San Francisco Bay Area Vision Project

Regional agencies are committed to securing financial incentives and providing technical assistance to designated Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs).

Current opportunities for financial assistance to PDAs include:

Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation - due July 21
Federal Safe Routes to School
Grants for Community Participation in Equitable Development

Regional agencies are also examining funding sources from existing programs. Potential sources include future funding from MTC's Transportation for Livable Communities and Housing Incentive Program, as well as discretionary transportation funds from MTC's Regional Transportation Plan 2009 Update.

Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation - due July 21
The California Department of Water Resources has released the Proposition 50 2008 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP).

This is a new PSP on an extremely fast track. The due date for proposal submittal is July 21, 2008.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order declaring Drought conditions in the State, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is seeking proposals for immediate implementation of urban water use efficiency projects to help urban communities cope with water shortages and drought conditions. This grant program will provide fast track financial drought assistance for urban water use efficiency projects.

The total amount of funding for the 2008 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program under Proposition 50 is $12 million. Of the total $12 million for this Program, $2 million will be designated for Disadvantaged Communities at the discretion of DWR.

For the details of the PSP and Application Process visit our web site: www.owue.water.ca.gov/finance/index.cfm

To participate in the interactive webcast workshop on July 8, 2008 at 10:00 am, go to www.water.ca.gov and follow the featured link.

Please contact Baryohay Davidoff at (916) 651-9666 or by e-mail at baryohay@water.ca.gov or WUE@water.ca.gov.

Federal Safe Routes to School
Funds are available from Caltrans for Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects (SRTS Cycle 2). These funds are not to be confused with the State Legislated Safe Routes to School (SR2S) funds.

There are two types of applications available for SRTS Cycle 2: stand-alone infrastructure projects (sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes, traffic calming, etc.) or non-infrastructure activities (education, encouragement and enforcement). All project awards are 100% federally reimbursable. Applications for infrastructure must not exceed $1 million, and applications for non-infrastructure must not exceed $500,000 (and can be spent on activities over a four year period).

State, local or regional government agencies are encouraged to apply. Non-traditional applicants such as school districts, nonprofit organizations, health/education departments, federally recognized Native American Tribes and hospitals are required to partner with a city/county/Metropolitan Planning Organization/Regional Transportation Planning Agency who will serve as the responsible agency for that non-traditional applicant.

Approximately $46 million is available for two fiscal years worth of projects (08-09 and 09-10). The deadline for applications is Friday, July 18, 2008.

To view the updated SRTS Guidelines and Application, please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoutes/srts.htm.

Up to $100,000 in Grant Funding for Community Participation in Equitable Development (deadline for applications was Friday, June 13, 2008, no new applications being accepted)
When major transit investments spur new development, low-income residents can face evictions, loss of community or cultural centers, or pressure to sell their homes. In February 2008, through an Environmental Justice Grant from Caltrans, ABAG began a Development without Displacement program to increase regional and local understanding of gentrification and displacement, and in particular increase awareness of equitable development policies that jurisdictions can use to capture the benefits of new growth for their current residents.

ABAG anticipates awarding one to three grants for the total of $100,000 available in grant funding. Grants will fund a city or county and community-based organization to work jointly to engage local residents in identifying the pressures they face due to gentrification and what programs and policies could help to stabilize the neighborhood. The jurisdiction and its partner can decide how to share the funds and project administration.

The grant deadline for applications (Friday, June 13, 2008) is now passed.

Several resources to support funded efforts will be available. ABAG has partnered with the national organization PolicyLink to release an Equitable Development Toolkit that reflects the unique conditions of transit-oriented neighborhoods in the Bay Area. The toolkit presents a broad selection of policies that advocates and local governments can refer to when planning in low-income neighborhoods. In addition, ABAG and staff from the Center for Community Innovation at UC Berkeley (CCI) are creating mapping and data resources available on Bay Area populations that are vulnerable to displacement. Finally, ABAG, PolicyLink, and CCI staff are directly available to assist with this process and its implementation.

For more information, please contact Marisa Cravens, ABAG Regional Planner, at 510.464.7926 or MarisaC@abag.ca.gov

Potential Resources for Priority Conservation Areas

For PCAs, regional designation through FOCUS promotes conservation by:

Coordinating conservation efforts within a regional framework of near-term priorities
Providing a strong platform on which to leverage public and private resources for the Bay Area
Building upon prior and existing land protection efforts and investments
Providing opportunities for forging new partnerships

One example of how these near-term conservation opportunities will help inform the spending of conservation dollars in the San Francisco Bay Area is the distribution of Proposition 84 funds. The State Coastal Conservancy's San Francisco Bay Area Program will be spending $108 million from Proposition 84 over the next 4-5 years. FOCUS PCAs will inform the Conservancy, other public agencies, and private organizations of near-term (1-5 year) land conservation opportunities (acquisition or conservation easement) in the region.

