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California Consulting Newsletter
March 2011 |
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Grant Awards
The City of Lemoore was awarded the CAL FIRE Urban & Community Forestry Program Grant in the amount of $100,000. California Consulting Project Manager Tristan Shamp worked with the City of Lemoore's staff to draft and submit this highly competitive application. Congratulations Lemoore and Tristan.
The Salinas Union High School District was awarded the California Post Secondary Education Commission Improving Teacher Quality grant (PAC TIN) in the amount of $26,042. This application was written and submitted by California Consulting staff.
The City of Delano was awarded the Baseball Tomorrow grant sponsored by Major League Baseball in the amount of $32,873.
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Lobbying Activity
SB 325 - Short Haul Rail Legislation Update: We are working closely with Sen. Rubio's Office on the Short Haul Rail bill that affects all San Joaquin Valley COGs. The bill has been introduced and we are lining up support letters for the upcoming committee hearing, set for April 12 at 1:30 pm at the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. This bill will be a major part of our work during this legislative session. California Consulting is collecting letters of support from cities, counties, etc. throughout the Valley. Senator Rubio has been a shining star in the Legislature and we are very fortunate to have his leadership.
AB 31 Regarding HSR Depots: California Consulting met with Assemblyman Beall at his Sacramento Office. We are discussing amendments to his bill. The original bill would ask cities that have HSR depots to pay for plans associated with the depots. Mr. Beall has been receptive to our ideas and we are continuing to work with his staff.
RDA's: We are continuing to work with League of Cities and CRA and others to save RDAs. Juan Garza II from California Consulting has taken the "lead" on the RDA issue across the Valley. Senator Rubio has been particularly helpful and has taken the lead in the legislature. Currently, the Assembly is one vote short of eliminating RDAs.
Meetings in Sacramento: Steve has been meeting with the Governor Brown's senior staff at the Capitol each week regarding various issues. Steve has continued weekly meetings in Sacramento regarding transportation issues that impact California Consulting clients. Most recently Steve met with Cal-TRANS Chief Deputy Malcolm Dougherty, Assemblywoman Kristen Olsen, Assemblywoman Galgiani, Senator Berryhill's staff, staff members of the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources, and others. Additionally, Steve has had two meetings with Michael Cohen, the Chief Deputy Director of the Governor's Department of Finance regarding Enterprise Zone and RDA issues. Enterprise Zone: California Consulting, LLC has been working closely with several stakeholders, legislators, key staff, and others at the State Capitol to preserve funding for the vitally important Enterprise Zone program. California Consulting, LLC Senior Director Liz Gomez has taken the lead on the EZ efforts. In an effort to preserve funding for the EZ program and combat complete elimination of the EZ program (as proposed by the Governor) supporters of the EZ program have crafted a "compromise" that reforms EZ's but preserves the program and some funding. California Consulting has been very involved with this compromise proposal and although it is not perfect it was incumbent upon EZ supporters to come up with an alternative to elimination. We are encouraging EZ supporters to send letters and pass resolutions outlining the benefits of EZs and supporting this compromise language. Some opponents of EZ's are still calling for total elimination of the program and will not be willing to support this compromise legislation. California Consulting Senior Director Liz Gomez continues to participate in the weekly EZ strategy sessions organized by the Statewide EZ. Gas Tax Swap Support: We worked hard on the gas tax swap issue with various legislators and staff from both parties. The ratification of this item is very important to transportation funding statewide. We worked hard to organize a valley wide coalition of cities, counties, school districts and other to support the gas tax proposal. The Gas Tax Swap recently passed the Legislature. The Governor has signed the bill. This is good news for transportation funding. |
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Testimonial
"California Consulting has delivered for their clients. Whether it is their high quality grant writing or their outstanding state lobbying, this is a company that gets the job done. California Consulting has earned a reputation as a high quality and highly regarded grant writing and governmental affairs firm."
Blong Xiong, Councilman, City of Fresno
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NEW EDUCATION SPECIALIST JOINS TEAM
California Consulting, LLC announced that we have retained one of the State's most prolific education grant writing experts Mr. Roger Fahr, to serve as the firm's Senior Grants Consultant. Mr. Fahr has submitted over 375 competitive grant applications and holds a 65% grant award approval rate (over 245 grants awarded), during a grant writing career spanning 20 years. Mr. Fahr spent 16 years as the Director of Grants for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, which is located in Contra Costa County and has a student population of over 30,000. He has personally written grant applications that have resulted in over $75 million in funding. Roger will also serve as the firm's Bay Area representative and staff California Consulting's new Northern California satellite office in Richmond, CA. Mr. Fahr joins California Consulting with a wealth of experience and will serve as a specialist in the field of grants for education institutions. Grants awarded from applications drafted and submitted by Mr. Fahr include EETT, School Community Violence Prevention, Carol M. White Physical Education Program, ASES, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Improving Literacy Through School Libraries, Elementary & Secondary School Counseling Grant, Promise Neighborhoods, and several other Federal and State grant applications. Mr. Fahr is a leader in his field and will provide a hugely valuable service to the California Consultant's clients.
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The California Consulting grant writing team has recently submitted or are currently working on the following grant applications for our clients:
Affordable Care Act--Grants for School-Based Health Center Capital (SBHCC) Program
Department of Education Talent Search Grants
Economic Development Administration Grants
HCD Planning and Technical Assistance Grant
National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Awards
BJA Justice & Mental Health Grant
EDD Workforce Investment Board CalGrip
D.O.E. Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT)
D.O.E. Talent Search Program
Clean Water Grants
Cal-Fire Urban Greening
Cal-Fire Urban Forestry-Leafing
IBM Creating Smarter Cities
Teacher Based Reform (T-Bar) Grant
D.O.E. Public Charter School Grant
Hearst Foundation
Wachovia Grant
State Revolving Fund Loan
United States Department of Agriculture Community Facilities Grant
Hearst Foundation
SG Foundation
Mott Foundation
Office Depot
CVS
Alternative Fuels Grant
SB856 Special Distribution Fund
California Safe-Supportive Schools
Housing Related Parks Bond
HUD Planning Grant
Wal-Mart
Met-Life
Lowe's Large Toolbox
Laura Bush Foundation
Baseball Tomorrow
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CALIFORNIA CONSULTING HIRES
SENIOR DIRECTOR
We are pleased to announce that Liz Gomez has joined California Consulting, LLC as Senior Director and part of the management team. She will be the firm's third lobbyist, registered with the Secretary of State. Her experience includes 3 years as District Representative for San Joaquin Valley Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno). In her capacity with Rep. Costa, Liz worked closely with cities, school districts, non-profits, and others across the Congressman's District. Liz also has previously served as Public Affairs Representative and Media Spokesperson for Pacific Gas and Electric for the Valley region. Well acquainted with the grants process, Liz has also served as the Director of Grants Research and Writing Department for Table Mountain Rancheria working on several complex federal grant applications. At California Consulting, Liz will be responsible for working with clients, and client outreach as well as playing a vital role in the grants department. Liz reads, writes, and speaks Spanish fluently.
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NEW CLIENTS
The Arvin Union School District in Kern County has recently signed a contract with California Consulting. As well, California Consulting has recently signed a contract with the Adult Day Health Care Association of California, based out of Glendale, CA. Welcome Arvin USD and ADHC!
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