SAN DIEGO – September 2, 2021 – Urban Corps of San Diego County was awarded two grants from the California State Coastal Conservancy totaling 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 seasons 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 wildfire safety and protect our county”

As a certified local conservation corps, Urban Corps’ mission is to provide historically underserved and disenfranchised young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 the opportunity to earn a high school diploma – as opposed to a GED or a certification – while offering them paid job training on a variety of projects that heavily benefit the community. The program provides access to education, paid skills training, case management support, career counseling and job placement opportunities.

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.

To help with our fire safety grants and other community projects, Urban Corps is hiring new Corpsmembers between the ages of 18-26. Those interested in earning their high school diploma while receiving paid job training can go to urbancorpssd.org/join to apply.

San Diego Gives – September 9th
Urban Corps will be participating in San Diego Gives on Thursday, September 9. San Diego Gives is a 24-hour online fundraiser, focused on addressing the needs of non-profit organizations within the county. For every dollar donated, Urban Corps spends 90 cents on programs. To make a donation to Urban Corps please go to our donation page.