title
Authorize the County’s contribution of $14,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 1 to benefit: The Arc-Solano ($2,000), Friends of Loma Vista Farm ($2,000), On The Move, VOICES Youth Program ($2,000), Another Chapter (Kidder Literary Initiatives) ($2,000), Solano Pride ($2,000), Food is Free Bay Area ($2,000), and Angels With Heart ($2,000)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Hannigan requests the Board authorize the County’s contribution of $14,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 1 to benefit: The Arc-Solano ($2,000), Friends of Loma Vista Farm ($2,000), On The Move, VOICES Youth Program ($2,000), Another Chapter (Kidder Literary Initiatives) ($2,000), Solano Pride ($2,000), Food is Free Bay Area ($2,000), and Angels With Heart ($2,000).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
During the 2024/2025 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $15,000 to District 1 to support community service programs. District 1 recommends distribution of the $14,000 available for distribution of the funding as follows:
The Arc-Solano - $2,000
For more than 60 years, The Arc-Solano has been on the front lines in providing resources and empowering Solano County residents to promote and protect their rights and interests, while enriching the quality of their lives. Currently, they provide three Core Programs that support adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities. The two-day Programs provide consumers with the necessary tools and life skills for community inclusion through classes, coaching, and guided community participation. By assisting with executive skills such as problem-solving, budgeting, and health management, the Independent Living Skills program supports those who wish to or who already live independently to remain that way. The Arc Solano also offers Value-Added programs to enrich consumers' lives, such as theater, literacy, Kitchen Club, and art. Funds will be used to assist the participants in their programs.
For more information on the Arc Solano, visit www.thearcsolano.org <http://www.thearcsolano.org>
Friends of Loma Vista Farm - $2,000
Loma Vista Farm is a 5-arce outdoor classroom that provides hands-on educational activities involving plants and animals for children of all ages and abilities. It seeks to increase students’ knowledge of nature and nutrition while enhancing academic learning, Eco literacy and psychosocial development. Founded in 1974, Loma Vista Farm has been making a difference in the community for almost four decades as a resource for environmental education. Loma Vista is a public and private venture between the Vallejo Unified School District and the Friends of Loma Vista Farm, a community-based nonprofit organization established in 2003. The Friends provide fiscal, administrative and organizational oversight and leadership. The Board is comprised of teachers, parents, community members and representatives from local businesses. The Friends’ mission is to support Loma Vista Farm & Garden Center with funding, future planning and development, and management. Funds will be used to enhance the programs for children at the Farm.
To learn more about the Loma Vista Farm, visit: www.LomaVistaFarm.org <http://www.LomaVistaFarm.org>
On The Move, VOICES Youth Program - $2,000
VOICES recognizes that youth are not only recipients of social services, they are also active leaders in supporting their peers, guiding the evolving vision of program delivery at each site, conducting capacity building to enable growing numbers of social service agencies to become “youth-friendly,” and advocating to the community at large to listen and respond to youth voices. VOICES’ one-of-a-kind Youth-Engagement Model provides evidence of past experience and expertise related to developing program activities and goals. The Model focuses on empowering each youth, integrating resources and services, and working with the entire community to address the barriers that youth face as they leave systems of care. Funds will be used to assist the youth involved with the organization.
To learn more about the VOICES Youth Program, visit www.voicesyouthcenter.org <http://www.voicesyouthcenter.org>
Another Chapter (Kidder Literary Initiatives) - $2,000
Another Chapter’s mission is to promote literacy by providing books to kids and families in Solano County. They have given over 35,500 books since 2016. Another Chapter envisions a world where diverse, high-quality books are readily available to everyone who wants to read. We believe that every child's journey should be illuminated by the power of books, fostering curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love for learning. Through the joy of reading, we aim to light up young minds, guiding them toward a future filled with knowledge, empathy, and boundless opportunities. Funds will be used to assist the kids and families in the program.
