San Rafael Equitable Low Carbon Economy Project

• Helping current businesses increase economic vitality and create good jobs that support climate action. 

• Identifying and supporting entrepreneurs to establish new green businesses that support climate action. 

• Creating or enhancing equitable pathways into good quality, local jobs that support climate action. 

Our Guiding Question

How can local climate action have the greatest equitable benefit on the local economy and workforce?

Vision and Goals

We envision a more resilient, ecologically beneficial, equitable, and inviting local economy that prioritizes economic inclusion and quality jobs.

Goal 1: Jobs

Ensure equitable access to quality, family-sustaining careers and employment retention support in sectors that support climate action for low-income communities, especially People of Color, Women, and Youth.

Goal 2: Business

Develop and pursue initiatives that ensure Economic Inclusion in climate-related sectors that support entrepreneurship, Minority & Women Owned Businesses, and high-road local business development.

Goal 3: Climate Impact

Prioritize opportunities for the greatest climate benefit and economic inclusion.

Our Core Team

• Chandra Alexandre, Chief Executive Officer Community Action Marin
• Leigh Bakhtiari, Chamber Board Liaison with the Green Business Committee, Proprietor of City Carpets
• Heather Bettini, Senior Director, Community Action Marin
• Cory Bytof, Sustainability Program Manager, City of San Rafael
• Emily Courtney, Lead Project Consultant, Good Green Work
• Micah Hinkle, Director of Economic Development and Innovation, City of San Rafael
• Anna Oliva, Zero Waste Business and Community Outreach Climate Corps Fellow, City of San Rafael

Project Overview:

The San Rafael Equitable Low Carbon Economy Project will work to both shift the mindset and practices in conventional occupations, and create new ones, so that every job in San Rafael is a green job. We aim to create a local culture in which every worker and employer is contributing to lowering greenhouse gas emissions through their daily practices, products, and/or services.

The plan will identify opportunities, priorities, and actionable next steps to support San Rafael’s economic ecosystem to be more resilient and regenerative while growing pathways to high road green jobs, especially for community members with barriers to employment from historically marginalized communities.

Engagement

This project is informed by many rounds of community engagement including four surveys of key audiences in both English and Spanish; six listening session events with local leaders, workers, and job seekers, also in English and Spanish; and interviews with more than 35 local businesses, community-based organizations, education partners, and government agencies.

Past Events

 Business Leaders Roundtable at Pond Farm Brewing April 5th 2023

• The City of San Rafael is developing a project to take climate action while enhancing our local economy. We'd like to hear your ideas about how local climate action efforts can have the greatest benefit on local businesses and the workforce.
  • If you would like more information please contact the Sustainability Department

Roundtable at Marin Builders Association April 19th 2023

• We are hosting a roundtable discussion for contractors and workforce development leaders at Marin Builder's Association. We'd like to hear your ideas about how local climate action efforts can have the greatest benefit on local construction businesses and the skilled trades workforce.
  • If you would like more information please contact the Sustainability Department

Worker & Job Seeker Listening Session Events

• Virtual (on Zoom) in Spanish: June 6th 12-1pm
• In-Person in English: June 12, 5-7:30pm at Venture Pad
• In person Event in Spanish June 16th  12-1:30pm at Community Action Marin
• Virtual Event (on Zoom) in English: June 21st 12-1pm