Reduced pollution. Lower utility bills. More trees. Increased access to healthy food. These and other objectives that Pomona residents envision for their community are being advanced by investments totaling $22 million from California’s Transformative Climate Communities Program.
The goal is a healthier, more prosperous community. Pomona Activated for Community Transformation and Sustainability, or Pomona ACTS, is a coalition of community groups, nonprofit organizations, and local government agencies that have come together to advance this goal.
UCLA’S WORK: DOCUMENTING & LEARNING
The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation has a front row seat to the work of environmental justice champions. Our team is documenting the groundbreaking climate action taking place in Pomona, thanks to a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant.
We are collecting and sharing data on measurable accomplishments as well as the stories from residents, business owners, workers, and others who have shaped — or been shaped by — TCC.
This website is a hub to showcase our work and the progress of Pomona ACTS partners’ efforts. We believe that documenting TCC implementation can be valuable in informing future climate action in Pomona and beyond.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
The City of Pomona is a diverse community that was once a major agricultural center and a leader in citrus production. Today, it is the seventh-largest city in Los Angeles County, with an economy centered on manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Many residents face some of the highest pollution burdens in the state and elevated rates of adverse health conditions, including asthma and cardiovascular disease. To address these inequities, TCC investments are focused on Pomona’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
ABOUT POMONA ACTS
Pomona Activated for Community Transformation and Sustainability, or Pomona ACTS, is a community-driven effort to improve transportation, renewable energy, green infrastructure, and community health. This coalition of community groups, nonprofit organizations, and local government agencies is working together for a healthier, more vibrant, and more resilient Pomona that meets the challenges of climate change while creating opportunities for stronger local economies and a shared sense of community.
Rooted in social justice and collaboration, we focus on transforming the heart of Pomona — including downtown, key corridors, and nearby neighborhoods — through local, community-led projects. – Pomona ACTS Partners
Partner Organizations
Projects and Plans
TCC’s investment in the Pomona ACTS initiative, totaling $22 million, funds a suite of projects and plans that aim to reduce pollution, offer job training opportunities, and offset energy and transportation costs for low-income households. The TCC investment is complemented by over $10 million in leveraged/matching funds. Pomona ACTS’s efforts include:
3 Transformative plans that promote community engagement, displacement avoidance, and workforce development
2 Projects that make the community greener and more walkable/bikeable
2 Projects that increase access to electrified transportation options
2 Projects that generate renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels
1 Project that improves access to healthy food
1 Project that increases access to public transit
POMONA ACTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As of June 2026
3,417
free Metro GoPasses distributed to K-12 students
568
free Metro passes distributed to low-income senior and disabled residents
67
community members provided input to inform EV charger locations
20
events attended/tabled for engagement
6
solar systems installed on a single-family property
0.5
acre of community urban farmland expanded
Source: Pomona ACTS
STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY
The UCLA team is authoring a series of stories on Pomona residents, workers, local leaders, and others who have shaped — or been shaped by — the implementation of TCC investments. The first, published this year, spotlights residents involved with the Community Urban Farm project.
Through his involvement with Lopez Urban Farm, Peter Lechuga has witnessed the positive impact of TCC investments at the farm on both himself and the local community.
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Having the opportunity to harvest my own organic crops that aren’t produced on a factory farm … just [having access to] clean food so often has just been absolutely beneficial to me and my fiancée’s life. – PETER LECHUGA
We are thankful to many partners for making our work in Pomona possible. First, we thank the California Strategic Growth Council for dedicating resources to conduct a third-party evaluation of TCC investments in Pomona. We also owe so much gratitude to Pomona ACTS partners for trusting us to showcase their work and for all of their logistical support along the way.
Top page photo:
Pomona ACTS partners pose with local resident at the first solar panel install, February 2026
Credit: The Energy Coalition
Second photo:
Aerial view of Pomona
Credit: The Energy Coalition