Governors Briefs: State’s New Website Shows Investments in Infrastructure and State Land Program To Create Homes

New Build.ca.gov Website Showcases Investments in California Infrastructure

SACRAMENTO —  Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Administration Jan. 9 launched Build.ca.gov to highlight investments in California infrastructure that will benefit communities around the state. With $41 billion already at work thanks to state funding and help from the Biden-Harris Administration, the new website outlines how state and federal infrastructure investments – $180 billion expected over the next ten years – are tackling some of California’s toughest challenges, including climate change, equity and jobs. 

Build.ca.gov is tracking where money is going while showcasing individual projects and what they mean for the communities they’re in, with a focus on making life better in areas that are disadvantaged, underserved, or disproportionately burdened by pollution.

On the website, Californians can see many investments in their communities that help to: 

Build a new system of clean energy

Move away from dirty fossil fuels

Build and repair roads, bridges and public transit

Bring high-speed internet to every Californian

Clean the air and restore natural spaces

Grow the economy for all

The website also showcases several spotlight stories that demonstrate a sample of dollars at work in every corner of the state. 

Excess State Land Program Fast-Tracks the Creation of 5,550 Homes

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Newsom Jan. 8 announced the funding of 975 affordable homes across 10 statewide projects as part of the Excess Land for Affordable Housing program. By identifying and utilizing excess state properties, California is on track to deliver about 5,550 housing units on excess state land, which will help an estimated 13,600 individuals.

In this funding round, the California Department of Housing and Community Development or HCD is allocating over $63 million from the excess sites local government matching grants or LGMG program for the development of new affordable housing. These investments will, in turn, match more than $80 million in collaborative funding committed by cities, counties and public housing authorities where the new projects are located.

In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order calling on HCD and the Department of General Services to address the state’s affordable housing crisis by identifying underutilized state-owned sites for the development of affordable housing, taking into account factors such as proximity to job centers, amenities, and public transit. Excess sites projects, by virtue of being on state land, are subject to a simpler and more streamlined approval process than projects on locally controlled land. This expedites the approval process and avoids the exhaustive maneuvers used by some groups and local officials to prevent projects from moving forward.

To support and accelerate implementation of the Governor’s excess sites order, HCD established LGMG to provide grant-based funding to match certain local government funding for selected developers to support predevelopment and development of affordable housing on excess state sites.

This collaboration between the state and local governments helps to expedite the delivery of affordable housing across the state to meet the goal of developing 2.5 million new homes by 2030, with one million homes being affordable for lower income levels.

Click here to review a list of all awardees.