Projects Tracked

Project Description: As part of the Industry Sector Coordinator Team for Recreation and Tourism, we partner with our colleagues at Sierra Focus Media to collaborate with all of the projects listed below to support their development through the Catalyst phase of Sierra Jobs First, ensuring alignment with the Sierra Jobs First Strategic Plan. Our goals are to provide technical support and to identify funding resources for these Catalyst projects to bring them to life through their ultimate implementation. The individual projects listed below are subject to change as some project contracts are still pending. Once all contracts are fully executed, the Sierra Jobs First team at Sierra Business Council, which serves as the fiscal agent and regional convener for the California Jobs First Sierra region, will publish project updates, including the exact amount of the catalyst award received by each awardee on SierraJobsFirst.org and in the Sierra Jobs First newsletter. Through those resources, you can find information on all of the awarded Catalyst projects, not just those in the Recreation and Tourism sector. We encourage you to check back to this page for updates on the Recreation and Tourism projects as we actively engage with these projects and drive progress in the Sustainable Recreation & Tourism sector, and to reach out to MLTPA and Sierra Focus Media at sjfadmin@mltpa.org for more information. If you have questions about any of the Catalyst awards across all sectors, including project descriptions, award amounts, lead organizations, and/or counties/industries/foundational elements addressed, or if you are an awarded project with questions about contracting, invoicing, reporting, or need other administrative help, please reach out to your assigned Sierra Jobs First team liaison directly, or to the general Sierra Jobs Team at jobsfirst@sierrabusiness.org. As it becomes available, you can click on the project's title below to view additional project information.

Recreation & Tourism Catalyst Projects

Chipmunk Canyon Existing Conditions Analysis

The project will develop 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 will collect donated materials from businesses to divert from landfills and offer maker workshops focused on STEAM/STEM education. It includes leasing a larger site, hiring educators for underserved communities, and a manager to structure the business.

Eastern Sierra Regional Campground Improvements & Jobs Creation

This project aims to collect donated materials from local businesses otherwise to go to landfill; utilize maker workshops to provide access to resources for STEM and STEAM focused learning and exploration for all ages; and hire necessary professional capacity.

Eastern Sierra Regional Education & Recreation Jobs Creation

Collaboratively implement recommended actions from "A Changing Climate: Vulnerability in Californias Eastern Sierra," as developed by SRTI and ESSRP. Work 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 will complete the Eastern Sierra Regional Trail System via a Westside Towns to Trails Plan that connects to ESCOG’s Eastside Plan. It will assess existing infrastructure, conditions, and needs to improve trail connectivity.

Pathways to Prosperity: A Regional Multimodal Recreation Initiative

This initiative seeks to enhance multimodal safety and recreational infrastructure across Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties. The initiative will identify recreational enhancements and rate segments for both attainability and potential impact.

Sierra Regional Arts Organization Collaborative Network

This project proposes 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 builds business to business relationships, strengthens local supply chains, and expands market access through e-commerce and partnerships. It boosts demand for regional goods, offers accessible marketplaces, and creates year-round revenue for local businesses.

Sustainable Mobility Partnership Program

This program will focus 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 will engage disinvested Sierra communities in building 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 will conduct 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 supports local businesses with 1:1 technical help, workshops, and collaboration space. Catalyst funds will support 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 will expand ESCOG’s SREMP program to support collaborative land, climate, and recreation strategies. It builds third-party planning capacity, aligns regional partners, and supports job training in outdoor rec, forestry, and climate through Cerro Coso College.

Investing in our Shared Future

Catalyst funds will support a collaborative planning process to explore how a Community Foundation could strengthen nonprofits and regional philanthropy. Funds will also help 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 is committed to creating a thriving, community-centered food system for the Eastern Sierra. With support from California Jobs First, this project will engage local residents, businesses, farmers, and Tribal communities in a region-wide conversation about the future of food.

Recreation & Tourism ”Walk-On” Projects

These projects were not awarded Catalyst funding but were still supported by Recreation & Tourism coordinators for aligning with the Sierra Jobs First Regional Strategic Plan. If you’re working on a recreation or tourism project and want to see how we can assist, complete this form or email sjfadmin@mltpa.org.