Caltrans Clean California Awards $251,000 to Trinidad Rancheria Harbor Beautification, Workforce Training

Caltrans has awarded $251,022 to the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria for the "Trinidad Rancheria Harbor District Beautification and Workforce Development Initiative," CleanCalifornia.ca lists the grant and shows a total project cost of $289,078 under District 1. The project funding will pay for litter and graffiti removal, community engagements and cleanup events at Trinidad Rancheria Harbor, which the Cher-Ae Heights community operates.

The initiative couples shoreline cleanup with workforce development and paid job training, including on-the-job experience for participants. Scott Ellsmore, Caltrans Senior transportation planner, said: “They're going to have workforce development where they're going to bring folks on and provide some job experience, some job training.” Local leadership framed the effort as environmental protection and cultural stewardship: Vincent Reseigne, Solid Waste / Air Quality Program Manager for the Trinidad Rancheria, said: “So this is a very important cultural space, and along with that we get commercial and sport fishermen, so we really want to protect the marine resources, the fish, and the crab from any sort of litter and just bring the community together to understand the importance of this area.”

The Trinidad award is part of the Community Cleanup & Employment Pathway (CCEP) grants under Caltrans' Clean California initiative. Caltrans materials describe the CCEP round as a $25 million award to 90 local projects statewide to support litter and graffiti removal while linking cleanups to paid job training. Clean California is presented as a $1.2 billion, multiyear program; Caltrans reporting lists program achievements since July 2021 of 3.5 million cubic yards of litter removed and more than 18,000 jobs created. California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said: “The Clean California program is demonstrating how these investments can strengthen communities,” and: “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 Director Dina El-Tawansy added: “These grants do more than fund cleanups, they’re investments in people and provide hope and opportunity,” and: “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.”

CleanCalifornia.ca shows the Trinidad entry alongside other District 1 awards, including the City of Eureka's Eureka Job Skills Training Program at a $256,000 state grant for a $313,801 total project cost, the City of Arcata's Open Space Cleanup & Workforce Development Project at $155,000 state grant and $178,964 total cost, the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians project at $268,450 state grant and $290,058 total cost, and Hoopa Land Management TEPA at a $300,000 state grant with $320,000 total project cost. Several news summaries round the Trinidad award to $251,000, but the Clean California project table lists the precise state grant as $251,022.

Project organizers say implementation will ramp up in the coming months and continue into 2027, with cleanup events and workforce training scheduled as part of the work. Caltrans lists Edward Barrera as a contact for the CCEP announcement; the Trinidad Rancheria and Caltrans will determine the schedule, workforce partners and on-the-ground milestones as the project moves into implementation.