California Awards $8M for Community Resilience Projects
The California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research announced $8 million in project awards through Round I of the Adaptation Planning Grant.
The grant, funded through Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2021-2022 climate budget and established through state law, are to support California communities develop adaptation projects to address climate risks and strengthen resilience.
Projects in the first round support local governments, community-based organizations and Tribes in assessing local hazards, conducting engagement and creating strategies to minimize climate impacts.
Nine of the 14 awarded projects are located in communities to advance the Biden Administration’s goal of investing in communities burdened by legacy pollution. Of those projects, three are led or co-led by California Tribes.
Projects in the first round bring together eight cities, eight non-governmental organizations, seven community-based organizations, six counties, four special districts, three California Native American tribes, two universities, one joint powers authority, one council of governments and one metropolitan planning organization.
The projects awarded are:
Yosemite Slough Adaptation Plan – $649,000
The plan aims to address the disparity in adaptation planning between the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood and the rest of San Francisco’s urban waterfront. It focuses on building community capacity, developing equitable adaptation strategies and positioning Yosemite Slough for federal funding.
Hoopa Valley Tribe Climate Adaptation Plan – $338,448
The Hoopa Valley Tribe will complete climate adaptation scoping activities, a vulnerability assessment, and develop a climate adaptation plan in partnership with the community and tribal staff.
San Rafael Climate Adaptation Planning Collaborative – $644,200
The San Rafael Climate Adaptation Planning Collaborative will work with vulnerable communities in partnership with local organizations in the Canal neighborhood to co-create solutions for improved safety and resilience.
City of San Fernando Climate Action and Resilience Plan – $599,918
The city will complete a climate action and resilience plan and update elements in its General Plan that are deemed crucial for effective resiliency planning and aligning with local, regional, and state initiatives.
Shade Equity Masterplan for the Unincorporated Eastern Coachella Valley – $644,411
The Shade Master Plan for Eastern Coachella Valley’s unincorporated communities in Riverside County will benchmark and develop strategies for shade in predominantly low-income, Spanish-speaking areas experiencing temperatures exceeding 120 degrees.
Ramona Barona Climate Adaptation and Action Plan – $596,600
The Ramona-Barona Climate Collaborative aims to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation and action plan to address climate impacts in the area including extreme heat, water shortages, landslides, flooding and wildfires.
San Jose interdependent Water, Energy, Security Electrified Transportation Climate Adaptation Plan – $649,970
The project aims to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation plan that focuses on critical infrastructure and incorporates the needs of vulnerable communities.
City of Berkeley Safety Plan and Environmental Element Update – $600,000
The city will create an update to Berkeley’s General Plan Safety Element, develop a new General Plan Environmental Justice Element and create metrics that incorporate equitable outcomes to monitor and evaluate progress towards meeting the city’s climate and resilience goals.
Planning for an Equitable, Climate Safe Lake – $649,350
The project will create a collaborative framework for improving climate adaptation planning and implementing risk reduction projects in Lake County.
Stockton Climate Action and Adaptation Plan – $650,000
The city will partner with local non-profits and engage a qualified consultant to create a new climate action and adaptation plan.
Lake Elsinore Climate Adaptation Plan – $401,100
The plan will assess climate change impacts and the adaptative capacity of residents, especially Lake Elsinore’s most vulnerable community members, and develop strategies to respond to specific impacts.
San Mateo County OneWatershed Climate Resilience Framework – $649,648
The project aims to develop a model for community-led risk identification, a replicable watershed approach, resilient neighborhoods and watersheds, and breaking down silos in water-related infrastructure planning to address climate adaptation challenges holistically.
LA’s Cool Capital Stack – $506,000
The project creates a pipeline of community-led climate resilient infrastructure projects designed to strengthen L.A. County communities most vulnerable to extreme heat and other climate hazards.
WRCOG Energy Resilience Plan 2.0 Microgrid Feasibility Studies – $421,000
WRCOG will develop an Energy Resilience Plan 2.0, which will identify up to 10 sites across Western Riverside County to conduct feasibility studies to determine the potential to implement microgrids and community resilience centers.
The Adaptation Planning Grant aims to enhance local communities’ resilience in the face of climate change impacts.