The Latest News from TPA

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.

City of Tulare Receives $124,000 Grant for Fire Department

Townsend Public Affairs was successful in assisting the City of Tulare win a $123,600 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The City is located in one of the largest agricultural areas in the world, and is home to the world’s largest agriculture exposition, which attracts over 100,000 visitors per year. The Tulare Fire Department (TFD) protects the lives and property of the citizens of Tulare from the ravages of fire, exposure to hazardous materials and other perils, including disaster preparedness. TFD plans to purchase industry-standard monitors/defibrillators that are necessary to providing adequate fire safety and emergency services to the community.

AFG grants provide funding to assist fire departments in obtaining critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. This funding could not have come at a more perfect time as the City continues to face increasing budget reductions and a growing service population.

Orange County Conservation Corps

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to highlight a new client, the Orange County Conservation Corp (OCCC). The OCCC is a non-profit institution that serves young, at-risk adults through workforce development, training and educational initiatives that build self-sufficiency and benefit the community through conservation-related projects. The OCCC recently expanded its reach by opening a charter school in Fullerton, providing Corps Members with an opportunity to obtain a GED and continue on whether it be vocational training or higher education.

The OCCC is affiliated with the broader California Association of Local Conservation Corps, The Corps Network (formally NASCC), and other youth service organizations. Funding is provided through the California Department of Conservation as well as individual and corporate contributions, grants, contracts and entrepreneurial projects.

We are excited to work with the OCCC to seek funding for its programs and priorities and broaden the public awareness of its efforts. To learn more, you can visit their website, http://www.occcorps.org/

City of Oakland Receives $7.8 Million Grant for Fire Department

Townsend Public Affairs is proud to announce the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the City of Oakland a $7.8 million grant from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. This vital funding will allow the Oakland Fire Department to hire 24 firefighters to address the growing demand for public safety services in the City.

“This highly competitive funding is critical to improving public safety and ensuring 24-hour staff coverage by hiring new and laid-off Oakland firefighters,” said Congress member Barbara Lee. “As Oakland and our nation continue to recover from the greatest economic downturn since the great depression, federal investments in public sector hiring are critical to moving our economy forward.”

Oakland—the eighth largest city in California with a population of approximately 390,000 residents will greatly benefit from the SAFER program seeing as it provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. TPA worked closely with the Mayor, her office, and the Oakland Fire Department to submit the application to ensure it would match the goals and priorities of FEMA. Once submitted, TPA led the efforts to successfully advocate on behalf of the City and was part of the team to secure these much needed funds.