California Construction News staff writer
About $200 million is now available to help communities build resilience centers that can protect people from extreme heat and other climate-driven extreme weather. The first round of funding is $98.6 million and $89 million was awarded last week by by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for resilience centers at fairgrounds.
“California is taking swift action to combat the climate crisis and protect Californians from extreme heat and other climate-driven extremes,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement “These resilience centers are yet another tool we’re using to save lives and adapt to our new climate reality.”
Community resilience centers are funded through Governor Newsom’s $48 billion California Climate Commitment. Once constructed, resilience centers will distribute resources and provide shelter during climate events and support social connectedness and community climate solutions through year-round programming. For more information about the Notice of Funding Availability or to apply, visit SGC’s website.
The $89 million in grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture will help support people and communities during disasters with safe-shelter space, kitchen and sanitation facilities, showers and other improvements.
“This program is a prime example of the value of California’s fairgrounds,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “These grants will provide more than 460,000 square feet of new space for emergency sheltering, and they will position fairgrounds to offer their communities additional resources during climate-related disasters or other emergency events.
The enhanced fairgrounds will also provide a unique opportunity for their communities to engage in the use of the facilities for other services and activities throughout the entire year.”
Planning and construction work related to the Fairgrounds Resilience Centers is expected to begin in late summer 2023. The complete list of grant awardees and summaries of their projects can be found at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/fcrcp/.
