Regional Early Action Planning

REgional Early Action Planning 

The Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) program is a state of California funded grant program to help regions and jurisdictions with planning activities to meet the sixth cycle of the regional housing needs assessment (RHNA) and to spur affordable housing production. This program is being implemented by the state in two rounds – REAP 1.0 and REAP 2.0.

REAP 1.0

REAP 1.0 provided an initial round of $125 million in flexible planning funds to regional governments to accelerate housing production and facilitate compliance with the 6th cycle of the housing element, including regional housing need allocations. Nearly $19 million in grant funds was made available to the San Joaquin Valley for housing planning activities through 2023. These funds were allocated to two uses: valleywide activities and direct allocations to each of the eight transportation planning agencies. MCAG’s share of these funds is $1,008,343. 

The valleywide activities are governing by the San Joaquin Valley Regional Early Action Committee for Housing (SJV REAP Committee), created by statue, which consists of 24 members of the San Joaquin Valley regional planning agencies, cities, counties and community members.  The valleywide work program consists of two major components: 

  1. Valleywide Work Efforts – Conducting a comprehensive housing report, regional planning and coordination, program implementation, technical assistance, and other activities as stated in the application for funding.

  2. Formula Allocations to the 8 Valley COGS – MCAG is utilizing these funds for the 6th Cycle RHNA (regional housing needs assessment) and is working with local governments to develop programs and projects to accelerate housing production in a way that aligns with state planning priorities, housing, transportation, equity, and climate goals. REAP 1.0 funds cannot be used for housing construction activities. 

For more information: http://sjvcogs.org/reap/

REAP 2.0

REAP 2.0 brings $600 million of additional state and federal funds to the program statewide as it seeks to accelerate progress towards our state housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership between the state, its regions, and local entities to collectively accelerate infill development, housing, and VMT reductions in ways that advance equity. The intended purpose is to advance implementation of adopted regional plans by funding planning and implementation activities that accelerate infill housing and reductions in per capita VMT. MCAG is slated to receive nearly $4 million of grant funds from REAP 2.0.

REAP 2.0 is also specifically designed to provide Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) with tools and resources to help implement and advance plans, primarily including sustainable communities strategies (SCS) as part of Regional Transportation Plans (RTP). An SCS identifies strategies a region intends to pursue towards achieving and maintaining greenhouse gas (GHG) per capita reduction targets through changes to land use and transportation.

The purpose of REAP 2.0 is supporting transformative planning and implementation activities that include, but are not limited to, accelerating infill and affordable development; supporting residents through realizing multimodal communities; shifting travel behavior through reducing driving; and increasing transit ridership, walking, and biking as primary modes of transportation.

Throughout the fall of 2022, MCAG conducted outreach to a broad array of stakeholders to identify programs and partners and develop the full REAP 2.0 application, due to the State by December 31, 2022. MCAG developed a draft REAP 2.0 program framework and released it for public review and comment from November 8 to November 29, 2022. 

REAP 2.0 PROGRAM FRAMEWORK 

Based on the input and feedback received, MCAG proposes a REAP 2.0 Program Framework that consists of two major components:

  1. Local Suballocation Grant Program (25%)to cities and the County to implement sixth cycle housing elements with an emphasis on supporting activities that meet all the REAP 2.0 objectives
    1. Rezoning and updating planning documents, development standards, and zoning ordinances, including general plans, community plans, and specific plans.
    2. Performing infrastructure planning and upgrades, including for sewers, water systems, transit, active transportation, or other public facilities necessary to enable reduction in Per Capita VMT and accelerate infill development 
    3. Revamping local planning processes to accelerate infill development
    4. Completing environmental clearance to eliminate the need for project-specific review for infill development
  1. Regional Competitive Grant Program (75%)developed and administered by MCAG that supports all REAP 2.0 objectives
    1. Proposed primary applicants to include local jurisdictions and transit agencies
    2. Priority focus on implementation projects
    3. Guidelines, criteria, and application will be developed in early 2023

The MCAG Governing Board will be asked to approve a draft program framework for inclusion in MCAG’s full application which is due to the State by December 31, 2022. MCAG welcomes comments on the program framework and encourages stakeholders interested in receiving updates or providing input on the program development to contact meg.prince@mcagov.org.

