News

More than 700 local leaders from throughout Southern California will gather in Palm Desert this week for a two-day conference on topics such as bridging the digital divide, the housing crisis and how local governments can work together to address challenges and solutions facing the region. The Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2022 Regional Conference & General Assembly returns to the desert after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A public-private partnership to advance battery-electric freight movement leads a list of seven innovative projects across the region that have been announced as winners of the 2022 Sustainability Awards by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Go Human Mini-Grants Program.   

With support from the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Mini-Grants Program funds creative, community-driven traffic safety and engagement projects that meet the needs of people most harmed by traffic injuries and fatalities. SCAG will award up to $15,000 to 25 selected projects. Applications are due on Friday, April 29th, 2022, and all projects will be implemented between Monday, June 13th and Wednesday, August 31st, 2022.  

Image

REGISTER FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE & GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SCAG’s 57th Annual Regional Conference & General Assembly is just around the corner on May 5–6.

Transportation access poses one of the biggest barriers to closing the equity gap, but Southern California has the opportunity to turn this challenge into an opportunity with a thoughtful and inclusive approach to pricing strategies and other mobility innovations, new research shows.

Mobility Innovations and Pricing (MIP) is SCAG’s first study to emerge from the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives the organization has instituted during the past 18 months. The study relies heavily on input and information gathered during a series of workshops SCAG hosted in partnership with community-based organizations (CBOs) to better understand the barriers faced by underrepresented populations.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) on Tuesday praised U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) for sponsoring $480,000 in Community Project Funding for SCAG’s Highways to Boulevard Regional Study. This funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 2471) that was approved by Congress with a bipartisan vote last week and signed by President Joe Biden today.

On March 3, 2022, SCAG released its Fiscal Year 2022-23 Draft Overall Work Program.

Download the FY 2022-23 Draft OWP

Image

REGISTRATION FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE & GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOW OPEN!

Join Southern California’s most influential elected officials and policymakers on May 5–6, 2022 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is committed to providing the 197 local jurisdictions it represents the support and assistance needed to complete their long-term housing plans, as mandated by the state.

Although an initial deadline has passed for jurisdictions to adopt a compliant housing element, the process of developing, completing and securing approvals for such a plan can be a taxing one, requiring months of outreach, research, planning and coordination.  Currently, 131 jurisdictions have submitted a first draft housing element to the state’s Housing and Community Development Department, 48 jurisdictions have submitted a second draft, and six had their housing elements approved by the state.

Big news! SCAG’s Regional Data Platform (RDP) has launched!

The RDP is a revolutionary system for collaborative data sharing and planning designed to facilitate better planning at all levels – from cities and counties of all sizes up to the region as a whole. As one of SCAG’s largest and most transformative initiatives to date, the RDP places data and technology in the hands of local jurisdictions to support more robust, transparent, and collaborative community planning.

The RDP is now publicly available, providing access to:

We’re looking for your feedback!  

This month, SCAG’s Go Human program is preparing to kick off a new round of Mini-Grant funding to support community-led projects that help people move safely in their neighborhoods. Mini-Grants provide up to $10,000 in funding for awardees to carry out safety and engagement strategies.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is awarding grants totaling $6.75 million to six projects across the region designed to promote clean transportation and reduce harmful emissions during last-mile freight and delivery operations.

The six are in addition to 26 clean-energy projects that were awarded a total of $10 million late last year under SCAG’s Last Mile Freight Program, funded through the state’s Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC). The program is designed to encourage investment in zero- and near-zero emission trucks and other technologies that will support the region’s clean-air goals.

Image

As 2021 comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere thanks on behalf of everyone at SCAG. Thanks to partners like you, the region has been able to achieve many milestones and accomplishments in the face of hardship.

A newly formed committee comprised of leaders from across six Southern California counties was briefed Wednesday on a draft framework to promote racial and social equity and an inclusive economic recovery strategy.

The Special Committee on Equity and Social Justice was convened by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) as part of its commitment to combat racism, social injustice and an equity gap that has reached historic levels. Last July, SCAG declared racism a public health crisis and in the months since has led regionwide discussions on ways to eliminate barriers that reduce opportunities for millions of Southern Californians.

Don’t miss the chance to take advantage of the complimentary Esri licenses available to your jurisdiction as part of the Regional Data Platform (RDP)! SCAG is making a suite of Esri software licenses available to one designated staff member in each jurisdiction to help support local planning activities and build technological capacity in the region.

This suite of licenses includes access to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Urban, Business Analyst Online, and ArcGIS Hub. You can request licenses here.

What has helped improve mobility and livability in your community? SCAG is now accepting nominations for the 2021 SCAG Sustainability Awards.

Each year, the SCAG Sustainability Awards celebrate plans and projects that use innovative planning to promote a cleaner, healthier and happier Southern California. Past awards have honored a wide range of plans and projects including community bike share programs, local general plan updates, transit fleet electrification and more.

Now through Friday, Feb. 26, nominations will be accepted for the following award categories:

What has helped improve mobility and livability in your community? SCAG is now accepting nominations for the 2022 SCAG Sustainability Awards.

Each year, the SCAG Sustainability Awards celebrate plans and projects that use innovative planning to promote a healthier, happier and resilient Southern California. Past awards have honored a wide range of plans and projects including community bike-share programs, innovative housing production solutions, creative general plan updates, transit fleet electrification and more. Apply today!

SCAG fully supports Gov. Gavin Newsom’s commitment to an equitable economic recovery strategy as part of his 2021-2022 budget proposal. SCAG has prioritized an inclusive and equitable recovery strategy as critical to Southern California’s economic future. As we build our recovery strategy, creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed is essential to building a strong, resilient, sustainable economy.

Image

The nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization on Thursday formally affirmed the climate change crisis in Southern California and committed to a series of actions to mitigate the growing threat that greenhouse ga

SCAG Economic Summit Offers a Promising, but Cautious Forecast as Labor Shortages and Supply Chain Disruptions Continue to Impact the Regional Economy

Los Angeles – Southern California has reclaimed 70% of the jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the recovery ahead will be an uneven one as labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, equity gaps and inflation continue to impact the region’s economy, a new forecast shows.