Picture an Orange County with ample job opportunities that are sustainable, high paying, and contribute to a carbon-neutral economy. Sounds great, right? We have the opportunity to create this reality!
The High Road Transition Collaborative (HRTC) is a coalition aiming to bring economic and environmental equity, sustainability, and resiliency to Orange County. This coalition includes environmental organizations, Indigenous American groups and nations, labor unions, education providers, businesses, and other stakeholder groups.
Millions of dollars in funding from the State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) have been provided to 13 regions in the State for the initial planning phase of the program, with Orange County acting as one region. As this statewide initiative progresses, substantial amounts of funding will be directed to Orange County for projects proposed by the HRTC.
The need for this leadership toward positive growth became apparent due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis. Californians need equitable access to quality jobs in sustainable industries to bring our state closer to a climate-neutral economy.
Orange County Coastkeeper is calling on its supporters to ensure that our waters, watersheds, and the people, animals, and habitats that depend on them are not overlooked during this generational opportunity.
The Environmental Justice sector of the HRTC, led by OC Coastkeeper, is committed to ensuring that any resources and projects brought to our region through this program prioritize our precious water, promote watershed resilience, and are inclusive of our most marginalized communities facing the brunt of the worst pollution issues.
We need your help to let the HRTC know that the protection of our waters, beaches, communities, and ecosystems are vital as we work to improve our economy.
We are seeking community input on how to build an Orange County economy that is equitable, sustainable, and provides high-quality jobs. Please contribute to this initiative by completing this short survey, which takes under 15 minutes to finish.
All survey responses will be presented to the HRTC to inform Orange County’s economic future.
The survey closes on September 15, 2023.
