Building a Bay Area For All: Harnessing the $1.2 Trillion Federal Infrastructure Package for Equitable Community Development

BARHII event

The Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) will present a forum from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, to explore how to harness the opportunity to deliver transformative benefits for Bay Area communities impacted by longstanding inequities.

Register for the virtual session here.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), also known as the bipartisan infrastructure bill, authorizes $1.2 trillion for infrastructure and transportation spending.

The unprecedented scale of federal funds flowing to states and localities presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformative benefits for communities impacted by longstanding inequities — many of which have also been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the virtual event, explore how to harness this opportunity in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn the latest news about how IIJA funds will flow to the region, learn about national models and best practices, and see examples of community-oriented infrastructure projects that can be supported through these new resources.

Strategies will also be shared for catalyzing effective funding partnerships with community-based organizations that serve the Bay Area’s diverse residents to deliver immediate neighborhood benefits and build long-term capacity for change.   

The forum is designed for Bay Area elected officials, public agency staff, and nonprofit leaders. Through this event, local leaders will be better prepared to adopt innovative practices to advance equity when allocating federal infrastructure funds to their communities, applying for competitive funding opportunities, and participating in the design of new federal infrastructure programs.

Speakers include:

  • Rebecca Long, Director of Legislation & Public Affairs, MTC/ABAG
  • Stephanie Gidigbi Jenkins, Co-Founder Communities First Infrastructure Alliance
  • Alegría De La Cruz, Director, Sonoma County Office of Equity
  • Melissa Jones, Executive Director, BARHII
  • Julio Garcia, Executive Director, Rise South City
  • Cristal Gallegos, Senior Organizer, Vallejo Housing Justice Coalition
  • Sasha Forbes, Director of Community Collaboration & Policy, Strong Prosperous and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC)