Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
CPUC to Host Informational Webinar on California Teleconnect Fund
The California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) is a tool to close the digital divide by providing qualifying organizations with affordable rates on telecommunications and broadband services. The CTF provides a 50% discount to underserved communities and other eligible entities including schools, libraries, community colleges, community-based organizations, hospitals, and health clinics. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) staff will discuss the program’s history, mission, and how to qualify in an upcoming webinar.
WHEN: Monday, September 25th, 10am – 11am
WHAT: Topics include CTF background; eligibility criteria; subsidies and services, and more. For questions or to receive technical assistance, contact CTFOutreach@cpuc.ca.gov
WHERE: Webex, register here.
For more information, see here.
Applications Open – CA Small Ag Business Drought Relief Grant
The state has opened the application period for the California Small Ag Business Drought Relief Grant program. You can go directly to the application page by clicking on the Apply Here link on the website: agdroughtrelief.org
Based on the amount of loss in gross receipts or gross profit in 2022 compared to the last normal year of planting in 2019 of at least 30 percent, qualified businesses can receive grants of $60,000 – $100,000 to offset losses related to the drought. Losses must be verified by federal tax returns. Ten percent of the funds are reserved for applicants who file 2022 crop year tax returns in 2024. The grant is open to dryers, mills, ag aircraft, ag suppliers, ag service providers, ag trucking and small or socially disadvantaged farmers with 100 or fewer employees in 2019.
Public Feedback Requested for Development of Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit
The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network has partnered with the Community Wildfire Planning Center the CA Fire Safe Council on a project seeking public feedback to inform the development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit - a collection of resources and information to support California communities in the creation and implementation of CWPPs. Take the survey here.
California Launches Online Tool to Track Wildfire Resilience Projects
The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force) has launched the beta version of a first-of-its-kind Interagency Treatment Dashboard that displays the size and location of state and federal forest and landscape resilience projects in California.
The dashboard offers a one-stop-shop to access data, provide transparency, and align the efforts of more than a dozen agencies to build resilient landscapes and communities in California. It reports treatment activities such as prescribed fire, targeted grazing, uneven-aged timber harvest, mechanical and hand fuels reduction, and tree planting. Users can sort treatments by region, county, land ownership and more.
The dashboard is an important step to increase the pace and scale of statewide actions addressing California’s wildfire crisis and is a key deliverable of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, issued by the Task Force in January 2021.
The beta version of the dashboard will continue to be refined to include additional data, including projects by local and tribal entities, along with revisions based on public feedback. An official launch is expected in spring 2024 with more complete data on projects implemented in 2022.
Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics with the Department of Conservation
Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.
Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:
- September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
- October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
- November 16th – Open Question Hour
For questions, contact LCA@conservation.ca.gov. For more information, please visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wa.
Career Opportunities
- Yolo County is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer. The recruitment brochure is available here. Those interested in this executive recruitment MUST email a letter of interest and resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org. This position is open until filled.
Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities
Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox