Sacramento County Planning and Environmental Review (Planning) is seeking a Community Based Organization (CBO) partner to apply for the EEI funding program created by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG).
Planning is seeking information and general level of interest from CBOs that could partner with Planning to lead meaningful engagement in one of Sacramento County’s Environmental Justice Communities:
- North Highlands/Foothill Farms
- North Vineyard
- South Sacramento
- West Arden-Arcade
Please note that the information on this webpage is subject to change as details of the funding program are finalized.
What Is the EEI Funding Program?
EEI is a new $3.8 million funding program offered by SACOG to support community-based planning and pre-construction project development activities in the region. EEI has a specific focus on meaningful community engagement in disinvested communities with the intention of listening first and then acting on what has been shared.
The goal of the EEI program is to have a community-led planning process that results in or catalyzes an end-product that positively impacts the community. This program:
Is centered around resources, amenities, and improvements the community wants to see, and
- Aims to remove some of the second- and third-hand translation required of local agencies to describe and implement the needs and wants of the community during outreach.
For more information on the EEI program, please visit the EEI webpage on the SACOG website. To view all the documents needed to complete the application, please visit the EEI Application webpage.
Planning Objective
The bulk of the grant work will be targeted towards meaningful community engagement through a variety of methods. Planning will then compile the feedback received into some form of community action plan that may include, but is not limited to, the following:
Toolkits or playbooks to catalyze future community endeavors
Projects that relate to the built environment
Projects that focus on improving access to transportation options or community destinations
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality
Increasing housing opportunities
It is important to note: The intent of this grant program is for the CBO to be lead engagement partner and the County to serve as the supporting partner and fiscal agent.
Potential Award Amount
SACOG anticipates awarding successful Jurisdiction & CBO Partnership applicants between $150,000 - $500,000. A minimum of 50% of the award amount will go directly to the CBO partner.
Contact Information and Deadline
If your organization is active in one or more of the Environmental Justice Communities above and is interested in partnering with County Planning to apply for the EEI funding program, please submit the below information to Jacob Dawe, Associate Planner, at dawej@saccounty.gov and Jessie Shen, Senior Planner, at shenj@saccounty.gov no later than 5:00 P.M. PST on May 31, 2024:
CBO Name
Non-profit tax designation
Organization Mission Statement or Purpose
Communities/Neighborhoods your organization currently serves
A description of any experience your organization has in community engagement, outreach, or workshops.
A description of any experience your organization has with grant application, implementation, and reporting.
Program Timeline
Planning is currently reaching out to CBOs and accepting submissions with the information listed above. Next, Planning will review each submission and will contact the CBO that it has determined to be the ideal candidate to move forward with submitting an application. The proposed project must be planned for completion within 2 years of an agreement being signed with SACOG.
Below is a current timeline of the EEI grant process starting with application submittal and ending with project completion. Please be aware that some of these dates are subject to change as details about the funding program are finalized:
May 24, 2024 - Call for Applications
May 24 - June 28, 2024 - Technical Assistance Period
August 9, 2024 - Applications Due
September 19, 2024 - SACOG Board approves final award list
October-December 2024 - Grant & Contract Execution
October 2024 - Post-award interviews, as requested
February 2025 - Project Launch
Early 2027 - Project Completion
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the application process?
1. The County would apply for the grant in partnership with a CBO, which must be a representative of and/or trusted in the disinvested community identified in the application.
The County would apply as the lead applicant and list the partnering CBO as the sub-applicant. The application would include an Application Narrative, Scope of Work (SOW), and Letter of Intent. All documents are accessible via the EEI Application webpage.
There are various federal and local funding sources being used for the program. While the Code of Federal Regulations can provide some guidance, applicants are encouraged to reach out to SACOG during the Technical Assistance period to identify which activities in their proposed SOWs are eligible for funding.
2. SACOG will then assemble an EEI Review Board to review applications and make award recommendations. This board will be comprised of SACOG, local city and county staff, representatives from CBOs, and community leaders.
3. The review board will review and score applications in August 2024 over a two- to three-week review period.
4. The review board will recommend a list of applications for consideration that will be taken to the SACOG Board for final approval.
5. Upon approval, the lead applicant, sub-applicant, and SACOG will enter into a three-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will identify each parties' roles and responsibilities as it relates to their SOWs.
