Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program

The Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program is administered through the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program within the Governor Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. This program was established through state legislation to address the growing threat of extreme heat across California, which is identified as one of the most dangerous climate hazards affecting public health, infrastructure, and environmental systems. The program builds on prior funding rounds that incorporated extensive community input and stakeholder engagement, and it is now supported through state climate bond funding and greenhouse gas reduction funds to expand infrastructure-based resilience solutions. The purpose of the program is to fund projects that directly protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of extreme heat through the development and implementation of infrastructure solutions. These solutions include both built environment strategies such as cooling systems, shade structures, and building retrofits, as well as nature-based approaches like urban forestry and green infrastructure. The program is structured into two primary tracks: Early Infrastructure Projects, which combine planning with demonstration activities, and Advanced Infrastructure Projects, which support full implementation of infrastructure that has already been planned and vetted for feasibility. Funding ranges vary by project type, with Early Infrastructure Projects offering between 750000 and 1200000 dollars and requiring completion within approximately 30 months, while Advanced Infrastructure Projects offer between 3000000 and 4500000 dollars and allow up to 48 months for completion. Funding must be used in accordance with detailed program requirements, including allocations for partnerships, community engagement, and post-award participation. Indirect costs are capped at 15 percent of the total budget, and specific percentages must be allocated toward demonstration, construction, and belonging-related activities depending on the project type. No matching funds are required, though applicants may leverage additional funding sources. Eligible applicants include a range of public and nonprofit entities such as local and regional governments, community based organizations, public higher education institutions, California Native American tribes, and coalitions. Applications must include a lead applicant and at least one co applicant, with defined roles and responsibilities. The program emphasizes partnerships that combine community knowledge with institutional capacity, and it includes requirements for financial documentation, partnership agreements, and evidence of organizational readiness. The application process is conducted entirely through an online platform and requires a two step submission. Applicants must first submit a pre application interest form within designated windows in June through August, after which eligible applicants are invited to submit a full application by mid October. The process includes eligibility screening, interagency panel review, and interviews, with final awards determined based on scoring across narrative responses, workplan, budget, and alignment with program priorities. Applications are evaluated on their ability to reduce harm, demonstrate strong partnerships, foster belonging, and create lasting community benefits. Projects are prioritized based on their ability to deliver meaningful and direct benefits to disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, with a requirement that a significant portion of funding supports these communities. Successful applicants must also participate in post award activities, including reporting, peer learning, and program engagement. Funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis, and projects must meet readiness requirements before construction begins. Overall, the program seeks to build long term resilience by combining infrastructure investment with community driven planning and sustained engagement.

Projects should demonstrate harm reduction and belonging, have a strong co-applicant structure, and meet infrastructure allocation targets.