The Latest News from TPA

City of Colton Receives $228,000 Planning Grant

The City of Colton was awarded $228,181 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund the City’s Focused Sustainable Planning Program (FSPG). The FSPG will facilitate sustainable development implementation projects within the City of Colton. FSPG seeks to promote equity by providing incentives for affordable housing, increase infill and compact development, and revitalize the urban and community center that FSPG is based around. Through the preparation of this revitalization plan, the City will implement new land use and transportation policies that will enable the city to comply with state-mandated regional housing targets through the infill development of its established downtown, rather than through new housing proposed for undeveloped portions of the City.

The City solicited the help of TPA to write, draft and submit the City’s application. Because of TPA’s knowledge and experience with the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program, the City of Colton was successful with their Round 3 application.

TPA is very proud of this success and congratulates the City of Colton on the grant win!

City of Brea Receives $950,000 Grant for Trail Project

The City of Brea, a long time TPA client, was recently awarded $950,000 from the California Natural Resources Agency to a segment of their Tracks at Brea Project. This entire project will consist of a four mile multi-use trail that will traverse the City from east to west. The trail consists of paved bikeways as well as pedestrian footpaths that will provide critical public access for the community. The portion funded by this grant is over one-quarter of a mile in length and consists of more than 150,000 square feet and 3.9 acres of future green space.

Townsend Public Affairs was instrumental in securing the Urban Greening Project Grant. The Urban Greening Project grant consisted of a two part application, a competitive concept proposal as well as a competitive full application. TPA worked extensively with City of Brea staff to write and submit the concept proposal. After receiving notice that the concept proposal had been cleared to submit a full application, TPA worked with City staff to draft the full grant application. In addition, TPA conducted extensive advocacy on behalf of the submitted application.

In 2010, the City received funding from an Urban Greening Planning Grant that contributed to the acquisition of the land for this Project Grant. The most recent award will fund the construction on this land. TPA is proud to have been part of this complete, fully-funded, Urban Greening project from acquisition to construction!

The City of Brea and TPA made a great team while working towards securing the grant. We extend our congratulations to the City of Brea!

Katharyn Bandoni of OC Conservation Corps Recognized as 2014 Woman of Distinction

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to announce that Katharyn Bandoni, Chief Executive Officer of Orange County Conservation Corps (OCCC), has been recognized by Senator Lou Correa and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva as one of their 2014 Women of Distinction for the 65th State Assembly District.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Senator Correa and Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva invited members of the community to nominate women for this award who had made a tremendous and positive impact in the community. Katharyn was nominated and recognized for her work with the OCCC.

During her time at the OCCC, Katharyn has provided exemplary leadership to the at-risk young adults the program serves by providing employment, training, and educational programs that help the participants become self-sufficient and beneficial members of the community through conservation-related projects.

Katharyn will be recognized on Saturday, March 29th for receiving this honor.

City of Huntington Beach

Townsend Public Affairs is excited to announce a new client, the City of Huntington Beach. The City of Huntington Beach is a seaside city within Orange County, and is known for its long 8.5 miles of beautiful beaches, mild climate and excellent surfing. Surf, sand, sun and subtle sophistication encapsulate what the City is all about, as it boasts some of California’s widest, cleanest and safest beaches. Additionally, the City was named the “Best City to Live in Orange County” by the Orange County Register readers in 2010.

The City offers warm weather, a wide variety of housing, an excellent educational system, boat marinas, numerous parks and exemplary health care. TPA is thrilled to work with the City of Huntington Beach on State legislative and funding opportunities and looks forward to a long a prosperous partnership.

To learn more, you can visit their website, http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/

Westminster City Council Member Diana Carey Recognized as Woman of the Year

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to announce that Diana Carey, Council Member for the City of Westminster, has been recognized by Assembly Member Allan Mansoor as the 2014 Woman of the year for the 74th State Assembly District.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, the State legislature annually recognizes extraordinary women of California. Assembly Member Mansoor invited members of his district to nominate women who had made a tremendous and positive impact in the community. Council Woman Carey was nominated and recognized for her work in the City of Westminster and most notably as the I-405 Freeway Corridor Cities Representative. “She has consistently been serving Orange County through her volunteer efforts in addition to being a hardworking businesswoman,” said Assembly Member Mansoor.

Diana was recognized at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 for receiving this honor.

Congratulations, Diana!

Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to highlight our new client, the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos. The mission of the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos is to restore and preserve the historic Dana Adobe and promote development of the Rancho Nipomo Heritage Park as a means of enhancing knowledge and understanding of California’s Rancho era, to encourage an appreciation of the many peoples who contributed to that era’s influence on the present and future of California, and to demonstrate the interdependent nature of the site’s ecosystems and human economies over time.

Townsend Public Affairs had the pleasure of working with the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos in years past, resulting in securing over $4 million for nature and cultural education construction and development. The Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos is now working on developing programming to serve students and the community.

Townsend Public Affairs is excited to work with the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos to seek funding for its programs and priorities and broaden the public awareness of its efforts. To learn more, you can visit their website, www.danaadobe.org.