The Center collaborates with the City of San Fernando to strategize on supporting small businesses and communities in the face of climate change.
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.
City of Pasadena
Pasadena is investing in several green initiatives including the last mile green transportation, using green paths, scooters, and zero-emissions buses and trolleys to reduce the City’s share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reach an ambitious goal of reducing emissions by more than half by the year 2035. These initiatives are crucial for ensuring accessibility and interconnected communities, particularly for low-income communities.
City of San Fernando
Blue Sky Center of Cuyama Valley
Located in rural North Santa Barbara County, Blue Sky Center is working diligently on various resilience projects. Their cutting-edge hydro panels pilot project delivers pure drinking water from the air, bypassing the need for groundwater or bottled water deliveries. This initiative not only addresses environmental concerns but also hopes to empower residents in a drought-affected community, reducing utility bills, upgrading homes, and ensuring a reliable source of clean drinking water.
April 24, 2024