To learn more about the Another Chapter, visit www.AnotherChapter.org <http://www.AnotherChapter.org>
Solano Pride - $2,000
Solano Pride provides services for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) citizens in Solano County offering social, recreational and educational activities, counseling, information, and a youth groups. Founded in 1998, Solano Pride is a 501c3 organization, and is funded by Solano County Mental Health and through individual contributions. Funds will help support their engaged youth program by supporting LGBT youth ages 12-24 in Vallejo. This includes two weekly support groups, and our school-based support for gay-straight alliances (GSA’s) in Vallejo Public Schools.
To learn more about Solano Pride, visit www.SolanoPride.org <http://www.SolanoPride.org>
Food is Free Bay Area - $2,000
Food is Free Bay Area is an organization that works to eliminate food insecurity. FIFBA recognizes the power and potential of community and mutual aid and seeks to provide resources to those groups already doing work within their communities. Their programs include a Park-It Market, Neighborhood Pantry Program, Direct Distribution, Food Rescue Program, Solano Gleaning Initiative, and MTM Meals. Food is Free Bay Area distributes food every week at several locations, including Tuesday and Thursday from 3-6 PM inside McCormack Hall at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo. Tuesdays from 9-10:30 AM at Heritage Presbyterian Church in Benicia. Every Second and Fourth Saturday at mobile sites in Vacaville. Every Third Saturday at the Benicia Library from 10 AM to 12 PM. Funds will be used to strengthen programs to reduce food insecurity in Solano County.
To learn more about Food in Free Bay Area, visit www.FIFBayArea,org <http://www.FIFBayArea,org>
Angels with Heart - $2,000
The mission of Angels with Heart is to help our community and make it a better place. They are here to encourage residents to create positivity throughout the community. They want to teach by educating, teaching life skills, and showing children a better way. To want to prevent the broken cycle of poverty in the system, to break the cycle of imprisonment. Angels with Heart is committed to investing our expertise and resources to achieve our cause further.
Since 2017, they have been supporting the community in various ways and measuring that success not by monetary size but by more qualitative measurements, such as the scale and effectiveness of their efforts. Their Programs include: Matty's trash bin pull-in , Read to me at the Historical Naval Museum every Third Saturday from 11:00-12:00, Recycling collection through the community, Trash clean up’s every 3rd Saturday, Learning Life Skills, Playday in the park, Learning to cook Zoom, It's not Perfect, But It's Good for your emergency Bakery needs, Meals for the unsheltered/ sheltered Thanksgiving with Angels, Christmas cookies and gifts for Christmas with Angels , and attending walks and drives with other organizations. Funds will be used to enhance community and wellness services in Vallejo.
To learn more about Angels with Heart, visit www.AngelsWithHeart.org <http://www.AngelsWithHeart.org>
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the 2024/25 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $15,000 to each supervisorial district, to allow Board members to support community service programs. The Board directed County Counsel to provide guidelines on how to recommend funding for qualifying agencies or programs. The guidelines are as follows:
1) Each supervisor must submit the proposed expenditure to the County Counsel and the Auditor/Controller for initial review.
2) The Board must approve the expenditure by a majority vote.
3) The Board must determine that the expenditure is for a public purpose.
4) The Board may authorize an expenditure of public funds to a nonprofit organization so long as the County retains ultimate control over the exercise of judgment and discretion of the intended program.
5) To ensure accountability, all expenditures are subject to periodic audit by the Auditor/Controller; and
a) If the recipient provides an activity, program or service (“activity”), it shall provide an activity report within 30 days of the activity that states the number of persons attending (if applicable) or participating activities carried out, feedback from participants (if applicable) and benefits of the activity. The recipient’s failure to provide a report may result in its being considered ineligible for future funding.
b) If the recipient is purchasing property or making improvements, it shall use the funds for only the specified purposes and allow representatives of the county to inspect and/or audit the purchase or the contractor’s performance, the facility or the portion improved with the funds and/or the records pertaining to the expenditures. The recipient shall retain for inspection and audit purposes any and all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This expenditure is included in the District 1 FY2024/25 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize this appropriation. However, this is not recommended as this item is consistent with Board policy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This report was prepared in coordination with the County Administrator’s Office, County Auditor-Controller’s Office and County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION