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The Watts Rising Collaborative submitted the $35 million Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program Implementation Grant Application this past December and as part of the application review process, the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) conducted a site visit to Watts, CA on January 10, 2018.
The Interagency Review Panel comprised of representatives from the different agencies in the state such as the SGC, Department of Public Health, Department of Conservation, and the State Treasurer’s Office.
Daniela Simunovic, Senior Program Analyst at SGC, explained the purpose of the site visit, “We read through your application material. Today, we want to see and feel what you’re proposing about your community.”
The Interagency Review Panel and the Watts Rising Collaborative Committee got on the DASH Electric Bus to tour Watts. Stops were made on the tour at WLCAC, Nickerson Sage Center, the Habitat Home, and Jordan Downs where the partners explained and showcased the proposal to the panel.
Dr. Perry Crouch, Education Chair of the Watts Gang Task Force, explained Watt’s history and why Watts should be selected to receive the grant. “We migrated to Los Angeles back in the 40’s for 3 reasons- social opportunity, education opportunity, and employment. What wasn’t told to us when we got here was that we’re going to be in a box. That’s what Watts has been to the world—a box. We have been overlooked, overlooked, overlooked for everything. As a community, we all came together to say no more… What we need today is an investment on us. So we can prosper and take it to the next level as a community.”
The Housing Authority served as the lead applicant for the grant collaborating with community partners and leaders to envision a more sustainable and clean Watts. “This is a collaboration throughout Watts. We have wonderful partners and I guarantee that we will hit the ground running once we receive this award. We can’t wait to get started,” said Doug Guthrie, President and CEO of HACLA.
The decision is expected to be made at the end of January 2018.