SACRAMENTO, CA – April 24, 2024 – Today, the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) approved $93.6 million to help build climate resiliency centers in neighborhoods most impacted by extreme heat and other climate related issues, fulfilling part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s $48 billion California Climate Commitment. This funding is part of Round One of the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) program, which falls under California’s Climate Adaption Strategy and Extreme Heat Action Plan.
"These community resilience centers will serve as beacons of hope, empowering neighborhoods on the front lines of the climate crisis to drive proactive, community-driven action," said Governor Gavin Newsom.
SGC, which is made up of three public members and seven heads of State agencies, voted to approve the $93.6 million of CRC funding to be divided between four Project Development Grant awardees and nine Project Implementation Grant awardees. In February, the Council voted unanimously to approve close to $5 million in funding to 11 Planning Grant projects.
“Our new Community Resilience Center in southwest Santa Rosa will enable us to provide year-round preparedness and resilience support for one of the most vibrant yet underserved neighborhoods in the county,” said Cathryn Couch, Chief Executive Officer of the Ceres Community Project, a CRC Implementation Grant awardee.
Couch’s Sonoma County community was devastated by wildfires in 2017, 2019 and 2020, changing her understanding of climate risks and their impacts on communities.
“The Ceres Community Project is deeply honored to be receiving a Community Resilience Center Implementation Grant on behalf of Sonoma County,” she said.
The CRC program was created to support and prepare communities like Couch’s for implementing neighborhood-level centers that will serve as emergency response facilities to alleviate impacts of hazards like wildfire, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and climate change. Once built, the centers will also offer public resources, and other community services throughout the year.
“This intentional space will not only provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies, but it will also foster community empowerment, offering a comprehensive array of programs and services informed by and for the local community,” says Jim Mangia, President and CEO of St. John’s Community Health, an Implementation Grant awardee.
The St. John Community Health project will build a first of its kind Resilience Center in South Los Angeles, one of the most under-resourced area of Los Angeles County.
Round One of CRC funding was able to award 24 Community Resilience Center project grants, out of close to 200 applications. Grants were awarded across the Program’s three grant types, resulting in 11 Planning Grants, four Project Development Grants, and nine Implementation Grants. Awardees represent neighborhoods in vulnerable rural and urban areas, incorporated and unincorporated cities, as well as California tribal lands.
Serrell Smokey, Tribal Chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California says, these funds will allow the Tribe to establish the huŋálelti (“Southern Band of wá∙šiw”) communities’ t'ába káŋa (“Grizzley Cave”) Resiliency Operations Center (“ROC”) in Alpine County, California. huŋálelti is located in a rural area of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain range that is prone to wildfires and extreme weather events.
“Establishing the huŋálelti t'ába káŋa Resiliency Operations Center will allow the Washoe Tribe to achieve sustainability, equity, economic prosperity, and quality of life for our tribal community,” says Serrell Smokey.
“It is clear with the number of applicants for Round One of the CRC program that communities most impacted by extreme climate impacts continue to need resources and funding to become more climate resilient,” said Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Strategic Growth Council Executive Director. “SGC will continue to find solutions to connect applicants to solutions.”
Full list of today’s Community Resilience Centers Project Grantees
Development Grantees
- $1,070,620.00 award to Banning Armory Community Resilience Center Project (Armory Project) - City of Banning
- $988,752.00 award to Empowering Our Community: Collaborative Research for Resilience – Community Action Partnership of Kern
- $1,926,478.00 award to Development from Destruction: Creating South Stockton Community Resiliency – Little Manila Rising
- $5,000,000.00 award to Southwest Santa Rosa/Roseland Community Resilience Hub – California Parenting Institute (dba Child Parent Institute)
Implementation Grantees
- $10,000,000 award to Avalon Health Resilience and Access Center (AHARC) - St. John’s Community Health (SJCH)
- $10,000,000 award to Hung A Lel Ti t'ába káŋa “Bear Cave”/ Resiliency Operations Center – Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California
- $9,996,195 award to Ramona Community Resilience Campus (RCRC) - Ramona Municipal Water District (RMWD)
- $10,000,000 award to Harbour Hall – CRC – Pogo Park
- $10,000,000 award to Revitalizing Western Nevada County Veterans’ Halls – County of Nevada
- $8,459,468 award to La Semilla Community Resiliency Center – Casa Familiar Inc.
- $10,000,000 award to Madera County Hope Center Construction Project – Madera County Department of Public Health
- $10,000,000 award to Coachella Community Resilience Center – City of Coachella
- $4,794,563 award to The Center for Food, Youth & Community (CFYC) - Ceres Community Project
For more on CRC’s commitment to strengthening protections for climate vulnerable communities, including a regional map breaking down funding locations visit our CRC staff report.
Media Contact
Leticia Palamidessi, Communications Officer, (916) 425-8286
leticia.palamidessi@sgc.ca.gov
About the California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a 10-member council comprised of seven state agencies and three public members with the mission to build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all. Funded through California’s Cap and Trade system and the California General Fund, SGC’s grant programs, strategic initiatives, and interagency coordination focus on multi-benefit and community-centric solutions at the nexus of climate and equity. Since 2008, SGC has invested over $4 billion in projects strengthening communities and addressing climate change.