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 policy 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:
Vulnerability Assessment
A project of Sierra CAMP, the Sierra Nevada Regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment will help Sierra Nevada communities prepare for climate change by examining social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities specific to our region and by providing climate planning technical assistance.
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.
ReCent Blogs & Updates:
Beyond land acknowledgements: Decolonization in the Sierra
we’d be poor advocates of the region if we failed to acknowledge the history and current role of the original stewards of the Sierra Nevada. From the Maidu to the Miwok, the Niesenan to the Shoshone, the Paiute to the Washoe, and all the other diverse cultures throughout the region, the Indigenous peoples of Sierra Nevada were the original caretakers of this landscape, and they are critical partners that should be respected and involved in this region’s future.
Help Strengthen the Sierra
Since the start of the pandemic, Sierra Business Council’s impact has included:
-Providing over 1,400 small businesses with one-on-one counseling.
-Infusing $18.5 million in economic capital in communities across the Sierra.
Supporting over 4,000 jobs in the region.
Helped secure $536 million in early action wildfire funding for California.
-Deploying $1.2 million to bring reliable broadband infrastructure to rural neighborhoods.
-Begining a 22-county Vulnerability Assessment to better prepare the region for climate impacts.
Living Our Values – Green Business Certification
Core to Sierra Business Council’s mission is our commitment to being a triple bottom line organization so it’s only natural that we would lead an effort to help small businesses adopt these principles. A triple bottom line business considers more than just economic results or profit. They also value their impact on society and the environment. We often refer to these businesses as “sustainable” or “green” and research shows that they typically deliver superior customer service, score higher in job satisfaction, and perform better financially.
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