Community Resiliency Grants

Nevada County’s Community Resiliency Grants provide one-time funding of up to $100,000 for local programs that increase resiliency, support recovery, and provide relief from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars from the Federal government, grants were awarded to eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, and special purpose districts. 

Thirty four grants were awarded to eligible entities by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. Awardees are required to submit quarterly “Project and Expenditure Reports” until the funded project is complete. To view these reports, click on the name of the grant recipient in the table below.

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Grant RecipientAward Amount

Bear River Recreation and Park District
To partially fund replacement of turf field at the Magnolia Sports Complex. Existing turf field is over 10 years old and will be unusable within 2 years. The cost of replacement is approximately $500,000, and other funding is leveraged. As BRRPD reopens programs and starts to rebuild and expand them, the replacement of the turf field will allow attraction of other youth and adult sports leagues and supports local community recreation. This request supports resiliency as revenue from turf field rental to other entities is an essential revenue stream.

$100,000

Bear Yuba Land Trust
To improve trail user experience on local trails, made more urgent by COVID-driven increase in outdoor recreation access. BYLT will: 1) Maintain trails, including restoration and trash pick-up; 2) Improve signage and trail kiosks with a focus on public safety, multi-lingual access, and incorporation of cultural and historical information; 3) Improve online Trails Portal with increased mobile functionality and information about local trails, public safety, directions, and parking; and 4) Increase outreach with Trails Ambassadors positioned at popular trail heads at peak times to support positive trail use behaviors, assist users, and collect data.
$20,000
Bright Futures for Youth
To provide Intensive Case Management focused on transition aged youth (TAY). Provides TAY with counseling and other support to help mitigate the impact and trauma of homelessness and the pandemic, including learning loss, substance abuse and health issues. The Case Manager will help youth apply for government benefits and employment opportunities and college and career technical education,
$85,000
Child Advocates of Nevada County
To replace lost revenue to sustain two programs: Child Safety Puppeteers and CASA. Both programs promote resiliency and provide support for families. CASA volunteers provide advocacy for children in foster care and assist them to navigate the emotional and logistical challenges of moving through the court process. The Puppeteers program provides child abuse prevention education for young children. Funds support staff.
$50,000
Community Beyond Violence
To provide motel nights to those in immediate need of safe shelter as well as to provide rent relief to clients enrolled in CBV’s Emergency Housing program. Funds support rent relief, motel nights, and staffing.
$50,000
Curious Forge
To expand programming and public access for workforce development programs, including certificate programs tailored to county employers/industries such as metal fabrication, textiles, cabinetry, CNC processes; internships/apprenticeships for youth career exploration through working with accomplished professionals in several fields; Inter-generational knowledge exchange experiences; Home/charter schooler resources/programs, including computer programming, various arts, and exposure to the industrials/tech equipment with a weekly cohort; and business ignitor uniting business leaders, workshops, mentoring opportunities as well as availability of co-working space. Funds support safety equipment for children; facilitators for public programming; transportation; equipment; community room upgrades.
$92,120
Gateway Mountain Center
To 1) sustain the caseload of youth receiving effective treatment, and 2) officially open the newly constructed 4Roots Wellness Center—resource for positive youth enrichment, mental health and substance use prevention and treatment.
$85,000
Gold Country Community Services
To remodel the kitchen in the new Gold Country Senior Center to support rising service demands and ability to provide packaged food for delivery. Gold Country Senior Center reports higher-than-ever levels of food insecurity.
$99,490
Golden Empire Grange #806
To replace HVAC system to enable rental of the hall. This will support the numerous community groups (estimate 890 users) who use the hall to convene, and support recovery and resiliency for the Grange to bring in revenue to sustain operations.
$15,000
Grass Valley Downtown Association
To support projects that support the organization, benefit merchant constituents, support local workforce, the arts community, and aid in the recovery and relief of the organization through funds to augment the employment of staff to carry out work that builds resiliency. Also, this grant will provide an opportunity to support small businesses, support to enhance outdoor spaces for COVID-19 mitigation and improve the environmental aesthetics and ambiance of the neighborhood.
$69,000
Greenhorn Firewise Community
To purchase two 20,000-gallon water tanks for fire suppression along a wooded corridor of private roads to support protection of nearly 600 households, to also benefit the Grass Valley community and the County overall.
$62,370
Habitat for Humanity
Site development and infrastructure for 12 homes in the Heritage Oaks Development, Phase 2, on Joyce Drive in Grass Valley. New home construction to begin in Spring 2022. Heritage Oaks falls within the Qualified Census Tract (non-metro DDA) for Grass Valley.
$100,000

Interfaith Food Ministries
To purchase food to provide to food insecure individuals and families living in Western Nevada County. Half of the awarded funding will be used to purchase non-perishable food at steeply discounted prices through Placer Food Bank, and the other 50% of the funds will be earmarked for purchases from local and regional farms and food producers (within 120 miles of Grass Valley).

$25,000

KidZone Museum
To fund cost recovery and operational expenses from August 2021 onward, prepare for reopening with facility upgrades (HVAC/HEPA air purification systems, plexiglass shields, touchless toilets), and ongoing maintenance/professional cleaning.
$50,000

League of Women Voters of Western Nevada County
To professionalize online educational events with venue, production, and streaming services provided by Nevada County Media, to cover event and publicity expenses, to provide scholarships to low-income members, and to provide Spanish and hearing-impaired translation services for participants.

