Grants awarded to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The California Strategic Growth Council has approved almost $122 million in competitive grants and loans to 28 urban development projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The grants and loans are part of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, implemented by the Department of Housing and Community Development along with the Strategic Growth Council and California Air Resources Board.

Two of the projects approved are local: the Hotel Fresno and the Vanpool Expansion projects. The Hotel Fresno was awarded $4.8 million in awards, while the Vanpool Expansion was awarded $3 million.

The Hotel Fresno project will convert the vacant commercial Hotel Fresno building into a apartment complex with 78 commercially available units. Forty units will be affordable housing and 38 will be market rate.

The Vanpool Expansion project will provide farmworkers in rural areas with a van to travel between home and work, as residents often lack a reliable vehicle and access to public transportation and may not have a driver’s license.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Grants awarded to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."