FRESNO, CA – Mayor Ashley Swearengin and Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula announce that Governor Brown recommended that the city of Fresno be allocated a minimum of 50% of this year’s $140 million appropriation to the new California Strategic Growth Council Transformational Climate Communities Program.
According to the California Regulatory Notice Register, a minimum of 25% will likely be going to the city of Los Angeles and the remainder to a third site yet to be determined.
The announcement follows Governor Brown signing AB 2722 (Burke and Arambula) which authorized the funding in a ceremony in downtown Fresno, last week.
“This is exciting news for Fresno, and a gratifying result to the hard work Assemblymember Arambula and I have put in over the past few months to ensure a significant portion of this funding was spent in Fresno. The final results are the most important, though, because they mean more transportation options, revitalizing our inner city, and a better quality of life for our citizens.” -Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
The Transformational Climate Communities Program is intended to fund the implementation of neighborhood-level transformative projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits in disadvantaged communities.
“This money will have a significant impact in Fresno, it’s going to help build mixed-income housing around the High Speed Rail station, support urban greening and energy efficiency in downtown and ensure that there are links to public transit. It will also provide funds for pedestrian and bicycle paths throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. I am thrilled to see an investment of this magnitude.” – Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula,
There will be a workshop to gather public input on November 7th in Council Chambers and Mayor Swearengin believes final approval should be in December of 2016.
For details on the funding, click http://www.oal.ca.gov/res/docs/pdf/notice/39z-2016.pdfand scroll down to the Strategic Growth Council section on page 1706.
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