$12,000

Local Planning Council for Child Care Development
To fund ongoing services of LPC’s “Quality Counts California” (QCC) program to improve the childcare system, provide financial relief to support childcare businesses, provide compensated workforce trainings, and expand the reach of LPC funds beyond current childcare participants to ensure more equitable access to childcare providers. Funds will also be allocated for child development trainings, training materials and developmentally appropriate toys/supplies.

$100,000

Music In the Mountains
To fund the “Building Resilient Youth through Music Education” program, which includes two in-school and two after-school music education programs over two school years for K-12 students.

$75,000

Neighborhood Center for the Arts
To fund program and operating support in a safe space for the Center’s working artists - while rebuilding a structured routine after an isolated 20 months. The financial support will allow the Center to build back daily attendance which will assist with generating revenue.
$100,000
Nevada City Chamber of Commerce
To build capacity by hiring staff to allow the new executive director to focus on generating new revenue streams such as forming a Tourism-based Improvement District (TBID) and develop a business support program to retain businesses and fill vacant storefronts.
$50,000
Nevada County Arts Council
To build capacity in east and west county with two part-time staff persons who will support the arts in their respective Cultural Districts; publish a print and online “arts and gallery guide;” and host “Business of Art” symposiums.
$76,000
Nevada County Economic Resource Council 
NCERC will support new businesses and assist businesses to expand through efforts such as assistance with business plan development, accounting, marketing, web design, social media, and health and safety with a goal of providing technical assistance for businesses to succeed in Nevada County.
$35,000
Nevada Theatre Commission
To make essential repairs and upgrades to the theatre’s HVAC, smoke alarm, electrical, projector, and lighting equipment to continue to provide an affordable, healthy, and safe performing arts space.
$100,000
North San Juan Community Center
To fund well replacement, related irrigation lines to address fire safety and food cultivation, and program costs related to food storage/food security. The North San Juan Community Center well has run dry, challenging the ability to provide services and drinking water. North San Juan Community Center provides multiple safety-net services to priority populations, including youth, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, as well as the community at large.
$72, 968
Penn Valley Community Rodeo Association
To fund maintenance and needed improvements to the rodeo facility and grounds including arena grooming, bleacher repairs, sky bridge repairs, tractor repair; cover costs for rent, insurance, taxes, and utilities; and provide youth scholarships.
$25,000
Rough & Ready Grange
To fund the purchase and installation of a new stove and range to support operation of a commercial kitchen.
$38,500

San Juan Ridge Community Library
To fund library operations, internet connectivity, present online classes, and collaborate with partners to create free and safe family activities such as movie nights, sports, etc. designed to address rural isolation and build community.

$25,000

Sierra Commons
Sierra Commons' Startup Accelerator will support high-tech innovators in Nevada County with a goal of launching 2-3 scalable companies by the end of 2024 by providing support such as outreach, networking events, cultivating an investor-network, and providing an inspirational space for technology-based startups.
$36,000
Sierra Community House
To fund direct assistance and outreach to families including hunger relief (partial costs for refrigerated truck/registration/permits/insurance, food distribution expenses), legal advocacy against unlawful evictions, and program administration.
$100,000
South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)
To adapt the five-day Wild & Scenic Film Festival to be COVID-19 safe for indoor events in January 2022. SYRCL will adapt venues for social distancing by reducing capacity by 50%; add an online streaming service option to reduce crowds at in-person venues; lodge special guests in hotels rather than homestays; and implement safety measures in compliance with County guidelines.
$53,202


Synergia Learning Center
To fund operating support needed to resume Covid-safe educational and recreational youth programs and maintain the extensive ropes courses and other related facilities.
$19,560
Tahoe Truckee School of Music
For a Community Outreach project designed to inspire youth with free community performances, inter-active music workshops, and a musical instrument lending library. Performances will reach over 10,000 people. Music workshops will reach 1,000 students through the schools and another 500 children through local youth organizations.
$75,000

Truckee Downtown Merchants Association
To fund Covid safe Truckee Thursdays in 2022, an 11-week Summer Street Fair with over 120 different vendors participating each week, including artists, community organizations, food trucks and restaurants, commercial businesses, and sponsors. The event attracts over 55,000 visitors to Historic Downtown Truckee each summer and provides revenue for small businesses.

$85,000

Truckee River Watershed Council
For project development, and partner and stakeholder coordination, on multiple large scale restoration projects to improve water quality and forest health. TRWC reports that the average cost for partner and stakeholder coordination is $30,000/project; they have 7 projects in development in the next 12-18 months, for a total of $210,000. Other funding sources are secured leaving a funding gap of $20,000. These projects will collectively deploy $2.5-$5 Million into the local economy.

$20,000

Woolman at Sierra Friends Center
To fund dining hall modifications to ensure this central multi-use space is Covid safe with new HVAC/HEPA air ventilation/purification equipment, tent meeting space, handwashing station, and food bar.

$31,500

TOTAL

$2,032,710