About Bakersfield:

The City of Bakersfield is located near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. As the 9th largest California city, Bakersfield is an important hub for both agriculture and energy production. Bakersfield is exploring how to revitalize its downtown area, provide needed housing and improve air quality.

• Population: 347,483 (2010)
• Location: Kern County
• Area: 151 square miles
• Disadvantaged community: 5%
• Poverty rate: 19.2%
• Median household income: $50,058
• Language other than English spoken at home: 41.5%

BOOST Activities:

• Support Transformative Climate Communities Planning Grant implementation
• Provide SB 2 Planning Grant technical assistance
• Help accessing California Climate Investments (CCI) grants and other state and federal funding
• Build relationships with state agencies and peer communities across California

BOOST Successes:

ILG helped secure more than $1.3 million for Bakersfield to engage in a comprehensive planning effort, which will include the city’s first ever Climate Action and Resilience Plan. ILG facilitated a community-driven Sustainable Transportation Equity Project planning grant application that will help educate, engage and empower the underinvested area of South-East Bakersfield. Those residents are now positioned to lead planning and decision-making processes that will improve access to clean transportation and address longstanding health and economic disparities.