As Los Angeles pushes forward with its post-fire rebuilding efforts, Governor Gavin Newsom, allied with local community-based organizations (CBOs), has ushered in a $25 million boost through educational outreach aimed at informing workers and businesses about essential health, safety, and workplace protections, according to a recent announcement from the governor's office.
The outreach initiative dubbed the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP), is expected to extend its resources to 89 CBOs statewide, with a focus on high-risk industries, ensuring that fire recovery workers are not left in the dark about health and safety measures, hazard prevention, and other critical worker protections necessary in the face of the daunting cleanup and reconstruction process, "we're helping ensure that brave fire recovery workers and businesses have vital workplace safety information," Governor Newsom stated on the official government website.
Today's announcement is the latest in a series of state efforts backing those embroiled in LA's recovery operations; earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the City of Los Angeles dished out the first wave of grants via the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds, and Governor Newsom put forth the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, accompanied by funding to the tune of $125 million for new projects and $15 million for economic development projects directed at California Native American tribes, along with $3 million earmarked for the Los Angeles Jobs First Collaborative's regional plan.
In stride with the push for a more resilient and engaged California, Governor Newsom has not only introduced Engaged California, aiming to gather the public's insight into improving governmental functionality, but also signed an executive order to lessen the burden on businesses and workers by deferring licensing fees and simplifying other recovery-related processes and during a meeting with those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, the Governor heard firsthand accounts, discussed recovery strategies and drew attention to the vast rebuilding efforts underway, this further demonstrates the comprehensive approach California has adopted, from financial relief and job creation via federal grants to practical support in the form of over 200 small business advisors, expedited contractor licensing, and a Resource Guide from CalOSBA tailored for small businesses ravaged by the fires.
The woven fabric of aid encompasses various facets—EDD's provision of unemployment and insurance benefits, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance for ineligible individuals for standard benefits, payroll tax deadline extensions benefiting scores of local businesses, and concerted measures to protect consumers and aid licensees in reconstructing their livelihoods post-disaster, such measures have included educating the public on the risks of unlicensed contractors and steps to take if encountering them, addressing contractor needs with swift licensing processes and the CSLB's various channels of support for fire survivors. It is this multifaceted, collaborative approach, coupled with successive executive orders from Governor Newsom to streamline rebuilding, that has laid the foundation for a robust and hopefully, a swift resurgence of Los Angeles from the ashes of adversity.
