San Rafael Equitable Low Carbon Economy Project
The San Rafael Low Carbon Economy Project seeks to equitably decarbonize the local economy by:
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Helping current businesses increase economic vitality and create good jobs that support climate action.
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Identifying and supporting entrepreneurs to establish new green businesses that support climate action.
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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?

Roundtable discussion at Pond Farm Brewing with San Rafael business leaders.
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
Expected Outcomes
The outcomes of this community engagement and planning phase will include:
- Community asset and opportunity identification, including
- Funding opportunities,
- High functioning programs and partnerships,
- Good green jobs that are currently difficult to fill, and
- Emerging job and business opportunities
- An analysis identifying the gaps that exist in order to maximize these opportunities
- An ecosystem map of key programs and partners
- Local partnership development
Surveys
We are seeking community and stakeholder input on this project. Please fill out the surveys below to share your input. For more information on the project or for ways to get involved please contact City of San Rafael Sustainability here!
Business Leader & Workforce Development Organization
- The City of San Rafael is seeking input from local businesses and workforce development organizations to design a community project to take action on climate change in a way that helps to enhance and support existing businesses, create new business and job opportunities, and develops equitable pathways into good green jobs. Each question is optional. Please answer those that fit within the time you have available and are most relevant. Thank you in advance for your valuable time and ideas.
Worker and Job Seeker
- The City of San Rafael is seeking input from local workers and job seekers to design a community project to take action on climate change in a way that helps to create new business and job opportunities, and creates equitable pathways into good green jobs. Thank you in advance for your valuable time and ideas.
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