New Partnerships for Climate Resilience

As climate change continues to impact our daily lives, small businesses face a growing number of challenges. Small businesses often bear the brunt of damage caused by extreme weather events and resulting financial losses. Regulatory compliance with new environmental standards and emissions regulations often requires upgrades that are costly and beyond the means of small businesses. Limited access to capital for resilience investments underscores the need for jurisdictions to take action to ensure Main Streets continue to thrive.

As we come out of the pandemic and into the economic recovery, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is providing significant resources and tools to mobilize financing and leverage private capital for clean energy and climate projects with a focus on ensuring these benefits reach low income and disadvantaged communities.

With the support of our Economic Recovery Core (ERC) fellow, Frances Weiner, The Center is collaborating with cities, counties, and organizations to help community development groups and small businesses take advantage of state and federal funding for climate-focused and clean energy projects. Our goal is to ensure the recovery and resilience of small businesses for the long term.

To formally kick-off this work, The Center visited the City of Pasadena, City of San Fernando, and Blue Sky Center of Cuyama Valley to learn more about their unique challenges and forward-thinking solutions.

The challenges faced by small businesses due to climate change are significant and require proactive solutions. As we navigate the economic recovery, it is crucial to leverage resources to support small businesses in becoming more resilient to climate impacts. The Center, through collaboration with cities, counties, and organizations, is dedicated to assisting communities and businesses in accessing funding for clean energy and climate projects. By highlighting innovative solutions from cities like Pasadena, San Fernando, and organizations like Blue Sky Center, we can inspire others to take action and ensure a sustainable future for all.