The Kern County Air Pollution Mitigation Fund was created in 2005 to fulfill the intent of a series of settlements between the Sierra Club and residential building developers in the Bakersfield area. As required by these settlements, the Fund receives air pollution mitigation fees paid by property developers to offset the cumulative air pollution impacts of the new developments. The purpose of these mitigation fees is to support grants for projects designed to reduce particulate or ozone air pollution in the Valley portion of Kern County. As required by the terms of the settlements, grant applications are evaluated by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from both the environmental and home development communities in Kern County. The Steering Committee has placed a high value on projects that will benefit disadvantaged or sensitive populations in the most polluted parts of Kern County. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District serves as the technical advisor regarding the air quality benefits resulting from the grants.

As of December, 2009, the Fund had awarded more than $1 million to support clean air projects in the Bakersfield area. As additional air pollution mitigation fees are paid into the Fund, additional grants are possible. The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, a grantmaking public charity with experience in administering court-ordered restitution funds, serves as the Fund's trustee, and administers its grant making program.