City of San Bernadino and the Coachella Valley

The Promoting Equity and Diversity in Urban Forestry Workforce Development project, led by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), focuses on professional arborist workforce development for youth in the City of San Bernardino and the Coachella Valley. The program features a comprehensive urban forestry curriculum that adheres to best management practices established by the American National Standards Institute, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Tree Care Industry Association, and the Society of American Foresters. Participants will receive training for industry-recognized credentials, such as the ISA Certified Arborist, and will benefit from social-emotional employability development and other support services designed to enhance their professional competencies. In addition to workforce training, the project includes the nursery production of 500 climate-ready trees. The initiative has received a Class 4 Categorical Exemption for minor alterations to land, indicating that no significant adverse environmental impacts are anticipated. The project is situated within San Bernardino and Riverside counties, with administrative oversight provided by CAL FIRE's Sacramento Headquarters. While the specific contract value and period of performance are not detailed in the available documentation, the scope clearly integrates environmental stewardship with professional skill acquisition for local youth.