S.I.E.R.R.A Applies for Calaveras Grant

In foothill and mountain communities like Calaveras County, staying connected isn’t just a matter of convenience—it can be a vital lifeline. Between winding mountain terrain, seasonal wildfires, winter storms, and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), traditional cellular and internet infrastructure can easily drop out right when residents need it most.

To help solve this challenge, S.I.E.R.R.A has officially applied for competitive grant funding through the Calaveras Community Foundation. If awarded, it will fund the expansion of our off-grid MeshCore network along the critical Highway 4 Corridor, bringing 10 brand-new repeaters and educational workshops to local residents.

Who is the Calaveras Community Foundation?

For those unfamiliar with local philanthropic efforts, the Calaveras Community Foundation (CCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life across Calaveras County. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has distributed over $3.3 million in grants, assistance, and scholarships to support worthy local projects. It runs a competitive grant cycle each year for local nonprofits, schools, and units of government; in 2024 it awarded grants to 29 organizations.

10 New Repeaters Along Highway 4

The Highway 4 Corridor stretches through diverse elevation changes—from Angels Camp up through Murphys, Arnold, and beyond into Bear Valley. The region’s rolling hills and dense timber frequently create cellular dead zones where standard mobile service fails.

If awarded, this grant will fund the purchase and deployment of 10 strategic MeshCore repeaters.

What Are MeshCore Repeaters?

• Decentralized & Off-Grid: MeshCore uses low-power LoRa (Long Range) radio frequencies. Nodes communicate directly with each other without relying on cell towers, satellite links, or grid power.
• Solar & Battery Powered: Repeaters can be mounted on rooftops, towers, or elevated property and run on solar and battery power rather than the grid.
• Deliberately Placed & Maintained: MeshCore is not a self-healing swarm. It relies on a small number of deliberately placed, maintained repeaters that hold known routes between them. If a repeater goes down, its route is restored by the team that keeps it running, not by nodes re-routing on their own.

Empowering the Public: Educational Seminars

Technology is only as effective as the community using it. A core pillar of our grant proposal is hosting a series of free educational seminars across Calaveras County. Our Goal: Demystify off-grid radio communications and put accessible messaging tools directly into the hands of everyday residents. These public workshops will cover:

1. MeshCore 101: What mesh networking is, how it differs from Wi-Fi or cellular service, and how it operates during major utility power shutoffs or disasters.
2. Getting Started on a Budget: Demonstrating how affordable, pocket-sized LoRa radio devices—commonly in the $60–$100 range, such as the RAK WisMesh Pocket v2, which listed for $84.97 at Rokland as of July 2026—connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone to send off-grid text messages.
3. Emergency Preparedness Workflows: How families, neighborhood watch groups, and local volunteers can set up private channels for neighborhood check-ins during storms or evacuations.

What Does This Mean for You?

For the general public, the goal of an expanded MeshCore network along Highway 4 is a way to send short text messages that does not run through a cell carrier or depend on grid power—if the grant lands and the network is built out.

Looking Ahead

As climate shifts and extreme weather events continue to challenge conventional utilities, building grassroots infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s essential. S.I.E.R.R.A is proud to take this next step. We hope to receive grant notification later this year. In the meantime, keep an eye on our community announcements for upcoming meeting dates, node placement updates, and seminar schedules! Be Safe and Stay Connected
Jay Goldberg, Founder