The Latest News from TPA

County of Mariposa Received $25,000 Grant for Energy Efficiency Projects

Mariposa County is a proponent of energy efficient programs and projects throughout the community. The County continues to search for ways to improve the environment and educate the community members on how to achieve energy efficiency goals. With the support of Townsend Public Affairs, Mariposa County secured $25,000 in funding from the Sierra Nevada Partnership Grant Program to conduct a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory.

This program will help Mariposa County achieve its goals of a county wide GHG inventory by beginning the necessary steps and initiating an energy efficiency planning process. The inventory allows the County to obtain objective information that will provide the public and elected officials with necessary information to promote energy efficient programs in the future, as well as generate substantial cost savings for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Merced County Association of Governments Receives $1.6 Million for Pollution-Reducing Vehicles

Townsend Public Affairs advocacy effort results in 10 partial Buy America waivers worth $1,566,036 for the Merced County Association of Governments (“MCAG”). These waivers allowed five cities in Merced County to purchase 10 pollution-reducing vehicles.

Buy America provisions ensure that transportation infrastructure projects are built with American-made products. That means that Department of Transportation investments are able to support an entire supply chain of American companies and their employees. Without the waivers, MCAG would have been prevented from using Federal dollars to make the purchases as the Federal Highway Administration’s Buy America requirement mandates that all steel and iron used in government projects be manufactured domestically. Because all vehicles are manufactured using a variety of parts containing steel and iron from different countries, there are virtually no vehicles in the market manufactured from 100 percent domestically produced steel and iron. MCAG requested Buy America waivers for the purchase of ten updated vehicles that would reduce emissions and eventually improve air quality.

TPA coordinated a coalition of Congressional members from the San Joaquin Valley including Representatives Jim Costa, Devin Nunes, David Valadao, Tom McClintock, Jeff Denham, and Kevin McCarthy who issued delegation letter to the Secretary of Transportation advocating for the waivers.

On Friday, June 14, 2013, the waiver requests were granted; the first requests granted for the state of California in many months

Latino Health Access Receives $4.4 Million Grant and Opens Park Project

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to announce the grand opening of the Green Heart Families Park and Community Center in Santa Ana (Familias Corazones Verdes Park and Community Center). The project was developed by the Latino Health Access, a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 in Santa Ana California, whose mission is to assist in improving the quality of life for the uninsured and under-served, through preventive services and educational programs. The park and 3,000-square-foot community center sits at 602 E. Fourth St. Both the park and community center are part of a larger project known as the “Wellness Corridor,” a two-mile-long walking and biking route into the downtown area.

With the efforts of Townsend Public Affairs to develop an application and advocate in support of funding, the project was awarded a Proposition 84 Statewide Parks grant totaling $4.4 Million in 2010, which would help to pay for the infrastructure needed at the site. Additionally, four parcels of land were generously donated by the City and Northgate Gonzales Makers. Latino Health Access will lease the parcels from the city for $2.00 a year. Townsend Public Affairs is honored to have worked with Latino Health Access on the project and

Orange County Water Agencies Brief California Treasurer Bill Lockyer

TPA was proud to once again serve as a sponsor of the Orange County Water Summit, including securing California Treasurer, Bill Lockyer, serve as the keynote speaker.

TPA also organized a roundtable meeting with Treasure Lockyer and representatives from Municipal Water District of Orange County, Orange County Water District, Mesa Water District, and Yorba Linda Water District to discuss the challenges and solutions to funding local and regional water infrastructure projects.

Discovery Cube Orange County Receives National Award at White House

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to announce the National Medal for Museum and Library Service has been awarded to longtime client, the Discovery Science Center (DSC). One of ten museums nationwide to receive the honor, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award to DSC President Joe Adams in the East Room of the White House.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

Mr. Adams and DSC Board Members Walkie Ray, Dan Bolar and Rich Bailey attended events surrounding the award, including meeting with members of Congress. House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher met with DSC representatives to discuss the importance that Discovery Science Center plays not only in Orange County but throughout Southern California. As Chairman of the House Space, Science and Technology Committee, Congressman Smith plays an active role in shaping the nation’s science education programs.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a longtime supporter of DSC, worked with Townsend Public Affairs to nominate DSC for the award, and attended the ceremonies at the White House.

For 25 years, DSC has brought science education to school children at the Center’s Santa Ana facility, and will soon open a Los Angeles facility in the San Fernando Valley. With a dynamic outreach program and state-of-the-art exhibits, the DSC team has led the way in creating innovative museum exhibitions and classroom programs. By blending hands-on science activities, immersive environments, game design, and role playing, DSC is modernizing how educational content is delivered to families and students. The award-winning Eco Challenge exhibit at DSC utilizes these unique, immersive experiences to encourage environmentally responsible behavior among their community.

Patronage of DSC programs has more than tripled over the last decade and in the last year alone, programs impacted over 739,000 visitors and students throughout the Southern California region. Their outreach program in schools is among the largest in the nation including 650 schools and 27 school districts across Southern California.

City of Emeryville Receives $190,000 Grant and Opens Family Resource and Wellness Center

On March 26, 2013, the Emery Unified School District held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the Family Resource and Wellness Center, located in Emeryville. The ceremony was attended by local partners that made the project possible, including: Emeryville Mayor Kurt Brinkman, Emery Unified School Board Members Josh Simon and Miguel Dwin, and Superintendent DebbraLindo, as well as staff and students of Emery Unified.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was the culmination of years of effort planning to finalize the Family Resource and Wellness Center. In 2009, Townsend Public Affairs worked closely with the School District and Congress Member Barbara Lee to secure a $190,000 federal appropriation to help facilitate the establishment of the Center. Since then, Wellness and Food Services Director, Juliette Dunn, and staff have worked to develop targeted programs and establish partnerships within the community to ensure the successful opening of the Center.

The operating center will serve as partner in the National Effective Parenting Initiative and work closely with the Emeryville Center for Community Life. The Family Resource and Wellness Center will also house the Emeryville Council of Family Service Providers, which will offer Emeryville residents access and referrals to area health and social services.