What is the Richmond Green-Blue New Deal?

Richmond Green-Blue New Deal Team, kick-off meeting

Two and a half years ago, Congressional members presented the broad brush strokes of a federal Green New Deal. Slash greenhouse gas emissions from the energy, transportation, construction, and agriculture sectors; modernize the grid and fortify cities against climate disasters. Details of the plan, though, were left for later.

Congressional representatives framed the Green New Deal and started the conversation. Now we at the local level get to decide what we want the details to be. Over the next 15 months, residents and workers in the city of Richmond, California, will discuss and plan for our own Green New Deal.

In 2021, when Richmond City Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin proposed a Green New Deal for Richmond she added the word “Blue” to the title. Her intent was to highlight Richmond’s 32 miles of shoreline as well as give a nod to the Labor movement. And the conversation about Richmond’s Green-Blue New Deal ramped up.

In September 2021, then Economic Development Director Shasa Curl released the Request for Proposals for a Richmond Green-Blue New Deal Workforce Development Plan. In November 2021, Bay Area-based consulting firm Appraccel along with subcontractors Groundwork Richmond, Safe Return Project, MIG, HR&A Advisors, Abbe & Associates, Medema Consulting, and Inclusive Economics, submitted a proposal for the work. Our kick-off meeting was held on June 21, 2022 and the Appraccel team’s work began. 

Do you have questions, comments or suggestions about the Richmond Green-Blue New Deal? Contact Appraccel’s project manager at thegreatpivot at gmail dot com.