As part of a first of its kind grant program, Governor Gavin Newsom is announcing $32.4 million in funding to help 47 California communities protect people from the dangers of extreme heat.
Through the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program (EHCRP), the state aims to support local, tribal, and regional efforts to reduce the impacts of extreme heat - by building long-lasting infrastructure solutions, while also strengthening the community resilience needed to withstand extreme heat events. EHCRP is the first government grant program in the U.S. to support communities building resilience to extreme heat in multiple ways.
“Extreme heat kills – and with the federal government cutting the very programs that help forecast it, California is taking aggressive action to protect residents from the impacts of extreme heat and build resilience in our most vulnerable communities,” said Governor Newsom. “… we’re connecting more Californians – particularly those that are most vulnerable to dangerous heat – to life-saving information, resources, and programs across the state.”
EHCRP is part of the governor’s Extreme Heat Action Plan, which guides the state’s response to extreme heat events. Developed in partnership with more than 20 state agencies and informed by more than 1000 individuals through listening sessions and public engagement, EHCRP responds directly to community needs and builds on existing state programs.
“California is taking aggressive action to protect residents from the impacts of extreme heat and build resilience in our most vulnerable communities,” said Samuel Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), the agency overseeing the funding. “With lives on the line each summer, the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program will provide critical infrastructure investments in heat vulnerable communities.”
The EHCRP is a crucial component of the coordinated efforts between state agencies to build resilience to extreme heat across California, supporting infrastructure solutions that complement the state’s extreme heat planning approach, statewide initiatives like CalHeatScore, and grant programs including the California Strategic Growth Council’s Community Resilience Center Program, California Natural Resources Agency’s Urban Greening Grant Program, and Cal Fire’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program.
EHCRP Projects will build much needed cooling infrastructure in heat vulnerable communities across the state. Including in Imperial and Riverside Counties, where the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians will be able to update a senior housing property with solar parking shades, clean energy for their gym/Cooling Center, and plant trees for more shade and green spaces.
"As stewards of our ancestral lands, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of extreme heat on our community, natural resources, and cultural heritage. It is imperative that we invest in sustainable solutions to protect our people, preserve our traditions, and ensure a resilient future for generations to come,” Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.
In Redding, where it’s estimated that there may be 100 days over 100 degrees by the end of the century, city officials will construct a heat resilient playground and splashpad.
In San Bernadino County, the community college district will work directly with students to provide heat safe infrastructure including shaded spaces, cool water stations, and solar-powered study spots.
"We’re planning for the future, making sure that when the heat returns, our students have a campus that’s comfortable, safe, and designed with them in mind," said Gilbert J. Contreras, a grantee through San Bernadino Valley College. "These infrastructure upgrades came directly from our students’ voices. It’s all about building a campus where students feel supported and can focus on achieving their goals."
Extreme Heat solutions funded through EHCRP combine physical infrastructure with nature-based solutions and in-home technology to create a more resilient community. In Los Angeles, the county will work with local community-based organizations to provide heat safe spaces by planting tree canopies, installing water fountains, and hosting educational programming in parks across the county. In Northern California, community-based organizations, North Coast Opportunities and the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California, will partner to provide solar powered air conditioning in the homes of vulnerable community members.
EHCRP will also support projects in the northern part of the state, through projects like the Happy Camp Cool Community Resilience and Emergency Operations Center Project, and the far south, in Imperial Valley, where Comite Civico de Valle and the Imperial Valley Justice and Equity Coalition will lead partnership development and create a collaborative plan for extreme heat response and relief in one of the hottest parts of the state.
“Extreme heat exposure has severe consequences, and the impacts are felt at all levels in the Imperial Valley,” said Christian Torres, Director of Climate Equity and Resilience at Comite Civico del Valle, Inc. “Despite this, grassroots efforts and organizations are helping those most affected. The time to prepare for this challenge is now and we look forward to collaborating with local groups, agencies, and stakeholders to build a comprehensive extreme heat preparedness plan for the Imperial Valley."
Learn more about each grantee by viewing the Full Awards List.
As part of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program, EHCRP is part of a family of grant programs that include the Regional Resilience Program and the Adaptation Grant Program. For more information on EHCRP visit the EHCRP webpage or signup for Program news and alerts.