Sustainable Communities Program Call for Applications

Overview

Call for Applications ImageFollowing the adoption of Connect SoCal every four years, SCAG releases Calls for Applications on a rolling basis to provide local technical assistance in support of Connect SoCal implementation. SCAG develops funding categories in alignment with the goals and policy direction of the adopted Connect SoCal to support implementation of shared regional planning goals and meet the needs of local communities.  

SCP Goals

  • Provide needed planning resources to local jurisdictions for active and multimodal transportation, sustainability, land use, and affordable housing;

  • Promote, address and ensure health and equity in regional land use and transportation planning and close the gap of racial injustice and better serve communities of color;

  • Encourage regional planning strategies to reduce motorized vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in environmental justice communities where there is the highest need for air quality improvements;

  • Develop local plans that support the implementation of key strategies and goals outlined in Connect SoCal’s Sustainable Communities Strategy;

  • Develop resources that support the key strategies and policy direction of the adopted Connect SoCal; 

  • Support a resilient region that looks at climate adaptation and public health preparedness as key strategies to address community prosperity, transportation safety, economic recovery and sustainability; and

  • Increase the region’s competitiveness for federal and state funds, including, but not limited to the California Active Transportation Program and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds.

Call for Applications

All Calls - Combined 2020 Project List

Civic Engagement, Equity & Environmental Justice – Now Open through Monday, June 5, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Smart Cities & Mobility Innovations Call for Applications closed on April 23, 2021.

Housing & Sustainable Development Call for Applications closed January 29, 2021.

Active Transportation & Safety Call for Applications closed December 11, 2020.

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Civic Engagement, Equity & Environmental Justice

The Sustainable Communities Program Call for Applications for Civic Engagement, Equity & Environmental Justice (SCP CEEEJ) was released on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The Call included two project categories: Housing and Land Use Strategies or Multimodal Communities. Details about each project category and program area goals can be found in the SCP CEEEJ Program Guidelines. The SCP CEEEJ Call for Applications closed on June 5, 2023.

SCAG seeks to prioritize funding in areas that have been traditionally disadvantaged, underserved, underrepresented, and under-resourced. For the purposes of this Call for Applications, SCAG has identified Priority Populations, which include: 

  • Senate Bill 535 Disadvantaged Communities (CalEnviroScreen 4.0) 
  • SCAG Communities of Concern 
  • TCAC/HCD Opportunity Areas (High segregation and poverty, low resource, and moderate resource communities are eligible; Affordable housing production in high resource and highest resource communities will also be prioritized) 
  • Assembly Bill 1550 Communities 

SCAG held two application workshops on Tuesday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 26. To learn more about the SCP CEEEJ Call for Applications, view the workshop recording and the presentation.

In addition, SCAG hosted Office Hours for interested applicants. 

SCP CEEEJ Project Categories 

SCP CEEEJ has two project categories: 

  • Housing and Land Use Strategies 
  • Multimodal Communities 

The project categories are funded through separate funding sources which each have their own objectives. Projects in each category must meet all objectives for the funding source. Applicants shall strive for innovative and impactful approaches that produce transformative, visible, and measurable projects and results. 

For more information on Project Types please reference the Applicant Toolkit. 

Housing & Land Use 

Housing & Land Use Strategies projects funded through SCP CEEEJ will be funded with REAP 2.0 funding.  

All projects funded with REAP 2.0 must achieve the following REAP 2.0 funding objectives:  

  • Be located in an infill area.
  • Accelerate infill development. 
  • Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). 
  • Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH). 
  • Meet the definition of a “Transformative Planning and Implementation Activity,” as defined in Appendix 3: SCAG REAP 2.0 Program Glossary of Terms.
  • Support the implementation of Connect SoCal. 

Eligible activities should result in a change in behavior or a significant improvement to the existing land use pattern or other dynamics that help accelerate infill housing production, reduce VMT, and support AFFH.  

Applicants must describe how plans support accelerated infill development, VMT reduction, and/or support AFFH. Plans that accelerate infill development near jobs and other key destinations to support increased housing choices and affordability effectively reduce VMT and GHG emissions.  

