Grants

Grants

Links are Adobe PDF format

A resource for a considerable amount of the City's improvements comes in the forms of grants. These grants can be nationally funded through different national agencies (such as Transportation Enhancement Activities and the US Fish and Wildlife Service), State funded through voter approved bonds (like the Safe Routes to Schools or the several grants obtained from Proposition 40 and 50 funds) or through private funds and foundations, such as our locally known Ford Family Foundation.

The City has been very successful in receiving grants. Active community committees working on local projects really enhance the City's success in competing for these funds. The largest competitive grant to-date is the Storm Water Grant through the State Water Resources Control Board, totaling $5 million dollars. Additional information on successful grant applications are listed below.

A common perception of grants is that they are "free money" for the City's improvements and updates, but grants come with their own price tags. Typically, grants require "match" - meaning that the City is responsible for providing a portion of the project from City funds. Additionally, the projects can often cost more to deliver than is reimbursable through the grants, often of the use of grant funds for management or administrative activities is strictly limited. Furthermore, while the grants enable the City to complete necessary improvements it might not otherwise be able to afford, the whole process - from the initial identification of the need to monitoring final performance - may take several years beyond the grant agreement period, and these costs are typically not reimbursable.

Most of the grants obtained are for capital improvements and are most often associated with the Public Works department in the Parks and Engineering Divisions. However, many departments throughout the City use grants for improvements and upgrades in their services to the community which would otherwise be unattainable using the City's general revenues.

A Typical Project

The timeline for a typical project can vary, but often the visible improvements can take only months while the behind the scenes work take many years. The process for obtaining a grant begins with identifying the need for an improvement or an update for existing or new services to the community. Once a project has been identified the Project Development Phase begins. This phase includes obtaining a funding source, developing a conceptual project plan, evaluating environmental impacts to meet the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), preparing detailed construction plans and specifications, and conducting a public bid for construction.

The quickest and most visible part of the project is the actual construction or acquisition of the project. This is also the phase that most impacts the public. We require our contractors to maintain good public relations, but it is impossible to complete major construction without inconviencing someone. We greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of community members for this process, just as much as we appreciate the opportunity to address serious problems and concerns.

Once the project is completed the project is closed-out. Final payments are made to the contractors; the City completes final project reports and requests reimbursements; the grant agency completes their final reports and then the City monitors performance and adds the project area to its regular maintenance schedules. The grant agency may conduct a project audit up to three years later.

Current and Past Projects

There are many grants currently in progress of being utilized in the city. Pdf's are listed to the right for your convenience.

Committees

Volunteer committees are a vital component for the City's acquisition of grants. These volunteers of our community are a driving force behind the improvements that are occurring around the City. Community committees, such as the Yreka Creek Committee and the Greenhorn Park Development Initiative (GPDI), work to identify needs and funding opportunities. In conjunction with City staff, they may prepare grant applications as well as helping to deliver and monitor the development of the projects (through photos, reports, sampling, or monitoring) and by keeping track of their volunteer hours, they provide an extremely valuable match contribution for projects.

The committees provide valuable community input for City staff and the City Council. The volunteers of these committees not only provide their time and knowledge, they help bring together a large community base and partnerships. The committees truly represent the needs of our community and aid in bringing these projects to fruition. If you would like to be involved in a local project committee, further contact information is available below:

Yreka Creek Committee: Jerry Mosier, 530.841.4487

Greenhorn Park Development Initiative (GPDI): Dave LaPlante, 530.842.2246

Volunteer Opportunities

Future Needs - How Do I Get Involved?

  • Committee
    • ex. Historical Committee, Greenhorn Park Development Initiative
  • Work Party
    • ex. Clean-up
  • Installation
    • ex. A bench or a table or fundraising
  • Plant a Tree
  • Endowment
    • For future or monthly giving
  • Funding Small Elements for Projects
    • ex. Interpretative signs along Yreka Creek detailing mining history, cultural facts, salmon and wildlife identification

Contact us for more information.