about	the bay area	FOCUS initiatives	what's new
HOME ABOUT THE BAY AREA FOCUS INITIATIVES Overview Priority Development Areas Priority Conservation Areas Financial Incentives Technical Assistance Working Group Building partnerships Staff Contacts	Financial Incentives Regional agencies are committed to securing financial incentives and providing technical assistance to designated Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs). Current opportunities for financial assistance to PDAs include: Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation - due July 21 Federal Safe Routes to School Grants for Community Participation in Equitable Development Regional agencies are also examining funding sources from existing programs. Potential sources include future funding from MTC's Transportation for Livable Communities and Housing Incentive Program, as well as discretionary transportation funds from MTC's Regional Transportation Plan 2009 Update. Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation - due July 21 The California Department of Water Resources has released the Proposition 50 2008 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP). This is a new PSP on an extremely fast track. The due date for proposal submittal is July 21, 2008. Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order declaring Drought conditions in the State, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is seeking proposals for immediate implementation of urban water use efficiency projects to help urban communities cope with water shortages and drought conditions. This grant program will provide fast track financial drought assistance for urban water use efficiency projects. The total amount of funding for the 2008 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program under Proposition 50 is $12 million. Of the total $12 million for this Program, $2 million will be designated for Disadvantaged Communities at the discretion of DWR. For the details of the PSP and Application Process visit our web site: www.owue.water.ca.gov/finance/index.cfm To participate in the interactive webcast workshop on July 8, 2008 at 10:00 am, go to www.water.ca.gov and follow the featured link. Please contact Baryohay Davidoff at (916) 651-9666 or by e-mail at baryohay@water.ca.gov or WUE@water.ca.gov. Federal Safe Routes to School Funds are available from Caltrans for Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects (SRTS Cycle 2). These funds are not to be confused with the State Legislated Safe Routes to School (SR2S) funds. There are two types of applications available for SRTS Cycle 2: stand-alone infrastructure projects (sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes, traffic calming, etc.) or non-infrastructure activities (education, encouragement and enforcement). All project awards are 100% federally reimbursable. Applications for infrastructure must not exceed $1 million, and applications for non-infrastructure must not exceed $500,000 (and can be spent on activities over a four year period). State, local or regional government agencies are encouraged to apply. Non-traditional applicants such as school districts, nonprofit organizations, health/education departments, federally recognized Native American Tribes and hospitals are required to partner with a city/county/Metropolitan Planning Organization/Regional Transportation Planning Agency who will serve as the responsible agency for that non-traditional applicant. Approximately $46 million is available for two fiscal years worth of projects (08-09 and 09-10). The deadline for applications is Friday, July 18, 2008. To view the updated SRTS Guidelines and Application, please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoutes/srts.htm. Up to $100,000 in Grant Funding for Community Participation in Equitable Development (deadline for applications was Friday, June 13, 2008, no new applications being accepted) When major transit investments spur new development, low-income residents can face evictions, loss of community or cultural centers, or pressure to sell their homes. In February 2008, through an Environmental Justice Grant from Caltrans, ABAG began a Development without Displacement program to increase regional and local understanding of gentrification and displacement, and in particular increase awareness of equitable development policies that jurisdictions can use to capture the benefits of new growth for their current residents. ABAG anticipates awarding one to three grants for the total of $100,000 available in grant funding. Grants will fund a city or county and community-based organization to work jointly to engage local residents in identifying the pressures they face due to gentrification and what programs and policies could help to stabilize the neighborhood. The jurisdiction and its partner can decide how to share the funds and project administration. The grant deadline for applications (Friday, June 13, 2008) is now passed. Several resources to support funded efforts will be available. ABAG has partnered with the national organization PolicyLink to release an Equitable Development Toolkit that reflects the unique conditions of transit-oriented neighborhoods in the Bay Area. The toolkit presents a broad selection of policies that advocates and local governments can refer to when planning in low-income neighborhoods. In addition, ABAG and staff from the Center for Community Innovation at UC Berkeley (CCI) are creating mapping and data resources available on Bay Area populations that are vulnerable to displacement. Finally, ABAG, PolicyLink, and CCI staff are directly available to assist with this process and its implementation. For more information, please contact Marisa Cravens, ABAG Regional Planner, at 510.464.7926 or MarisaC@abag.ca.gov Potential Resources for Priority Conservation Areas For PCAs, regional designation through FOCUS promotes conservation by: Coordinating conservation efforts within a regional framework of near-term priorities Providing a strong platform on which to leverage public and private resources for the Bay Area Building upon prior and existing land protection efforts and investments Providing opportunities for forging new partnerships One example of how these near-term conservation opportunities will help inform the spending of conservation dollars in the San Francisco Bay Area is the distribution of Proposition 84 funds. The State Coastal Conservancy's San Francisco Bay Area Program will be spending $108 million from Proposition 84 over the next 4-5 years. FOCUS PCAs will inform the Conservancy, other public agencies, and private organizations of near-term (1-5 year) land conservation opportunities (acquisition or conservation easement) in the region.