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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
SACRAMENTO – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma on Monday announced her appointment of Nancee Robles as executive director of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, or CPCFA, which provides low-cost innovative financing to California businesses, including issuing tax-exempt private activity bonds to qualified waste and recycling projects, and other projects to control pollution and improve water supply.
CPCFA also administers the California Capital Access Program, or CalCAP, which encourages financial institutions to make loans to small businesses and provides for specialty programs targeted toward building an improved infrastructure for zero- and partial-emission vehicles and helping small businesses comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Robles most recently served as acting executive director of IBank, an agency that finances public infrastructure and private development to promote jobs, the economy, and the quality of life in California communities.
The IBank issues tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds, provides direct loan financing to public agencies, and issues credit enhancements that leverage state and federal funds.
She managed the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program, the California Lending or Energy and Environmental Needs Program, 501(c)(3) Revenue Bond Program, Industrial Development Revenue Bond Program, Exempt Facility Revenue Bond Program and Governmental Bond Program, Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, Farm Loan Program, Jump Start Loan Program and the Disaster Relief Loan Program.
Prior to her state service, Robles spent more than 30 years in the private sector banking industry where she served a variety of financial institutions, most recently as senior credit supervisor and primary underwriting trainer for Fireside Bank in Pleasanton, California.
“My commitment to the public has been to bring the most talented employees to the State Treasurer’s Office, and we hit it out of the ballpark with Nancee. She is a highly regarded professional with superb public- and private-sector leadership experience,” said Treasurer Ma. “I am confident she will lead CPCFA with skill, dedication, and passion.”
Robles is no stranger to CPCFA. She began her state service there and she managed the CalCAP and Collateral Support Programs. She is a subject matter expert of the California State Small Business Initiative Act Programs.
Robles also held the position of treasury program manager II for the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority at the Treasurer’s Office.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in communications with a concentration in finance and workplace development from California State University at Sacramento and an executive MBA from California State University at Monterey Bay.
For more information about the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, go to https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/ .
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The free workshop is ideal for new and existing commercial cannabis cultivators and consultants. Those interested in attending can use the link below to watch the webcast – no registration is required. Closed captions will be provided.
Questions can be submitted in advance of and during the event by sending an email to
The workshop will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. July 22 at http://video.calepa.ca.gov .
CalCannabis will provide an overview of the state’s cannabis cultivation licensing program and review their requirements for commercial cannabis farming. CDFW will cover permitting, using the online notification system and how to reduce environmental impacts.
The State Water Board will review the cannabis policy, permitting process and other important information. Other regulatory agencies will also present.
For more information about becoming a licensed commercial cannabis farmer and for an overview of the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace METRC System, visit the CalCannabis website at http://calcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov , call 1‑833-CALGROW (1-833-225-4769) or send an email to
To report suspected illegal cannabis cultivation or related complaints, call the CalCannabis toll-free hotline: 1-833-WEED-TIP (1-833-933-3847).
To learn more about CDFW’s cannabis program, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/cannabis or send an email to
To learn more about the State Water Board’s role in cannabis cultivation permitting, visit http://waterboards.ca.gov/cannabis .
For permitting and compliance assistance, send an email to
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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
The board advises the secretary on CDFA’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, or FMIP, which ensures fertilizing materials are safe, effective and meet quality guarantees.
As part of the program, FMIP inspectors and investigators located throughout the state conduct routine sampling and inspections; respond to consumer complaints; and enforce laws and regulations that govern the manufacturing and distribution of fertilizing materials.
FMIP is funded by fertilizing materials license and product registration fees and mill assessments.
Vacancies are available for three board positions. The term of office for board members is three years. Members receive no compensation but are entitled to necessary travel expenses.
Board member applicants must hold a current fertilizing materials license or be a representative of a licensed firm.
Individuals interested in a board appointment must submit by August 31, 2020, a resume and a completed Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire, or PMAQ, available on the CDFA website at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/PMAQ_Fertilizer_IAB.pdf .
Send resume and PMAQ via email to
For more information, contact Brittnie Sabalbro at 916-900-5022 or
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
With the U.S. insurance industry commanding $7 trillion in investible assets, the new Invest in Our Diverse Communities Initiative will identify investments managed or owned by diverse investment leaders to fund targeted projects with social benefits in the state.
The new initiative is part of the Department of Insurance’s California Organized Investment Network, or COIN, a nationally recognized model program created in 1996 to increase insurance industry capital in underserved, low-to-moderate, and rural communities throughout California.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inequality in wealth that continues to persist in communities across our state, which I believe the insurance industry can help to tackle through socially responsible investments,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “‘Invest in Our Diverse Communities’ will help insurance companies target their investments to diverse managers and firms who support environmentally sustainable programs and affordable housing projects for California to help improve our way of life and provide a stable home for those who need it.”
Commissioner Lara’s initiative will add COIN-qualified investment opportunities owned and managed by diverse firms to the Impact Investment Marketplace, an online “central clearinghouse” portal that the Department of Insurance launched in May 2019.
COIN-qualified investment opportunities address areas requiring immediate attention, such as health care, homelessness, and environmental sustainability. Investment opportunities also assist small businesses in underserved communities which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be needed now more than ever before.
In the past year, the COIN program has highlighted many new investment opportunities statewide to insurance companies, including funds which work to displace current and potential greenhouse gas emissions as well as to invest in renewable power assets such as solar and wind infrastructure that seek to deliver positive environmental and social impact.
Other COIN program investment opportunities focus on the development of permanent supportive housing to help alleviate homelessness in California or those which invest in platforms that improve the quality of life for Californians by increasing access to better education, health care, banking, financial services and credit, and improved environmental conditions.
COIN also works with certified Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, to help them source funding through insurance company direct investments and public bond offerings. COIN has long-standing relationships with some of the largest CDFIs in California.
COIN sources CDFI capital-raising initiatives and gauges initial interest from insurers for public offerings of CDFI securities. COIN also notifies insurers of potential investment opportunities in CDFIs and regularly meets with insurer investment staff to “matchmake” specific CDFIs to insurers’ investment portfolio strategies.
Commissioner Lara today announced his appointments to the COIN Advisory Board, which provides focus and guidance to the Commissioner and COIN Program to meet its mission. The newest members include the Board’s first ever representative with experience seeking investments that provide environmental benefits, a seat created on January 1, 2020 by Commissioner’s Lara’s sponsored Assembly Bill 1099 authored by State Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, as well as other exceptional and diverse new members.
“It is crucial that we remain committed to socially responsible investing in our communities and in the environment and our COIN board members are an integral part in that,” said Commissioner Lara. “I am confident that our new members will bring fresh ideas and unique perspectives to help us further our goals of directing strategic funds to investments with a measurable impact in affordable housing, community development, renewable energy, and preservation of our natural resources.”
Doug Bystry, COIN Advisory Board Chair and President/CEO of Clearinghouse CDFI, stated, “I am extremely excited about Commissioner Lara’s move to increase diversity in directing insurance industry investments. This new initiative will bring new resources to underserved, distressed, low-income communities throughout California. We also welcome new members of the COIN Advisory Board, and look forward to their added expertise and input on community development investments.”
The next COIN Advisory Board meeting will be held on Thursday, August 13. More details are available at www.insurance.ca.gov/COIN .
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