Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) could bring millions in planning dollars

Southern Border Region and State convenings: May 3, 4 and 5

Below is open invitation to you and others you know to join one or more community convenings about planning for a better future. This is your opportunity to add your voice and perspective to the discussions. We hope you’ll be able to join at least one of these.

• Imperial County –click here to register (May 3, 10:30am-12noon)
• San Diego County –click here to register (May 4, 1:00pm-2:30pm)
• SoCal CERF Guidelines Workshop–register (May 5, 2:00pm-4:00pm)

You may be aware of the State of California “Community Economic Resilience Fund” (CERF) — or even involved in planning conversations about it. In brief, San Diego & Imperial Counties are “the Southern Border Region” and next month eligible to apply for a $5M planning grant. Following that, we will be able to apply for implementation funds totaling ~$500M statewide.

The San Diego Regional EDC, along with San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center and Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation are heading one group developing an application with the goal to provide a unified platform for the region. Alliance is also engaged in those discussions.

We hope you will consider joining one or all of these virtual convenings on May 3, 4 and 5 to add your knowledge and perspective about what must be included in our region’s vision for those funds, as well as how to prioritize equity and community leadership.

While multiple applications can (and likely will) be submitted, only one grant will be made, and we believe it behooves us to stay knowledgeable about and connected to wherever these conversations are happening so we can advocate for equitable distribution of resources and community leadership in all arenas, and ensure that all priorities that are surfaced are considered.

Register today using links below:

• Imperial County –click here to register (May 3, 10:30am-12noon)
• San Diego County –click here to register (May 4, 1:00pm-2:30pm)
• SoCal CERF Guidelines Workshop–register (May 5, 2:00pm-4:00pm)

About the CA Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF)

The CERF was created to promote a sustainable and equitable recovery from the economic distress of COVID-19 by supporting new plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create high-quality, broadly accessible jobs for all Californians.

Specifically, the Community Economic Resilience Fund Program (CERF) would support communities and regional groups in producing regional roadmaps for economic recovery and transition that prioritize the creation of accessible, high-quality jobs in sustainable industries.

Initially, CERF’s Program funding of $600M was appropriated from the American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund of 2021 until the 2022 budget revised the source of funds to the State General Fund in SB 115 (2022). Regardless of the final funding source, the same goal remains: To build an equitable and sustainable economy across California’s diverse regions and foster long-term economic resilience in the overall transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
(source: Governor’s Office of Planning & Research)