Example plans and projects include:  

  • Affordable Housing Plans & Ordinances 
  • Integration of Infill Housing into General Plan Updates 
  • Integration of Environmental Justice Goals and/or Policies into General Plan Updates in support of housing production and AFFH  
  • Infrastructure & Utility Financing Plans (not including fossil fuel and natural gas) 

Multimodal Communities 

Multimodal Communities projects funded through SCP CEEEJ will be funded with SB 1. 

All projects funded with SB 1 must achieve the following funding objectives: 

  • Have a direct transportation nexus that directly benefits the multi-modal transportation system.
  • Support the implementation of Connect SoCal.
  • Reduce GHG. 
  • Reduce VMT. 

Multimodal Communities are defined as those which are served by a variety of travel options that accommodate a variety of transportation modes for the public to access daily destinations. Applications submitted for this project type should focus on increasing accessibility, mobility, resiliency, and safety. Projects are eligible when they leverage transportation planning, policies, and investment strategies that increase travel options to homes, jobs, services, and other key destinations that provide, support, or enhance Multimodal Communities. 

Multimodal options can include, but are not limited to, complete street improvements for active transportation, improving access to transit, and creating high quality transit stops. These projects must reduce the number or length of vehicle trips. Applicants must describe and demonstrate how the plan or project reduces VMT and GHG emissions. 

Example plans and projects include: 

  • Community E-Bike Rebates and E-Bike Share Plans & Pilots (e-bike pilots are eligible when done alongside planning activities)  
  • Highways to Boulevards and Freeway Cap Plans – Improvements for Non-Motorized Vehicles and Pedestrian Traffic (Motorized Vehicle Infrastructure improvements are ineligible)  
  • Park and Greenway Connectivity Plans  
  • Multimodal Corridor Studies (alongside planning activities)  
  • Transportation Accessibility and Safety Demonstration Projects (alongside planning activities)  
  • Vision Zero Policy and Programs or Safety Plans 

Key Milestones

SCP CEEEJ Milestones Date
Call for Applications Opens  Wednesday, April 12, 2023 
Application Workshops  Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 2 – 3:30 p.m. 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 10 – 11:30 a.m. 
Call for Applications Submission Deadline  Monday, June 5, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Regional Council Recommendation  Fall 2023  
Final Work and Invoices Submitted  Wednesday, December 31, 2025 

Application Resources

Contact

For questions regarding SCP CEEEJ Call for Applications, please contact:

Lyndsey Nolan
Senior Regional Planner
nolan@scag.ca.gov
(213) 236-1935

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Smart Cities & Mobility Innovations

The third Call for Applications was released on February 8, 2021 with a focus on Smart Cities & Mobility Innovations (SCMI) projects. Applicants can apply for any of the four project types listed below. More details about each project type, program area goals, and the SCP overall can be found in the Sustainable Communities Program Smart Cities & Mobility Innovations Guidelines. Local agencies, cities, counties, and tribal governments are eligible to apply to this program. The SCMI Call for Applications closed on April 23, 2021.

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Housing & Sustainable Development

The second Call for Applications was released on November 9, 2020, with a focus on Housing and Sustainable Development related projects. Applicants can apply for any of the three project types below within the Housing and Sustainable Development (HSD) Program Area. More details about each project type, program area goals, and the SCP overall can be found in the Sustainable Communities Program Housing and Sustainable Development Guidelines. Please note that in addition to local agencies, cities, and counties, tribal governments are also eligible to apply to this program. The deadline for the HSD Call for Applications is January 29, 2021.

To learn more about the SCP HSD Call for Applications, please view the webinar recording from the December 2, 2020 Application Workshop. The webinar will assist agencies in preparing applications and provide additional information and examples for each project type.

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Active Transportation & Safety

The first Call for Applications was released on September 8, 2020, with a focus on Active Transportation and Safety (AT&S) related projects. Applicants can apply for any of the three project types below within the AT&S program area. More details about each project type, program area goals, and the SCP overall can be found in the Sustainable Communities Program AT&S Guidelines. The deadline for the AT&S Call for Applications was December 11, 2020.

Learn more about the SCP AT&S Call for Applications by viewing our Application Webinar, which were held on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 1 – 3 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. – noon. Materials from the workshops are posted under the Application Resources section of this page.