The Governor Gavin Newsom announced more than $317 million in federal support for seven jurisdictions that continue to recover and rebuild after federally declared disasters in 2018, when wildfires burned more than 1.6 million acres and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, particularly in the town of Paradise in Butte County.
The Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds announced last Friday are for critical infrastructure projects that must be completed as communities work to build and rebuild needed housing, especially for low- and moderate-income people, and ensure that every household displaced in these disasters has the opportunity to return home.
“California remains committed to uplifting and supporting all communities impacted by the devastating wildfires as they work to rebuild,” Governor Newsom said.
She added that rebuilding after communities are tragically destroyed due to extreme weather “is an opportunity to restore economic opportunities and strengthen communities by giving them a chance to heal.”
In August 2018, the Carr Fire and Mendocino Complex Fire broke out in Northern California, followed in November 2018 by the Camp and Woolsey Fires. These were the most destructive and deadly wildfires to hit California that year. In total, more than 1.6 million acres burned during 2018.
“We are inspired by residents who are coming together and working in partnership with the state to rebuild their lives, restore economic opportunities, and create a more resilient future,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez, Secretary of the Housing, Consumer and Business Services Agency.
“These dollars represent an important milestone for communities that endured unimaginable tragedy due to these devastating wildfires. We will continue to work closely with our federal partners in the Biden Administration to get resources to communities more quickly and equitably when disasters strike,” she stressed.
The California government detailed in a statement that communities received funds based on their unmet infrastructure needs and have the flexibility to use the grants to support projects based on their priorities to rebuild in a safe, sustainable and resilient manner.
The Town of Paradise received nearly $200 million, which will be used to build critical projects that will accelerate its ability to rebuild higher-density, more affordable housing, commercial corridors, and critical evacuation routes should it face future disasters.
“Rebuilding together is the foundation of the ongoing recovery effort in the Town of Paradise,” said Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. “This nearly $200 million award will support critical infrastructure for the Town as it rebuilds with resilience and climate mitigation at the heart of its goals. We remain committed to supporting the residents of Paradise as they recover and rebuild.”
CDBG-DR funds are administered by HCD after receiving a federal allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Among the prizes announced Friday were: Butte County at $72,072,679.61; City of Chico at $12,388,409.65; City of Malibu at $47,276.93; City of Redding at $22,563,043.51; City of Lake Shasta at $1,326,184.69; Los Angeles County at $3,788,157.86; and Pueblo of Paradise at $199,592,735.75. Those figures total $317,428,488.
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