Food System Financing Strategy – Phase II of the Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan
This report undertaken by Grassroots Globe and Valley Vision with the generous support of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation (SRCF) comprises Phase II of the 2021 Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan (Regional Action Plan) process and identifies strategies to meet the funding needs for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system. The development of targeted food system financing strategies has been a long-term priority for the region, as identified in the 2015 Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan and echoed across further reporting and initiatives completed over the years, including the research findings of a national landscape scan on governance and funding models undertaken by Grassroots Globe at the request of Soil Born Farms and the Healthy Food For All Collaborative. The region, part of the Great Central Valley, experiences chronic underinvestment in the food system, including from the philanthropic sector at the regional, state, and national levels. Most recently, the end of The California Endowment’s ten-year investment in the Building Healthy Communities initiative left a further gap in our funding infrastructure, particularly for the non-profit sector.
As America’s Farm to Fork Capital, strategic investments in the regional food system have the power to address pervasive, collective challenges connected to food and nutrition insecurity and food-related health crises; leverage the strong assets of our food and agriculture economy, including as a pathway for inclusive economic and community development; and accelerate the many innovative partnerships and activities, deepening their impact and surfacing best practices for replication. This is more important than ever given the increasing need for resilience in the wake of a changing climate and other systemic shocks, such as COVID-19.
The report focuses on three inter-related categories of funding pathways which provide orientation for the findings of this report: municipal finance tools, federal and state grants, and philanthropic fund models. While the latter two are familiar revenue sources for food systems partners, municipal finance tools represent an under-utilized pathway. As the field and framing of local economic development is increasingly being leveraged to bolster food systems revitalization in the post-COVID landscape, particularly in federal initiatives, municipal finance tools represent a unique opportunity for generating resources.
As such, this report takes a closer look at the range of tools available to local governments who were
called upon to play a more active and systematic role in the food system, as their investments can
improve community health and wellbeing while driving economic growth and opportunity.
Sacramento Region CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen the Sacramento Region’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile summarizes key highlights from the county profiles and includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs.
El Dorado County CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen El Dorado County’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs. CROP also includes a Regional Profile that summarizes key highlights from the county profiles.
Placer County CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen Placer County’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs. CROP also includes a Regional Profile that summarizes key highlights from the county profiles.
Sacramento County CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen Sacramento County’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs. CROP also includes a Regional Profile that summarizes key highlights from the county profiles.
Sutter County CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen Sutter County’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs. CROP also includes a Regional Profile that summarizes key highlights from the county profiles.
Yuba County CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen Yuba County’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs. CROP also includes a Regional Profile that summarizes key highlights from the county profiles.
Yolo County CROP Profile
As part of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), this profile identifies priority areas for infrastructure investments and programs to strengthen Yolo County’s food and agricultural cluster. The Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan provides county and regional leaders the opportunity to address infrastructure investment challenges and collectively come together on solutions, including policies and investments, that will support the region’s agricultural sustainability and long-term economic health and resiliency. This profile includes examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and potential resources to meet vital infrastructure needs. CROP also includes a Regional Profile that summarizes key highlights from the county profiles.
Public Sector Workforce Needs Assessment
Housing Stanislaus Report (Español)
El informe Housing Stanislaus comparte tendencias de datos relacionados con la vivienda, hallazgos de partes interesadas sobre los desafíos percibidos en el desarrollo de viviendas y soluciones recomendadas para superar las barreras identificadas. Dado que el desarrollo de viviendas es un proceso complicado, el informe presenta una variedad de soluciones potenciales para atraer a diferentes intereses y circunstancias que existen en el condado.
Housing Stanislaus Report (English)
The Housing Stanislaus report shares housing-related data trends, findings from stakeholders regarding perceived challenges to housing development, and recommended solutions for overcoming identified barriers. Knowing that housing development is a complicated process, the report presents a range of potential solutions to appeal to varied interests and circumstances that exist in the county.