Projects Tracked

Project Description: As part of the Industry Sector Coordinator Team for Recreation and Tourism, we partnered with our colleagues at Sierra Focus Media to collaborate with all of the projects listed below and support their development through the Catalyst phase of Sierra Jobs First, ensuring alignment with the Sierra Jobs First Strategic Plan. Our goals were to provide technical support and to identify funding resources for these Catalyst projects to bring them to life through their ultimate implementation. The Sierra Jobs First team at Sierra Business Council, which served as the fiscal agent and regional convener for the California Jobs First Sierra region, hosts project updates, including the exact amount of the catalyst award received by each awardee on SierraJobsFirst.org, where you can find information on all of the awarded Catalyst projects, not just those in the Recreation and Tourism sector.

Recreation & Tourism Catalyst Projects

Chipmunk Canyon Existing Conditions Analysis

The project developed an existing conditions analysis of the unauthorized trail network to inform required environmental review, determine feasibility of a formal trails network, identify and plan for recreation amenities, and engage Tribes and interested communities to in a conceptual rec plan.

Creative Reuse of Creative Arts Center Tuolumne County

This project collected donated materials from businesses to divert from landfills and offered maker workshops focused on STEAM/STEM education. It included leasing a larger site, hiring educators for underserved communities, and a manager to structure the business.

Eastern Sierra Regional Campground Improvements & Jobs Creation

The Eastern Sierra Regional Campground Improvements and Jobs Creation project planned renovations for campgrounds across Inyo, Mono, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties to boost access, use, and climate resilience—advancing the Sierra Jobs First goals of equity, sustainability, and job growth.

Eastern Sierra Regional Education & Recreation Jobs Creation

Collaboratively implemented recommended actions from "A Changing Climate: Vulnerability in Californias Eastern Sierra," as developed by SRTI and ESSRP. Worked collaboratively to provide students with project and experiential learning opportunities, such as asset inventory and GPS/GIS spatial data work.

Eastern Sierra Regional Trail System & Jobs Creation

This project furthered the Eastern Sierra Regional Trail System via a Westside Towns to Trails Plan that connects to ESCOG’s Eastside Plan. It assessed existing infrastructure, conditions, and needs to improve trail connectivity.

Pathways to Prosperity: A Regional Multimodal Recreation Initiative

This initiative sought to enhance multimodal safety and recreational infrastructure across Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties. The initiative identified recreational enhancements and rated segments for both attainability and potential impact.

Sierra Regional Arts Organization Collaborative Network

This project proposed to create a Sierra Regional Arts Organization Network with participating arts organizations in each of the Sierra Regions seven county cluster to formalize collabortion between partners who share significant challenges as rural artist organizations in this economic landscape.

Sierra Sourced

Sierra Sourced built business to business relationships, strengthened local supply chains, and expanded market access through e-commerce and partnerships. It boosted demand for regional goods, offered accessible marketplaces, and created year-round revenue for local businesses.

Sustainable Mobility Partnership Program

This program focused on developing sustainable recreation, transportation, and tourism infrastructure and programming in the Central Sierra region through collaborations, local and state advocacy, bicycle infrastructure projects, new funding, memberships, and events to promote bike culture.

The Collaborative Sustainable Recreation Assessment

This project engaged disinvested Sierra communities to build a stewardship economy through year-round recreation research, expansion of the Take Care Sierra campaign, and creation of Ambassador jobs, fostering stewardship and local economic growth.

Tri-County Recreation Economic Impact Study

This project conducted a comprehensive Economic Impact Study to guide sustainable recreation managememt and development in Inyo, Mono, and Alpine Counties.

Other Sector Projects with Recreation & Tourism Overlap

Business Catalyst Program

The Eastern Sierra BRC supported local businesses with 1:1 technical help, workshops, and collaboration space. Catalyst funds supported youth pitch camps, 60 hrs/month of business advising, trades mentorship development, an Angel Investor Network, and a financial sustainability plan.

Eastern Sierra Regional Collaborative (ESRC) Capacity Incubator

The ESRC Capacity Incubator expanded ESCOG’s SREMP program to support collaborative land, climate, and recreation strategies. It built third-party planning capacity, aligned regional partners, and supported job training in outdoor rec, forestry, and climate through Cerro Coso College.

Investing in our Shared Future

Catalyst funds supported a collaborative planning process to explore how a Community Foundation could strengthen nonprofits and regional philanthropy. Funds also helped hire local staff to implement the resulting plan and improve quality of life in the Eastern Sierra.

The Blue Heron Project Feasibility and Development Project

The Blue Heron Project was committed to creating a thriving, community-centered food system for the Eastern Sierra. With support from California Jobs First, this project engaged local residents, businesses, farmers, and Tribal communities in a region-wide conversation about the future of food.

Recreation & Tourism ”Walk-On” Projects

As Industry Sector Coordinators, we also provided technical assistance to recreation and tourism projects that were not awarded Catalyst funding—as long as they aligned with the Sierra Jobs First Regional Strategic Plan.
Below are projects which fell under this "Walk-On" Project Category. Please note the term "Walk-On Project" is a term used by MLTPA and SFM but is not an official term necessarily used by California Jobs First, Sierra Business Council, or by ISC's for other sectors.

Calaveras Recreational Shuttle Service

Calaveras County explored a year-round regional shuttle from Valley Springs through San Andreas and Angels Camp to Murphys, Arnold, and Bear Valley. The service would boost recreation and tourism, create jobs, reduce traffic and emissions, and support local businesses.

Expanding Adaptive Recreation in the Eastern Sierra

Access Mammoth explored how to bolster and expand year-round adaptive recreation so people of all ages and abilities can enjoy the outdoors. The project will expand programs serving hundreds annually, support veterans and individuals with disabilities, and ensure equitable access across the region.

Pine Creek Vault Toilet

With the Access Fund and ESCOG, the BACC worked with partners to install a permanent pit toilet in Pine Creek Canyon. With USFS approval secured, BACC raised funds for installation and maintenance, with Jobs First support helping identify sustainable funding sources.

Sierra Jobs First Project Website

For the latest updates on all Catalyst projects, visit the Projects page managed by the Sierra Business Council, which features the Regional Summary, Strategic Plan, governance details, news, events, and ways to engage across Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties.

Last Updated August 4, 2026

This project was funded by Sierra Jobs First and created to support the initiative’s mission of creating a community-led, climate-neutral, inclusive future for our industry in the Sierra region. Through our partnership with Sierra Business Council, regional conveners and fiscal administrators for California Jobs First in the Sierra region, we provided industry-specific assistance that supported job growth, inclusive workforce development, and economic resilience, while protecting our region’s natural lands and vibrant communities.