Two Central Valley cities are now eligible to receive support from the state to expedite housing production.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that Fresno and Stockton, as well as nine other cities and counties, have been designated as Prohousing communities.
The big picture: The Prohousing designation will help Fresno and Stockton unlock additional funds and incentives to further their efforts to build housing.
- Benefits include earning additional points or other preferences in the scoring of competitive funding programs administered by the Housing and Community Development Agency.
- Fresno and Stockton are also now eligible for the Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program, which provides additional funds for housing production.
Go deeper: In order to receive the Prohousing designation, Fresno and Stockton had to demonstrate to the state that they are promoting climate-smart housing development, according to the governor’s office.
- Such development includes streamlining multifamily housing developments, up-zining in places near jobs and transit and creating more affordable homes in places that are not racially and economically diverse.
The backstory: The Prohousing Designation Program was established in Newsom’s 2019-2020 budget as part of a spectrum of support, incentives and accountability measures to help meet the state’s housing goals.
- California plans to build 2.5 million new homes over the next eight years.
What they’re saying: Newsom praised the communities for their efforts to meet the designation.
- “Remarkably, in just a few weeks since our last announcement, the number of Prohousing Designation has doubled, a testament to the growing number of communities taking responsibility and committing to building their fair share of housing,” Newsom said.
- “Instead of making excuses, these jurisdictions are rising to the challenge, making difficult choices and ensuring that Californians have access to needed housing.”
