Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorize Grant Writing and Submittal - Authorize the City Manager to enter a contract with Community Services Employment Training to write and submit an application for the Cal VIP grant on behalf of the City with an emphasis in the grant to provide recreational programming opportunities for impacted families and children in the Visalia community.
body
Prepared by: Jason Glick, Parks and Recreation Director 713-4042, jason.glick@visalia.gov Laurissa Roggenkamp, Recreation Manager 713-4336, laurissa.roggenkamp@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that City Council authorize Community Services Employment Training (CSET) to write and submit an application for the Cal VIP grant on behalf of the City of Visalia to fund recreation programming opportunities for impacted families and children in the Visalia community. The deadline to apply for this grant is August 18, 2025.
Summary:
The City of Visalia qualifies as an eligible applicant for the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (Cal VIP) grant under the "Medium and Small Cities" category. The Cal VIP grant offers a maximum award of $2 million distributed over a three-year period. Staff recommends that CSET be designated to prepare and submit the grant on the behalf of the City. This approach will align with the City's proposal in having a broader collaborative effort with other organizations in Visalia to enhance the impact of this initiative.
The proposed program will focus on providing youth affected by violence with financial support to participate in recreational activities and family outings. The primary objective is to strengthen family connections and expand opportunities for children and teens in Visalia. Additionally, staff anticipates opportunities for additional local organizations to participate by delivering complementary programming. These will contribute to a cohesive community-wide strategy aimed at supporting children a...
Click here for full text