A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC's affiliated entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities.
GSNR Attends Associated California Loggers Conference to Discuss Forest Resiliency Projects
Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) staff attended the Associated California Loggers Annual Meeting held in Reno, NV, from January 17-19. The event offered staff in-person opportunities to meet directly with potential suppliers, contractors, processors, workforce development, academia and other relevant industry participants in the forest management and resiliency field. GSNR staff took advantage of the gathering and participated in several meetings to: provide an update on the current status of GSNR; assess opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships and potential business arrangements; and deepen existing relationships with entities throughout the supply chain. Staff will also attend the upcoming Sierra Cascade Logging Conference taking place in Anderson, CA February 9-11. This conference will offer similar opportunities and benefit GSNR project development efforts.
Additionally, GSNR staff will be participating in panel discussions at the UC Davis Institute of the Environment, California Forestry Workforce Summit in Davis, CA from January 31-February 1. The event will provide a platform for federal and state leaders to identify challenges and resources for effective, equitable workforce development in forestry and wildfire management and help Californians prepare for and secure meaningful careers in this vital sector. A broad range of stakeholder groups, including government and tribal representatives, forestry professionals, researchers, college and university administrators, and others interested in forestry, will participate in this critical multilateral dialogue.
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Provides Funds for Broadband Strategic Planning in RCRC Member Counties
Last fall, the US Department of Commerce EDA awarded 28 rural California counties a total of $2.7 million for developing strategic broadband plans and two Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), one for Colusa County and one for the combined counties of Alpine, Mono, and Inyo. In overseeing the deployment of these funds, Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) will serve as the grant administrator and contract manager.
After release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking Consultative Services for the development of the two CEDS included in the EDA grant, Chabin Concepts was selected to develop the Colusa County CEDS and Thomas P. Miller and Associates was selected to develop the Eastern Sierra CEDS for Alpine, Mono, and Inyo counties. This work is currently underway.
Similarly, GSFA released an RFP for Consultative Services for the development of broadband strategic plans for 26 Golden State Connect Authority member counties on November 30, 2022. Proposals were received by the January 10th deadline and are currently being reviewed and rated by member counties and RCRC Economic Development Team members. It is anticipated that consultants for this project will be selected and the work will be underway by February 15, 2023.
CPUC Awards Local Agency Technical Assistance Grants to GSCA Members
As of January 12, 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) had awarded more than $33 million of the $50 million available under the Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) Program. Of this total, more than half of the awards have been made to Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) member counties and the cities therein. The LATA Program provides up to $500,000 per eligible applicant (cities, counties, and other local agencies) to fund 100% of pre-broadband deployment activities. The majority of the GSCA applicant/awardees will be using their grant award for the purpose of completing low-level construction-ready network designs on priority unserved/underserved areas within their jurisdictions. Network design is an important first step in evaluating financial feasibility and deployment planning. The network designs can be shared with providers and/or network administrators interested in serving these priority unserved/underserved areas. As GSCA-partner awardees review and approve their MOUs with Golden State Connect Authority, technical consultants Tilson Technology and UTOPIA Fiber have initiated network design work for the approved LATA applications.