Urban Corps of San Diego County has been awarded two grants from the California State Coastal Conservancy. Combined, they total more than $673,000 for fire fuel reduction activities in Chula Vista and seven San Diego County preserves.
Additionally, Urban Corps was awarded $83,055 from the California Fire Safe Council to continue fire fuel reduction work near homes in Chula Vista.
These grants will allow young adults from San Diego County to earn an income while studying for their high school diploma and protect areas of our County from wildfires.
“Our teams work across San Diego County, often under extremely difficult conditions, to keep homeowners, businesses and our communities safe from wildfires,” said Kyle Kennedy, CEO of Urban Corps. “With California’s fire season continuing to worsen, the focus will be on dangerous build-up of brush that put our community at risk. Our students and staff will do everything they can to improve wildfires safety and protect our county.”
As a certified local conservation corps, Urban Corps’ mission is to provide underserved young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 the opportunity to earn a high school diploma while offering them paid job training on projects that benefit the community. The three grant projects awarded to Urban Corps represent a continuation of our ongoing fire safety programs.
Last fiscal year, Urban Corps cleared over 1,000 acres of flammable overgrowth and since July has already removed a total of 45 acres worth of fire prone brush in Chula Vista, San Diego, Alpine, City Heights, Lakeside and Escondido.
Travel & Hospitality reporter Mariel Concepcion can be reached at mconcepcion@sdbj.com or 858-634-4625.