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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Hispanic Heritage Month, COVID-19 Bivalent Boosters Available, REAP 2.0 Funding, County Electrification and more

by Community Contributor • September 16, 2022 • Comments Off

COVID-19 Booster-bivalent Vaccines Available

The new COVID-19 booster-bivalent vaccine is different from the first two doses of Pfizer and Moderna. Pfizer and Moderna bivalent Covid-19 vaccines include mRNA from prevalent BA.4/BA.5 strains of SARS-CoV-2. Monovalent mRNA vaccines are no longer authorized for booster doses for people ages 12 years and older.

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine is available under EUA for individuals 12 years of age and older

Authorized as a 2-dose primary series given 3 to 8 weeks apart.
FDA-approved protein-based vaccines used widely for decades and include vaccines to prevent hepatitis B and shingles.
Not approved as a Booster
Throughout the county, there are about 400 doses and will only be given upon request

View the chart below to see the COVID-19 Vaccine Timing Schedule

For locations where you can schedule your booster visit https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/.

$5.3 Million Grant Opportunity

California’s Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (known as REAP 2.0) provided $600 million in funding statewide for planning and capital projects to implement regional Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). In Santa Barbara County, this is known as Connected 2050. $5.3 million of REAP 2.0 is available to be spent in Santa Barbara County, administered by SBCAG. Beginning Oct. 6, SBCAG will request proposals for $5.3 million in grant funds available to be spent in Santa Barbara County on transformative housing and sustainable transportation projects. Housing authorities, school districts, special districts, community-based organizations, cities, and the county of Santa Barbara are eligible to apply for these funds.

SBCAG is conducting a public outreach campaign online and in-person from now through Oct. 7 to gather the information that will help decide what type of projects could receive grant funds in the county.

The outreach effort is asking the public to take a 5-minute survey in Spanish and English, those who complete the survey could receive a $50 cash card.

If you are interested in learning more or considering submitting a proposal, please attend SBCAG’s REAP 2.0 Lunchtime Webinar from Noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 21. You can also contact Dajung directly at DChung@sbcag.org or(805) 961-8925 to schedule a meeting.

To learn more about REAP 2.0 visit REAP 2.0 SBCAG Webpage or view the Resource Guide

Transportation Electrification

I am happy to announce that the County of Santa Barbara has partnered with Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) to further transportation electrification in the area, granting $242,000 for the installation of 22 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and the purchase of light-duty electric vehicles.

CCCE granted the County $92,000 in incentives for EV charging infrastructure that went toward the purchase of Powerflex Level 2 chargers. The charging stations provide additional electricity sources for the 7,000 EV drivers in the County and improve feasibility for many would-be EV drivers, helping reduce emissions and better air quality.

Charger Locations:

The County of Santa Barbara is also planning to purchase 30 new light-duty electric vehicles with $150,000 in incentives from CCCE’s Light Duty Fleet Electrification Program. Learn more at 3CEnergy.org and on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @3CEnergy.

9/11 Memorial

This Sunday, I joined in commemorating and honoring the nearly 3000 victims of the September 11 terrorist attack. We have a commonality of purpose to create a safer world for our children. I remember the horror, I remember the heroism of firefighters and police officers, and I remember the togetherness as we sought solace. That feeling of unity that swept the country at that time was powerful, and is in stark contrast with the current divide that exists in our country. We have the same republic, the same world, and if we can work toward a common purpose, we can meet the challenges posed to our nation in these dangerous times.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Supervisor Lavagnino and I sponsored and presented a resolution declaring Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th, 2022 through October 15th, 2022 to the Carpinteria Latinx Collective, Mujeres Makers Market, and Casa de la Raza. This year’s theme is, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” this theme reinforces the need to ensure diverse voices and perspectives are welcomed in decision-making processes, thereby helping to build stronger communities, and a stronger Nation, and reminds us that we are stronger together.