerequisite for a functioning and resilient economy. Addressing these barriers and improving access to quality healthcare for tribal members, geographically isolated community members, disinvested youth, and community members with language barriers and without access to reliable broadband or robust mental health services has emerged as a priority in our region.

SBC is dedicated to exploring this topic and diving further into solutions that will work in our communities, not just the healthcare challenges impacting our region. To do this, we will need to do further research and invite the HRTC to contribute as we explore CERF’s role in standing up this industry sector.

Community Healthcare

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