To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Rex Bohn
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Letter of Support for Golden State Natural Resources’ (GSNR) Community Project Funding and Congressional Directed Spending Requests (Supervisor Rex Bohn)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair to sign the letter of support and direct the Clerk of the Board to send a fully executed copy via email to Sara Bolnik at Rural Counties Representatives of California (RCRC) at sbolnik@rcrcnet.org <mailto:sbolnik@rcrcnet.org>
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors has been asked for a letter in support of the Golden State National Resources’ Community Project.
GSNR is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), tax-exempt, forest resiliency company created in 2018 for the purposes of working to achieve forest resiliency and restoration on a large scale. GSNR includes dedicated partnerships of committed public and private entities with related expertise and resources as part of the solution in achieving forest resiliency. The GSNR project is committed to the vision of environmental stewardship and economic stability for our forests, watersheds, wildlife, communities, and residents. To that end GSNR, through its affiliate entity, Golden State Finance Authority, secured a Master Stewardship Agreement with the USFS covering 18 national forests in California.
In addition to forest restoration, watershed enhancement, and numerous environmental benefits, this opportunity will help to revitalize the wood products industry in California resulting in investment and employment in rural communities and overall economic gain for California as biomass-related goods are exported abroad.
GSNR is seeking federal assistance to help fund the development of two industrial wood pellet production facilities. Construction and operation of these facilities will create and support local and regional jobs & economies via forest treatment and pellet production. The pellets will be transported by rail to a port for export to international markets. This initiative is critical to healthy forests and rural economic revitalization.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Letter of Support
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A