SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Nov 15 that five communities hit hardest by the devastating wildfires in 2018 will receive $40.7 million in new federal aid to support community development and help communities reach full economic recovery after a disaster. The funding will not only benefit the hundreds of Californians who participate directly in the workplace training and development programs but creates long-term economic and social benefits for the communities.  

“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. We will keep advocating for our communities and their access to disaster relief and recovery,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The funding comes from the federal 2018 Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery Workforce Development (CDBG-DR-WD) program. These awards will go to communities in the counties of Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Shasta, and Ventura.

The federal funding will go to programs that provide free job training and supportive services to low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals in the community, with the goal of improving job placement opportunities for residents. Eligible applicants included local jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, post-secondary education institutions, and Local Workforce Development Boards in areas designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).