Planning and Policy Support

The statewide Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant program provided regions with one-time funding to support planning that responds to unique housing priorities and needs. SACOG administered this initial REAP 1 funding in the six-county region through a program that included a Civic Lab series related to housing, a competitive grant program and direct funding to each of the 28 jurisdictions for housing element updates, development and zoning code changes, objective design standards, plans and resources for Accessory Dwelling Units and other related planning activities.

These REAP 1 awards occurred while Green Means Go was being formed and many serve as precursors to other Green Means Go projects. All planning work under REAP 1 is complete.

Following the success of REAP 1, the Housing and Community Development Department in 2021 released the Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (REAP 2) that allowed for broader planning activities as well as implementation investments. Most of SACOG’s REAP 2 allocation went to capital infrastructure projects, but Green Means Go also used REAP 2 to fund 13 planning projects in the six-county region totaling over $4.5 million that address regulatory barriers, complete infrastructure assessments or otherwise revamp local planning process to accelerate infill development. Work on these REAP-2 funded planning projects is slated to be complete by June 2026.

SACOG received a $22.5 million grant from the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) program for Green Means Go. The award will allow local agencies to complete planning and design projects in nine underserved local Green Zones, establish a community-based organization working group, and complete a Green Zone trades workforce assessment.

RCN activities generally combine housing and transportation planning to more fully meet local community needs. Work for RCN kicked off in early 2025, with a close out date of the end of 2029.

SACOG developed a regional application to the federal PRO Housing Grant Program to fund activities that create pathways to affordable home ownership. The grant would be housed within the agency’s Green Means Go program.

While the 2024 PRO Housing grant program did not select this application for funding, the application can serve as reference for potential future housing planning work in the region.

PRO Housing Grant Application

• Table of Contents
• Exhibit A – Executive Summary
• Exhibit B – Threshold Requirements and Other Submission Requirements
• Exhibit C – Need
• Exhibit D – Soundness of Approach
• Exhibit E – Capacity
• Exhibit F – Leverage
• Exhibit G – Long-Term Effect