REAP 2.0 FINAL FRAMEWORK

Visit the project website for more information: https://mcag.mysocialpinpoint.com/reap/home 

REAP 2.0 DRAFT PUBLIC GUIDELINES

MCAG is seeking feedback on two sets of draft grant program guidelines for the Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (REAP 2.0) Program. The MCAG REAP 2.0 Program Guidelines have been developed to align with the State’s REAP 2.0 Program Guidelines to further the three program objectives of accelerating infill development that facilitates housing supply, choice, and affordability, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), and reducing vehicle miles travelled (VMT).

The two grant programs are:

Regional Competitive Grant Program (up to $2,716,159 available) 

  • Eligible applicants include local jurisdictions and transit agencies.
  • Priority focus on implementation projects that support the three program objectives. 

Local Suballocation Grant Program (up to $905,386 available, suballocated via formula) 

  • Eligible applicants include local jurisdictions. 
  • Priority focus on implementing the sixth cycle housing element with eligible uses including:
    • Rezoning and updating planning documents, development standards, and zoning ordinances, including general plans, community plans, and specific plans.
    • Performing infrastructure planning and upgrades, including for sewers, water systems, transit, active transportation, or other public facilities necessary to enable reduction in Per Capita VMT and accelerate infill development. 
    • Revamping local planning processes to accelerate infill development.
    • Completing environmental clearance to eliminate the need for project-specific review for infill development.

Comments must be submitted to meg.prince@mcagov.org by Friday, September 15.


Timeline

  • Summer 2022 – HCD released final guidelines and notice of funding availability
  • Fall 2022 – Outreach activities and development of program framework
  • December 31, 2022 – Deadline to submit application for REAP 2.0 Program funds 
  • Spring 2023 – Develop competitive grant program including guidelines, criteria, and application process
  • Summer 2023 – Call for applications for competitive grant program
  • Summer/early Fall 2023 – Applications due for MCAG’s competitive grant program
  • Late 2023 – Competitive grants awarded and funding agreements executed 
  • June 30, 2024 – Deadline for REAP 2.0 recipient to encumber funds
  • June 30, 2026 – Deadline for REAP 2.0 funds to be expended

Resources

    SJV REAP COMMITTEE MEMBERS    
             
Kern County   Kings County   Fresno County   Madera County
Supervisor Zack Scrivner, County of Kern (County Rep. and Kern COG Board Member)   Supervisor Doug Verboon, County of Kings (County Rep. and KCAG Board Member)   Supervisor Steve Brandau, County of Fresno (County Rep)   Supervisor Robert Poythress, County of Madera (County Rep. and MCTC Board Member)
Councilmember Bob Smith, City of Bakersfield (Large City Rep. and Chairman of Kern COG)   Vice-Mayor Diane Sharp, City of Hanford (Large City Rep.)   Mayor Lee Brand, City of Fresno (Large City Representative and Fresno COG Board Member)   Mayor Santos Garcia, City of Madera (Large City Rep.)
Councilmember Cathy Prout, City of Shafter (Small City Rep.)   Mayor Alvaro Preciado, City of Avenal (Small City Rep.)   CHAIR – Vice Mayor Gary Yep, City of Kerman (Small City Representative and Fresno COG Board Member)   Council Member Diana Palmer, City of Chowchilla (Small City Rep.)
             
Merced County   San Joaquin County   Stanislaus County   Tulare County
VICE CHAIR – Supervisor Lloyd Pareira, County of Merced (County Rep. and MCAG Board Member)   Supervisor Chuck Winn, County of San Joaquin (County Rep. and SJ COG Board Member)   Supervisor Vito Chiesa, County of Stanislaus (County Rep. and StanCOG Board Member)   Supervisor Eddie Valero, County of Tulare (County Rep. and TCAG Board Member)
Mayor Matt Serratto, City of Merced (Large City Representative)   Vice Mayor Dan Wright, City of Stockton (Large City Rep.)   Bill O’Brien, private citizen representing Larger City (formerly served County BOS, StanCOG Board and SJV Policy Council)   Councilmember Frankie Alves, City of Exeter (Small City Rep.)
Mayor April Hogue, City of Dos Palos (Small City Representative)   Councilmember Gary Singh, City of Manteca (Small City Rep.)   Anthony Canella, private citizen representing Small Cities (former Senator)   Mayor Martha Flores, City of Porterville (Large City Rep.)