Regional Advocacy
Ensuring the Sierra's Voice is Heard
Sierra Business Council advocates for the Sierra Nevada’s social, environmental, and economic interests in Sacramento and beyond. We work to elevate the issues that most impact our communities while ensuring the region’s value is recognized in legislative outcomes.
Who
Our team works closely with local, regional, statewide, and national partners across sectors including natural resource conservation, affordable housing, outdoor recreation, climate change, economic development, broadband, and more, to drive policy that supports a more resilient Sierra Nevada.
What
Policy areas we advocate for on behalf of the Sierra include wildfire prevention, watershed restoration, equitable broadband access, affordable housing, sustainable outdoor recreation, regional workforce development, and climate action. Whether it’s leading coalitions, meeting with legislators, strengthening partnerships, identifying common ground, weighing in on draft regulations, commenting on legislation, testifying in hearings, or coordinating advocacy campaigns, SBC’s Government Affairs network is standing up for the Sierra.
Why
The Sierra Nevada provides over 60% of California’s developed water supply, accounts for 50 million of California’s recreation visits each year, is the home of 600,000 residents in 212 communities, provides habitat for 60% of California’s wildlife, and stores half of the state’s forest carbon. Amidst this significant inherent value, however, the Sierra region has been historically and unjustly underfunded.
Policy Partnerships
For more details on current and past initiatives, see below and the SBC blog archive.
Sierra Consortium
SBC coordinates a coalition of Sierra-based conservation and community-based organizations to advocate on wildfire, natural resource, water, and climate policies. To learn more about the Sierra Consortium, contact bbenesi@sierrabusiness.org
Sierra CAMP
The Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership, a program of Sierra Business Council and ARCCA member, tracks state climate policy and provides policy-related educational and coordination opportunities for Sierra CAMP members, in addition to other activities. See more information here, or view the Sierra CAMP website.
Clean Water for Natural Resources and Parks Coalition
SBC tracks natural resource policies, agency efforts, and funding opportunities related to forestry, recreation, watershed management, and other issues affecting the jurisdiction of the California Tahoe Conservancy.
Tahoe Truckee Mountain Housing Council
SBC coordinates a sub-committee of the Tahoe Truckee Mountain Housing Council dedicated to weighing in on State housing policy in legislative, budgetary, funding, and policy implementation in an effort to find solutions to the affordable housing crisis in the North Lake Tahoe/Truckee region.
Gold Country Broadband Consortium
SBC engages on an ad-hoc individual or partnership basis on critical efforts not captured through other advocacy initiatives, such as key wildfire, biomass, and forest policy or small business development policy opportunities responding to recent or immediate crises, etc.
Ad-Hoc Key Issues
SBC engages on an ad-hoc individual or partnership basis on critical efforts not captured through other advocacy initiatives, such as key wildfire, biomass, and forest policy or small business development policy opportunities responding to recent or immediate crises, etc.
Regional Advocacy Programs:
Government Affairs
Sierra Business Council’s Government Affairs team works with local, regional, and statewide partners to advocate for policies that enhance the communities, economy, and environment of the Sierra.
Sierra CAMP
The Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership (Sierra CAMP) is a cross-sector partnership that promotes and facilitates regional climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Sierra Nevada Geotourism
Sierra Nevada Geotourism helps travelers experience the Sierra through the eyes of a local, learn about responsible recreation, and foster tourism-based economies in gateway communities.
ReCent Blogs & Updates:
Understanding our Vulnerabilities—And Our Choices—in the Sierra
Sierra CAMP, a program of Sierra Business Council, is currently undertaking a regional vulnerability assessment to examine how Sierra Nevada communities will be affected by projected climate changes. We have already seen the massive impact that climate change can have in its multiple forms on our communities in the mountains. Climate change leaves our homes and businesses vulnerable to wildfire and floods, it impacts the clarity of our lakes and rivers, and challenges our recreation patterns as we navigate the changes in snow and temperature year round. The goal of the vulnerability assessment is to better understand and measure the impacts of climate change on our social and economic systems that are inextricably linked to our natural environment.
2020 Impact Statement
Over the course of the last year, the impact of COVID-19 has snowballed into a deep recession and shifted the course of life as we know it. Over the course of the last year, the impact of COVID-19 has snowballed into a deep recession and shifted the course of life as we know it.
Fragile Like a Bomb… How RBG Inspired Me
I’m wearing my RBG T-shirt and staring at my RBG action figure, gifts from my daughter, a true social justice warrior. Like me, she was raised to revere and honor women like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It is a family tradition that follows at least four generations that I know of and we hold closely a favorite RBG quote, “What is the difference between a bookkeeper in the Garment District and a Supreme Court justice? … One generation.”
Join Us In Creating A More Resilient Sierra.
The Government Affairs team accepts requests for advocacy support, coordination, or partnership on a continuous basis.
For more information, contact Government and Community Affairs Director, Brittany Benesi.
bbenesi@sierrabusiness.org
530.582.4800