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Fairground and Community Resilience Centers Programs

The Fairground and Community Resilience Centers Program focuses on improving both local fairground and other community facilities to enhance the state’s emergency preparedness capabilities, particularly in response to climate change. The program has been split into two tracks for awarding facilitation purposes.

Fairgrounds Resilience Centers Program

The CDFA Fairs and Expositions Branch is pleased to announce the awarding of up to $89 million in grants to fairgrounds across the Network of California Fairs, as part of the Fairground and Community Resilience Centers Program. The funding for the grants program was made possible through the 2021-2022 California general fund budget. An additional $38 million in grant awards are expected to be announced in July 2023 to other community resilience center projects throughout the state.

New! CDFA GRANTS $89 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS & INFRASTRUCTURE AT FAIRGROUNDS

Safe shelter, kitchen and sanitation facilities – among other upgrades – will improve fairgrounds’ utility for evacuees, emergency respondersSafe shelter, kitchen and sanitation facilities – among other upgrades – will improve fairgrounds’ utility for evacuees, emergency responders

The grants will support infrastructure projects such as additional safe-shelter space, kitchen and sanitation facilities, showers and related improvements that will protect and comfort people and families in times of need. The same improvements will also expand services and capabilities for many other events throughout the year, adding value to these community assets. The funding for the grants program was appropriated as part of the 2021-2022 California general fund budget.

The complete list of grant awardees .

Full Press Release – CDFA GRANTS $89 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS & INFRASTRUCTURE AT FAIRGROUNDS

Community Resilience Centers Program

The Fairground and Community Resilience Centers Program focuses on improving both local fairground and other community facilities to enhance the state’s emergency preparedness capabilities, particularly in response to climate change.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fairs and Expositions Branch (F&E) was appropriated a one-time General Fund allocation of $150 million for fairground and community resilience centers.

Funding will be used to support infrastructure for emergency evacuation, shelter, base camps during emergency events, and critical deferred maintenance. Elements for this infrastructure may include cooling and heating centers, clean air centers, and extended emergency evacuation response centers with community kitchens, shower facilities, broadband, back-up power and other community needs due to wildfires, floods, and other emergencies or climate events.

Of the total $150 million appropriated to CDFA and pursuant to the Budget Act of 2021, $10 million was provided to the California Exposition and State Fair, $7.5 million will be used for administrative costs, $94.5 million will be awarded to community resilience projects on fairgrounds within the Network of California Fairs and $38 million will be awarded to other community centers throughout the state.

The fairgrounds to receive resiliency funding will be selected by CDFA based on a set of criteria decided upon by CDFA and representatives of the fair industry, including the California Fair Services Authority (CFSA), Western Fairs Association (WFA), California Construction Authority (CCA), California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Fairgrounds selected for resiliency funds will be announced in November 2022 and will undergo a facility assessment conducted by CCA. The facility assessment will provide CDFA with a detailed scope of work and an estimated budget and timeline. Funding for fairgrounds projects is expected to be awarded in early 2023.

The projects awarded to community centers will be awarded through a competitive application process. Technical assistance for the completion and submittal of the applications will be offered by CDFA. An administrative, technical, and financial review will be performed on all eligible applicants. Please see the estimated timeline below for the CRC Program activities.

If you have questions about the CDFA’s Fairgrounds and Community Resilience Centers Program, please email us at crcprogram@cdfa.ca.gov.

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Information

Report 1 CA Fairgrounds Support of Disasters and Catastrophes (not available at this time) Report 2 CA Fairgrounds Best Practices and Resources Use in Support of Disasters and Catastrophes (not available at this time) Report 3 CA Fairgrounds Concept of Operations in Support of Disasters and Catastrophes (not available at this time) Sample DAA and Del Norte County OES MOU Sample Del Mar Emergency Evacuation Animal Care Sheets Sample SON Emergency Animal Evacuation Packet