California Forward
Calling all communities in California and Connecticut ready to put Resilience Districts into action!
Submit a Statement of IntentLearn More About the Call for PilotsStatements of Intent received by February 20 will receive priority consideration. Forms received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Local governments face growing pressure to address climate risk but with limited resources and fragmented funding streams. Insurance instability and escalating disaster costs are straining public budgets. Many communities are searching for durable new approaches to fund long-term resilience.
Climate Resilience Districts (Resilience Districts) offer one promising pathway: a structured mechanism for providing sustained, scalable funding for climate adaptation through tools like tax-increment financing and resilience bonds. When determining whether a district is the right fit, communities need space to explore feasibility, benefits, and alignment with local priorities. That’s where the Incubator comes in.
The Resilience District Incubator, developed by CA FWD and Resilient Cities Catalyst, provides hands-on support, a national learning network, and practical toolkits to guide communities through the exploration and implementation of Resilience Districts, or similar models for securing long-term, community-driven investment in resilience.
The Resilience District Incubator is launching with pilot communities in California and Connecticut. The
Incubator bridges capacity gaps by offering communities:
By offering a structured curriculum and tailored technical support, the Incubator helps communities move beyond a dependence on one-time funding to stable, long-term funding to reduce risk.
Authorized by California’s Senate Bill 852 (Dodd, 2022), Resilience Districts enable cities, counties, and special districts to fund projects that reduce local climate risks and support the operations, maintenance, and administrative functions needed to sustain those investments over time. Resilience Districts are modeled after Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts, a widely used mechanism for funding large-scale community infrastructure projects across the state.
CA FWD, in partnership with Resilient Cities Catalyst, are turning Climate Resilience Districts from statute into practice through the Resilience District Incubator project.
If you’d like to learn how Resilience Districts could work in your region, we welcome the opportunity to connect.