The City of San Marcos recently selected eight nonprofits to receive funding from the COVID-19 Nonprofit Community Grant Program. The agencies listed below are the first recipients of the grant program, which launched in August. The aim of the program is to offer assistance to essential nonprofits that serve San Marcos residents who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
The following nonprofit organizations received funding from the City of San Marcos’ COVID-19 Nonprofit Community Grant Program:
Boys and Girls Club of San Marcos: $50,000
Coastal Roots Farm: $35,000
Feeding San Diego: $68,000
Hope through Housing: $20,000
San Diego Oasis: $35,000
The San Marcos Promise: $125,000
Twin Oaks High School (partnership with The San Marcos Promise): $16,000
Wounded Warrior Home: $40,000
The City awarded a total of $389,000 between the eight recipients and will continue to award grants monthly until the funding is exhausted. San Marcos is honored to support numerous nonprofits in our community.
“This program, along with others such as the City’s Business Sustainability Program, demonstrates the City’s firm commitment to proactively addressing the needs of those struggling, due to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19,” said Sharyn Goodson, program administrator. “Congratulations to our first grant recipients. We are grateful for your leadership and the meaningful ways you are serving San Marcos residents.”
“The Coastal Roots Farm supports San Marcos residents by promoting healthy and connected communities through sustainable agriculture and food justice,” shared Javier Guerrero, president and CEO of Coastal Roots Farm. “We are thankful and proud to be recipients of San Marcos’ grant program. The funding will support our efforts to provide San Marcos students with after-school and summer enrichment programs focusing on outdoor environmental STEM and nutrition education.”
“The San Marcos Promise invests in the San Marcos Unified School District students by providing programs, opportunities, and resources to ensure they are prepared to navigate life after high school, whether the choice is to attend college, enter the workforce or to obtain technical training,” said Lisa Stout, executive director of The San Marcos Promise. “We appreciate the City’s support in purchasing technology, materials, and equipment for the new (forthcoming) Future Centers at our local high schools. Funding will benefit students seeking support for academic and career planning through the Future Centers which will be staffed year-round by our High School Education Coordinators.”
“San Diego Oasis is pleased to invest the grant funding in a technology package for low-income seniors in the region including a tablet, 12 months of internet service, technology training and access to some of Oasis’ classes,” said Simona Valanciute, president and CEO of Oasis. “We are excited to provide services to isolated seniors who have been particularly impacted by the pandemic.”
The COVID-19 Nonprofit Community Grant Program was established after the San Marcos City Council committed $3 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide needed assistance through grants to nonprofits. The overall funding objective is to touch every corner of the City by supporting nonprofits working to better the lives of San Marcos residents. Target populations include underrepresented communities containing (but not limited to) youth, low-income individuals and families, seniors, immigrants and active military and veteran families.
Applications are still being accepted at impactcubed.org/san-marcos-covid19-grants. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the page which outlines specific eligibility requirements and provides extensive details about the grant program process.
For more information on the program, please visit the COVID-19 Nonprofit Community Grant Program page on the City’s website.
