To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Disbursement of Fiscal Year 25-26 First District Community Investment Fund Grant Awards
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve Community Investment Fund grant awards and authorize the County Executive, or designee, to execute an agreement with the following entities: Food for All (North Bay Organizing Project), $5,000; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, $2,500; Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, $2,500; School Garden Network Foundation, $1,000; Sonoma Arts Live, $2,000; Transcendence Theatre Company, $1,000; Sonoma Valley Film Society, $1,000; Sonoma Valley Choral, $1,000; Santa Rosa Symphony Association, $1,000; YWCA Sonoma County, $1,000; A Theater for Children (Inquiring Systems, Inc.), $500; 10,000 Degrees, $1,000; Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County, $1,000; Northern California Center for Well-Being, $1,000; Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County, $1,000; Sonoma County Farm Trails, $1,000; Charlie’s Acres Farm Animal Sanctuary, $500; Our Village Closet, $500; Food for Thought, $500; Sonoma County Women in Law, $500; Mayacamas Volunteer Fire Department, $1,000; The Zones (The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa), $2,000; Sonoma County Pride, $1,000; Infinite Learning and Resource Center, $500; The LIME Foundation, $1,000; EFZM Engage, $500; and
B) Authorize the County Executive, or designee, to amend these agreements to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreements. (First District)
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Executive Summary:
The Board established the Local Events, Organizations, and District Priorities category to fund local events and programs that will support businesses, culture, and organizations that provide a benefit to the community, or to award funding to County Departments to fulfill Supervisorial District priorities. Events and organizations may make requests throughout the year to one or more Supervisorial Districts.
The First District has reviewed applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1.) Food for All (North Bay Organizing Project) for the culturally relevant food distribution program that serves low-income, multilingual, and multiethnic families, grant award of $5,000;
2.) Sonoma Valley Education Foundation for the Sonoma Valley Student Wellness Initiative program, grant award of $2,500;
3.) Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance for the local high school program’s post-graduation preparation initiatives, grant award of $2,500;
4.) School Garden Network Foundation for the food education program in seven elementary and middle schools, grant award of $1,000;
5.) Sonoma Arts Live for the “A Season to Celebrate” theatrical productions, grant award of $2,000;
6.) Transcendence Theatre Company for ASL interpretation of the final Broadway Under the Stars show, grant award of $1,000;
7.) Sonoma Valley Film Society for the Sonoma International Film Festival, grant award of $1,000;
8.) Sonoma Valley Choral for the Holiday Concert; grand award of $1,000;
9.) Santa Rosa Symphony Association for the 2025-2026 Music for Our Schools education program, grant award of $1,000;
10.) YMCA Sonoma County for the annual After Hours fundraiser, grant award for $1,000;
11.) A Theater for Children (Inquiring Systems, Inc.) for The Emperor’s New Clothes and Space Princess Wars productions, and for outreach to underserved populations, grant award of $500;
12.) 10,000 Degrees for college access programming at 11 Sonoma County high schools, grant award of $1,000;
13.) Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County for their Annual Event and Student Showcase, Spark the Future, grant award of $1,000;
14.) Northern California Center for Well-Being for a community education and resource connection program called Juntos de la Mano (Together Hand in Hand), grant award of $1,000;
15.) Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County for the Sonoma County Ag Summit, grant award of $1,000;
16.) Sonoma County Farm Trails for advertising for the Weekend Along the Farm Trails Fall Tour and Blossoms, Bees and Barnyard Babies Springs Tour, and print costs of the Map & Guide, grant award of $1,000;
17.) Charlie’s Acres Farm Animal Sanctuary for the annual Fancy Farmraiser 2025 event, grant award of $500;
18.) Our Village Closet to support the OVC Resource Center, grant award of $500;
19.) Food for Thought to support the 24th annual Dinning Out For Life (DOFL) event, grant award of $500;
20.) Sonoma County Women in Law for the annual Community Advocacy Scholarship Program, grant award of $500;
21.) Mayacamas Volunteer Fire Department for the expansion of the LoRa emergency communication network, grant award of $1,000;
22.) The Zones (The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa) for the expansion of the Teen Zone Program, grant award of $2,000;
23.) Sonoma County Pride for the annual LGBTQ+ Pride Parade and Festival, grant award of $1,000;
24.) Infinite Learning and Resource Center for the Ciencia Y Cena community-centered program, grant award of $500;
25.) The LIME Foundation for the Believe in the Dream 10th Anniversary - Legacy Gala, grant award of $1,000; and
26.) EFZM Engage for the 2025 Vince Harper’s South Park Day & Night Festival, grant award of $500.
Activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program funds provide public benefits that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Discussion:
Transient Occupancy Tax Funding
The Sonoma County Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT or Hotel Bed Tax) was established in 1965 and is authorized under State Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7280. TOT, a general tax, is currently levied at a rate of 12%, a rate established in 2016 by the voter-approved Measure L. TOT revenue is allocated 25% to the General Fund; 50% to the Community Investment Fund; and 25% to the Measure L Fund.
Community Investment Fund Program and Policy
The Community Investment Fund Program, established in 1986 as the Advertising and Promotions Program, allocates a portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax to encourage economic development, community engagement, and culture in the County through a variety of grant award and funding avenues. The program provides grants to community-based organizations for a wide range of activities including economic development, community and countywide events, and advertising and promoting the county as a visitor destination with the goal of advancing economic growth through tourism. Additionally, the program provides grants to address impacts on safety due to tourism and to enhance community services throughout the county. The program provides funding to the Regional Parks Department, the Economic Development Collaborative, and additional county activities. Community Investment Funds are allocated per the Community Investment Fund Policy (Policy) (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/community-investment-fund-program/community-investment-program-policy).
On September 16, 2025, the Board adopted revisions to the Policy, consolidating funding priorities into three funding categories: County Department Funding, District Priorities, and Community Funding. Staff are working on updating the application process to align with the new funding categories. In order to minimize impacts to the community, applications in process will continue to be processed based on the current Policy.
Revised District Priorities Category
The revised District Priorities funding category provides funds to events, organizations, and Supervisorial District priorities. Funding may be distributed through grants or assigned to County departments. The funds available in this category include $100,000 for each supervisorial district ($500,000 total) from the Community Investment Fund and 10% of Measure L revenue to be allocated to each supervisorial district proportionate to the amount of Transient Occupancy Tax collected within the district in the previous fiscal year. Unused funds will be accounted for and available for use in future years. Organizations may make their requests directly to each Supervisorial District.
Funds in this category may be used for activities such as safety improvements, environmental impact mitigation, public safety, and other tourism mitigation activities, such as parking enforcement. Funds may be used for projects that benefit the community, or to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils. The Board may award funding to County Departments or to Supervisorial Districts to complete priority projects. Funding may be used to cover salary and benefit costs associated with changed or additional staff, and other costs associated with added staffing such as office space.
Funds will be distributed upon approval of these awards by the Board of Supervisors and execution of the Community Investment Fund grant agreement by the entity. The agreements will be executed by the County Executive, or designee. The agreements require the County seal on promotional materials produced using the grant award.
Because a project may require modification as the work/project may not be completed within the fiscal year, an extension of time or modification of allowed uses for the organization to complete the project may be necessary. Therefore, it is recommended that the County Executive, or designee, be authorized to amend the contracts to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreement.
Activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program funds provide public benefits that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
10/28/2025 - Awarded FY 25-26 Community Investment Fund Grant Awards
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 25-26 Adopted |
FY 26-27 Projected |
FY 27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$31,500 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$31,500 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$31,500 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$31,500 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Community Investment Funds are included in the FY 25-26 budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Sample Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None