Sierra Business Council

Reviewed by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation

$15,883 raised by 31 donors

100% complete

$15,000 Goal

At Sierra Business Council, we work to provide innovative approaches and solutions to the Sierra’s toughest challenges, and we rely on those who care for the region as we do to help keep our work going. The support of donors like you allows us to continue our efforts to build a better Sierra Nevada.

We envision a future in which strong communities, circulative economies, and a resilient environment are the foundation of the Sierra Nevada region. Through our work in Economic Empowerment, Regional Advocacy, and Climate Action, we work to make that vision a reality.

On the ground, this work includes advancing policies regarding forest health, wildfire risk reduction, workforce housing, equitable broadband access, climate action, and more. It entails providing direct support to Sierra small businesses and entrepreneurs through one-on-one no-cost counseling, assistance navigating loans and grant opportunities, and educational programming. We also serve local governments, special districts, and other community partners interested in proactive climate action through greenhouse gas emissions reduction, planning and adaptation efforts, and creating cross-jurisdictional and regional opportunities for collaboration. Our well-known programs include the Sierra Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Sierra Nevada Energy Watch (SNEW), Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership (CAMP), the Gold Country Broadband Consortium, the Lake Tahoe Water Trail, the Sierra Chapter of the California Green Business Network, the Martis Fund Homebuyer Assistance Program, the newly announced Eastern Sierra Region of California's Community Economic Resilience Fund, and many others you can read about here.

Our work is guided by Sierra Business Council’s vision of a diverse, inventive, and sustainable region where the economy is vibrant, the land is thriving, and the communities offer opportunity for all. With your support, we will continue to implement this vision in 2022 and beyond.

Over the coming year, we will cultivate a thriving post-COVID Sierra economy, advance recovery initiatives in wildfire-impacted communities, increase state investments in the region, accelerate workforce housing solutions, bridge the digital divide in rural California, elevate recreation and outdoor access solutions, and increase regional capacity for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. To accomplish all this, we need your support.

As a prospective donor to Sierra Business Council, we’re asking you to champion our shared vision for the Sierra. Your contribution will directly benefit the communities, environment, and local economies of the Sierra, strengthening not just our work here at Sierra Business Council, but the entire region.  

With gratitude and on behalf of our entire team, 

Jill Sanford

Communications Director, Sierra Business Council


Mission

Sierra Business Council demonstrates innovative approaches and proactive solutions to increase community vitality, environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada.

Needs

Sierra Business Council is largely funded through program-restricted grants, which limits our ability to increase staff and program capacity. By donating to our general fund, you are increasing our ability to scale our economic empowerment operations, offer financial and direct support of small businesses and entrepreneurs, support climate resilience and forest management projects, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bridge the digital divide and bring reliable broadband access to the region, solve regional housing solutions, and create a thriving Sierra.

Here's what we will use your donation for:

Small Business Support/Community Resilience: Provide critical economic emergency support and resources to businesses in the Sierra, some of which are still recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. Provide access to capital for Sierra small businesses by providing information about the federal and state resources available to them. Foster a renewed entrepreneurial ecosystem through no-cost one-on-one consulting to small business owners, helping their businesses start, grow, and thrive.

Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation: Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire while improving forest health and fostering rural economic development through ecologically based forest thinning, biomass utilization, stewardship education, habitat protection, and emissions reductions.

Regional Advocacy: Improve awareness of the Sierra Nevada's integral value to the state, including our water supply, recreation opportunities, and ecosystem services. Increase funding available to the region's communities and environment by engaging in the legislative process.

Climate Change: Engage with local champions of climate resilience throughout the Sierra to increase the pace of climate action in their communities, develop a climate vulnerability assessment for the region, and empower communities to take ownership of their climate action plans.

Equity Statement

SBC works to increase economic, community, and environmental resilience for all the region's residents and visitors. We prioritize investments that generate sustainable high-road jobs and opportunity for historically marginalized groups in disinvested communities whenever possible. We work with local organizations and community stakeholders, and strive to be inclusive, equitable, transparent, multi-lingual, and data-informed in our work.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Sierra Business Council

other names

SBC, Sierra SBDC

Tax id (EIN)

68-0397204

Mission Category

Economic Development

Operating Budget

$1,000,001-$5 million

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program

Demographics Served

Low-income individuals/families, General population

Counties Served

El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

PO BOX 2428
TRUCKEE, CA 96160

Service areas

Sierra County, CA, US

El Dorado County, CA, US

Placer County, CA, US

Nevada County, CA, US

Amador County, CA, US

Phone

(530) 582-4800

Social Media