SAN FRANCISCO – Next week marks the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 being signed into law by President Barack Obama, and exciting projects are taking place all over the Bay Area. On Tuesday, federal, state and local officials will gather for a unique tour of one such project under construction that will provide critical protections to the San Francisco Bay.
Presidential appointee Jared Blumenfeld, regional director of the of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will join the mayor of El Cerrito and key state and local partners to announce details of how stimulus funds are being leveraged in El Cerrito and communities throughout the Bay Area to infuse a “green” foundation into much needed infrastructure improvements. The project is an excellent model for how economic and environmental benefits can successfully work in tandem in the state of California and throughout the Pacific Southwest.
11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 16
Tour begins at El Cerrito City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Avenue
11:15 a.m. - Media check-in
11:30 a.m. - Press conference to begin, followed by tour. The event will take place rain or shine.
This is an innovative partnership between the California State Water Control Resources Board, San Francisco Estuary Partnership, City of El Cerrito, San Francisco Estuary Institute and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The state of California expeditiously worked to distribute nearly half a billion dollars of money provided by U.S. EPA through the Recovery Act in order to help local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.
Members of the Media: To reserve a spot and participate in Tuesday's press conference and tour please RSVP via email as soon as possible to simms.mary@epa.gov. To RSVP please email the requested information in the following format: First Name, Last Name, Title, Media Outlet, Email, Telephone.
Please note: Following the event, an e-media kit will go live and be hosted on-line at: