County Gets $1.5M Grant For Economic Recovery From CZU Fires

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — People who lost out on work due to the CZU August Lightning Complex fires are getting another shot to get back in the workforce.

The Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board was awarded a $1.5 million grant to help 75 displaced workers get back to work for a year, according to a news release from the county. They'll engage in fire recovery and resiliency efforts at open spaces and parks impacted by the fires, including Big Basin Redwoods Stae Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and Wilder Ranch State Park.

The fires were among the most destructive in state history.

The employment program will be carried out, in part, thanks to Goodwill Central Coast, the Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services and local state parks. The money was awarded as part of the State Employment Development Department Fire Impact Recovery Effort grant program, the county said.

Workers will be eligible if they have been unemployed for at least 15 weeks, and have been temporarily or permanently laid off as a result of the fires. Self-employed people who are unemployed or underemployed as a result of the fires are also eligible, the county said.

Interested people may contact info@workforescc.com.