The California Department of Transportation – known as Caltrans – recently awarded $25 million to 90 local projects that support statewide litter and graffiti removal efforts.
[Above photo by Caltrans]
The agency said those projects are funded through the Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway or CCEP grant program through Clean California, an initiative spearheaded by Governor Gavin Newsom (D).
Through these competitive grants, CCEP supports litter abatement and public space beautification efforts on locally owned public rights-of-way, Caltrans said.
The agency added that, along with litter and graffiti abatement, a core component of this program is to create “pathways” to employment with meaningful job training and paid transitional opportunities through partnerships with workforce development organizations – specifically for former inmates, the homeless, and at-risk youth.
“These grants do more than fund cleanups, they’re investments in people and provide hope and opportunity,” said Dina El-Tawansy, director of Caltrans, in a statement.
“By partnering with local agencies and workforce development organizations, we’re investing in our under-resourced communities by creating jobs, restoring pride and proving that when we care for our neighborhoods, we care for each other,” she said.
“The Clean California program is demonstrating how these investments can strengthen communities,” added Toks Omishakin, secretary of the California State Transportation Agency. “Governor Newsom’s vision for more vibrant public spaces is being realized by linking community improvements with paid job training to create opportunity, stability and long-term success for Californians.”
Caltrans noted that those grants will also provide funding to promote public education and anti-littering campaigns across the state to be recognized as a Clean California Community.
The agency added that, since the launch of Clean California in July 2021, more than 3.5 million cubic yards of litter has been removed from highways and public spaces – the equivalent of filling more than 150,000 residential garbage trucks with debris and trash.
As part of the program, Caltrans also hosted more than 650 free dump days in communities throughout the state – resulting in the collection of 15,500-plus mattresses and 57,000 tires.
The initiative has drawn more than 10,000 community clean-up volunteers and created 18,267 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or homeless.
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