Agenda Item Wording:
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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.
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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 and families who have been impacted by violence.
If awarded, CSET would serve as a third-party administrator for the grant, assuming responsibility for all reporting and accounting requirements. CSET would partner with the City to implement the initiative through the City’s Recreation Division, utilizing recreation programs and special events to target the population.
The City will designate a staff member to oversee compliance and will conduct audits of all financial draws and supporting documentation to grant expenditures. This collaborative framework is intended to ensure ensuring accountability and transparency while maximizing the overall impact within the community.
Background Discussion:
The Cal VIP grant program, initially known as Cal GRIP (California Gang Reduction, Intervention & Prevention), was established in 2017 to fund community-based violence reduction initiatives. It evolved from Cal GRIP, expanding eligibility beyond cities to include community-based organizations (CBOs). The program aims to support evidence-based strategies to reduce gun violence in communities disproportionately affected by violence.
The purpose of the grant is to disrupt cycles of violence and retaliatory actions in order to lower the rates of homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults in affected communities. This year, the state budget provided $103 million to fund the Cal VIP grant. Cal VIP grants fund a variety of evidence-based programs designed to reduce community gun violence, such as:
• Hospital-based violence intervention programs
• Street outreach initiatives, and
• Focused deterrence strategies
• Medium and Small Cities disproportionately impacted by violence
• Community-based organizations (CBOs) serving these cities
• Counties with cities facing significant gun violence issues
• Tribal governments experiencing violence
Staff are proactively engaging with at-risk youth and their families to prevent gun violence through a combination of structured activities and educational initiatives. The police department may refer at-risk or violence-affected youth to CSET for supportive and intervention services and can also connect resources provided through this grant with at-risk youth participating in the police department’s Police Activities League (PAL).
Looking ahead, staff anticipate valuable opportunities for local organizations to join this effort by offering complimentary programs. Together, the City and it’s partners aim to build a comprehensive, community-driven response that supports and uplifts children and families most affected by violence. This collective effort seeks to create a meaningful lasting change through coordinated services, target programming, and strong local partners.
Fiscal Impact: Awarded funding will be utilized towards recreational programming opportunities for impacted families and children in our community.
Prior Council Action: None
Alternatives: Council may reject staff’s proposed recommendations and direct staff to return when a future Cal VIP grant is posted.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
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I move to accept the report and recommend that City Council authorize CSET write and apply for the Cal VIP grant on behalf of the City of Visalia to fund programming opportunities for impacted families and children in the Visalia community.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 7/21/2025
Attachments: Cal VIP Attachments