Four years ago this month, Covid-19 pandemic lockdown threatened many local gathering places, performing arts venues and community centers. Some worried Nevada County would never be the same.
In Nevada City, the oldest continually operating theater west of the Mississippi went eerily quiet.
“We were closed for 18 months. We had to knuckle down and really curtail our usage,” remembers Jane Primrose, President of Nevada Theatre Commission, the nonprofit board that oversees operations of the historic Nevada Theatre at the top of Broad Street in downtown Nevada City.
Things looked grim until Nevada County found a silver lining.
Nevada County Board of Supervisors allocated 30 percent of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, $5.8 Million, for Community and Economic Resiliency projects. This included four grant programs and one loan program.
Of the $5.8 Million total, the Board approved $2 Million for “Community Resiliency Grants” to fund 32 local nonprofits, small businesses and special districts.
“The impacts of Covid hurt our businesses and our non-profits alike. I am pleased that we were able to use 30 percent of our ARPA funds to help them recover and continue to stay alive and provide essential services,” said District 1 Supervisor Heidi Hall.
During this competitive process, the County received 73 eligible applications, in the first round of grants, totaling $4,967,963 in requests. Qualifying applicants met federal guidelines to “respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.”
The grants were designed to increase resiliency, support recovery and provide relief to community-serving institutions and programs responding to the negative economic impacts of the Covid19 pandemic.
“We acted in a nimble way to turn the federal aid money around quickly for local impact. I’m super proud of the work we did with that money,” said District 5 Supervisor Hardy Bullock.
The grants, capped at $100,000 for each grantee, became a lifeline for area nonprofits and special districts struggling to weather the pandemic.
“It was like Christmas in the middle of Covid,” said Primrose.
With the money, Nevada Theatre managers were able to take advantage of the shutdown and accomplish much-needed upgrades like replacing the heating, air conditioning, alarm system and switching to more modern energy-efficient LED theatrical lighting.
“It allows for greater artistic expression by lighting designers,” explained Primrose. The stage also has brand new fireproof curtains known as “blacks.”
The grant helped pay for the initial investment of a new digital projection system, replacing the screen, speakers, digital projector and installing new surround sound. The community pitched in and helped fundraise for the remainder.
With the new system, production costs are lower for film festivals like SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic. Now festival organizers can easily plug in without worrying about hauling their own equipment. The new mural was not covered by the grant but paid for by an anonymous donor.
“We came out of Covid ready to go with an operation that costs less for everybody, allows for greater creativity and is safer,” said Primrose.
In Penn Valley, the Western lifestyle remains vibrant thanks to a grant to the Penn Valley Community Rodeo Association
"We were able to repair the bleachers, buildings and rebuild the contestant bridge with funds after not having a rodeo during the pandemic. This allowed us to sell out the stands and provide more opportunities for our other nonprofit partners as well,” said board member Teresa Dietrick.
Like the country fair of old, Penn Valley Rodeo is an important visitor draw to the community and the Penn Valley Chamber of Commerce, local school and youth groups hold auctions and snack shacks at the event to raise money for their organizations. Each year, the Rodeo Association gives scholarships to youth with a passion for agriculture.
“Penn Valley Rodeo is the largest event in our small rural town and has huge economic impacts on our community," said Dietrick.
Supervisors looked for opportunities to support community centers across both rural and more urban areas of the county – from Nevada City and Grass Valley to the San Juan Ridge and Rough and Ready.
On the San Juan Ridge, the rural community continued to receive critical services at the Community Library and the North San Juan Community Center with grants that helped facilitate growth and sustain programming.
At the Golden Empire Grange off of LaBarr Meadows Road, club meetings were suspended and income dried up when the hall could not be rented out during the pandemic. With no financial reserves or any incoming renter’s revenue the Grange couldn’t afford to replace the facility’s old heating and air conditioning system. A $15,000 grant helped the Grange stay afloat during a trying time and provide access to more community events.
In Rough & Ready, a grant of $38,500 helped with the cost of creating a commercial kitchen at the community’s historic Grange where each month up to 80 people attend a free, organic breakfast and folks struggling to make ends meet can pick up a bag of donated groceries. The building is leased to non-profit organizations like the Squirrel Creek Firesafe Council and Upper Rough and Ready Homeowners Association.
Artists with different abilities continue to thrive at The Neighborhood Center of the Arts with a grant that helped keep the lights on and critical programs going for 12 months during the pandemic. Neighborhood Center of the Arts has served Developmentally Disabled and Intellectually Challenged adults since 1985 by providing a robust art program, advocacy and opportunity.
“Receiving this grant was a huge relief as it provided a sense of normalcy for returning to our studios - knowing we could cover our costs for another year,” said NCA Executive Director Amee Medeiros.
“The $5.8 million injected into our local businesses and institutions had a huge impact on the health of our community. I am proud of our community for supporting this work and pulling together to help each other during that fraught time,” said Supervisor Heidi Hall.
Learn more about the Community Resiliency Grants at:
https://nevadacountyca.gov/3652/Community-Resiliency-Grants.
Laura Petersen is a freelance writer living in Grass Valley. This is one of a series of articles written on behalf of Nevada County. She can be reached at laurapetersenmedia@gmail.com.
