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On Thursday, November 14, 2024, the SACOG Board of Directors approved $3.8 million in funding for 11 projects across the region as part of the agency’s Engage, Empower, Implement (EEI) program. This is the first time SACOG has implemented a funding program that encourages partnerships between cities, counties, and local community-based organizations (CBOs) to plan more equitable projects, together.

“The goal of EEI is to create a pipeline of equitable, safe, and sustainable projects that are developed with communities,” said Rosie Ramos, project manager for EEI. “The number of applications and total grant requests shows that there is a strong interest in this new type of community-focused planning and development.”

An EEI Review Committee made up of leaders from across the six-county region reviewed and scored applications based on a framework created in partnership with CBOs, cities, and counties. It was not an easy task with a total of 19 applications to review totaling more than $5.2 million in funding requests. The committee’s comments are included in the final award list, and the committee helped bring valuable points for SACOG staff to consider for future iterations of the program.

The EEI program has been designed to highlight the narratives of in-need communities and allow jurisdictions and community partners to work together to address these challenges. Stay tuned for more as SACOG highlights the outcomes of these projects.

To view the full project descriptions and EEI Review Committee comments, download the PDF here.  

Overview of the Project Awards

City/County and CBO Partnership Final Recommendations

CBO-Only Final Awards