Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that five California communities severely affected by the 2018 wildfires will receive $40.7 million in federal funding to aid in their economic recovery. This financial support is part of the Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery Workforce Development (CDBG-DR-WD) program and aims to create jobs and foster long-term community development.

The funds are allocated to communities in Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Shasta, and Ventura counties. These areas will benefit from programs offering free job training and supportive services targeted at low- to moderate-income individuals. The goal is to enhance job placement opportunities for residents in these regions.

Governor Newsom expressed gratitude for the federal assistance, stating: “Even after the housing and infrastructure are rebuilt, communities hurt by wildfire can continue to suffer from trauma and economic impacts for years to come. We are grateful to the Biden Administration for its ongoing support to help Californians rebuild their lives and economies."

HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez emphasized the importance of economic recovery post-disaster: “In addition to rebuilding housing and infrastructure, fostering economic recovery is critical after a natural disaster.” He highlighted the partnership with HUD as crucial in creating career paths for wildfire survivors.

HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Marion McFadden noted the significance of CDBG-DR resources: “CDBG-DR provides communities with important resources to help rebuild in the worst of times. With this investment, young people and others building job skills can focus on their futures.”

Specific projects include:

- Butte County's Paradise Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Education Center (Paradise RISE), receiving nearly $17.9 million.

- Lake County's Workforce Alliance of the North Bay receiving over $4.7 million.

- Los Angeles County organizations Tradeswomen and Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles awarded $2 million.

- Shasta County's city of Redding receiving more than $8.6 million.

- Ventura County securing $7.5 million for healthcare workforce training.

These initiatives aim not only at immediate recovery but also at building resilience against future disasters.