The City of Goleta is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021-2022 City Grant Program funding. Since 2014, the City Council has authorized up to $100,000 annually for grant funding. This year, the City granted $89,500 to 29 nonprofits allocated an additional $11,500 to spend on events taking place throughout the year that were not planned at the time of the grant application period. The City included funding for the Juneteenth Santa Barbara event, Food From The Heart, Goleta Education Foundation, Isla Vista Youth Projects, and many other worthy organizations.

The Goleta City Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 each for non-profit organizations involved in providing public services, educational and cultural activities such as music, art, dance, and recreation, and Goleta-oriented special events and regional projects that enhance and support the quality of life in Goleta. The Committee kept last year’s focus on essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic that met the requirements of the City Grant program. In addition, the Committee considered other programs that were certain (using best-known knowledge) to take place in the upcoming fiscal year. The Committee expressed how difficult finalizing award recommendations was given the extreme need at this time. Staff appreciates their careful deliberation and thoughtfulness throughout the process.

The City Council’s Grant Funding Review Standing Committee reviews Goleta City Grant applications and is composed of Mayor Paula Perotte and Mayor Pro Tempore James Kyriaco as well as two Goleta citizens. This year the citizen advisors are Eileen Monahan and Luz Reyes-Martin. The City would like to thank the Committee for their dedication to the City’s grant programs.

For more information on the City’s grant programs, please visit www.tinyurl.com/goletagrant.

Pictured: Youth Mental Health Education Program (Mental Health Association in Santa Barbara County)