In addition to our annual California Economic Summit, CA FWD, along with our partners, regularly holds events that support regions-up economic advancement strategies and focus on the growth and stewardship of California’s valuable communities, land, and resources. Please join us at one of our upcoming events!
Past Events
Discussion: Removing Fiscal Barriers to Housing Production
CA FWD and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments were thrilled to present a virtual discussion on removing fiscal barriers to housing production on June 27, 2023. This session featured newly released results of an innovative, in-depth study examining the net fiscal impact of the sixth regional housing needs assessment cycle production targets on Gateway City budgets.
The Gateway COG consists of 27 cities in Southeastern LA County as well as unincorporated portions of the County. The Gateway Cities serve many disadvantaged communities that would benefit from housing production as an economic development strategy, but absent reform, California’s current convoluted tax system would result in an estimated over $37 million burden on city budgets.
Speakers included:
Konstantin Hatcher, California YIMBY Senior Director of Community Impact
Melani Smith, Gateway Cities Council of Governments Director of Regional Development
Adam Briones, California Community Builders CEO
Patrick Atwater, CA FWD Senior Research Analyst
Regional Energy Listening Sessions
Annual Imperial Valley Economic & Energy Summit
This Regional Energy Listening Session took place during the Imperial Valley Economic and Energy Summit hosted by the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation.
Following a day of panel discussions on crucial energy topics – including Lithium Valley, renewable fuels, transmission, and workforce – CA FWD created a space for participants to talk about the opportunities and barriers they’ve encountered as they develop and bring to scale solutions for a sustainable energy future in California, and the resources that they need to further advance their work. The session included live polling and interactive group discussion.
Input gathered will be used to inform statewide energy policy advocacy by building on CA FWD’s Energy Call to Action – a framework for how stakeholders can break through silos and work across sectors to advance energy solutions – and CA FWD’s infrastructure acceleration report, developed and released in partnership with the Governor’s Office.
Regional Energy Listening Session: Sierra and Rural Forested Communities
The Listening Session focused on the opportunities, barriers, and resources needed to make energy independence and reliability a reality in the Sierra and rural forested communities. Discussion topics include forest biomass energy, integrating microgrid technologies, and the energy sector workforce pipeline.
We were joined by experts:
Elizabeth Betancourt (Natural and Working Lands Policy Advisor, Department of Conservation);
Andrea Schumer (Resilience Coordinator for Microgrid Policy & Pricing Planning, PG&E); and
Melanie L. Danuser (Director of Education & Training, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council).
Input gathered from this Listening Session will be used to inform statewide energy policy advocacy, building on California Forward’s (CA FWD) Energy Call to Action, which provides a framework for how stakeholders can break through silos and work across sectors to advance energy solutions.
This Listening Session was co-hosted by CA FWD and the Sierra Business Council, and in partnership with CivicWell; CSU Chico – North State Planning & Development Collective; High Sierra Energy Foundation; Sierra Nevada Alliance; and Sonoma County Water Agency.