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 Priorities for the Sierra:

“Sierra Business Council’s thoughtful and strategic approach to addressing regional issues through statewide advocacy has allowed Placer Land Trust, and many other similar organizations, to amplify our impact in the areas we work. SBC’s ongoing work on Cap-and-Trade funding, Proposition 68, and other state funding initiatives has positioned PLT and its partners to usher in a new era of land conservation throughout the Sierra Nevada.”
tahoe through trees
Jeff Darlington
Executive Director, Placer Land Trust

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 info@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.