Six local nonprofits given Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding

The Fallbrook Historical Society, the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, the Fallbrook Center for the Arts, the Armed Services YMCA, Hope Clinic for Women and the Fallbrook Village Association were allocated Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grants during the Oct. 27 San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The supervisors 5-0 vote allocated $50,000 to the Fallbrook Historical Society, $36,000 for the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, $20,000 to the Fallbrook Center for the Arts, $15,000 for the Armed Services YMCA, $10,000 to the Hope Clinic for Women and $9,000 to the Fallbrook Village Association.

The grants also included $11,000 to the Vista Skatepark Coalition which produces the Miss Bonsall pageant as well as the Miss Vista pageant and $57,000 to the Sheriff's Department for its RESPECT project. The action also amended a previous grant agreement with the North County Community Emergency Response Team so that the money can be used for other purposes.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations for the furtherance of public purposes at the regional and community levels. In addition to nonprofit organizations, county supervisors can also fund schools and fire departments, and supervisors can also use money from their budgets to supplement other county funding for specific county projects such as parks, roads and libraries.

Each county supervisor recommends the allocation of his or her Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funds, although those allocations must be approved by a majority of the board. The grants to the Greater Fallbrook organizations were from the District Five budget of Supervisor Jim Desmond.

The Fallbrook Historical Society was founded in 1976. The society operates a museum, a barn with agricultural displays, a gem and mineral display, the historic Pittenger House, which was once the residence of Civil War hero William Pittenger, and the Reche School building, which was at one time Fallbrook's only school.

The historical society conducts more than 2,000 tours each year, and the Fallbrook Historical Society has also partnered with the Fallbrook Village Association to explain the historical significance of the caboose at Fallbrook Railroad Park and to provide tours of the caboose.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program money will be used to help the Fallbrook Historical Society replace the museum roof, to repair damage caused by termites, fungus, or dry rot, to replace obsolete air conditioner components, to seal and stripe the Hill Avenue parking lot and to install an automated gate to improve safety and public access.

The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1949. Its mission is to support local businesses and improve the community by promoting economic growth. The chamber's activities include member services, cooperative partnerships, legislative advocacy and cultural and educational events which attract visitors or improve the abilities of Greater Fallbrook businesses and individuals. The chamber has created a farmers market which supports local farms and other businesses while also making the acquisition of food easier for Fallbrook residents. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program allocation will help fund trash containers, canopies, signage, portable sinks and marketing materials for the Fallbrook Farmers Market.

Fallbrook Center for the Arts Inc. utilizes art and arts education to bring visitors to Fallbrook and to expand the arts experience for Fallbrook residents. The Fallbrook Center for the Arts operates the Fallbrook Art Center on South Main Avenue and the Fallbrook School of Arts on East Alvarado Street and the organization also manages the Fallbrook Art in Public Places program. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grant will help fund the replacement of a heat pump system, the removal of leaking ducting, roof repairs, security cameras and monitor installation, energy-efficient lights and chairs at the two buildings.

The Armed Services YMCA on U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has provided activity for Marine Corps and Navy personnel and their family members since 1943 and currently caters to approximately 42,000 people. The objective of the YMCA branch is to enhance the lives of military members and their families with programs relevant to the challenges of military life and more than 20 programs are provided. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program allocation will help the Armed Services YMCA purchase toys and bicycles for Camp Pendleton's holiday events.

Hope Clinic for Women was established in 2005 and is a nonprofit organization which offers pregnancy services at no charge for women between the ages of 14 and 24. The closure of Fallbrook Hospital eliminated gynecology and obstetrics services at that site and increased demand for services from the Hope Clinic for Women. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding will help support the clinic's cost to provide free primary care.

The Fallbrook Village Association promotes the economic, physical and cultural revitalization of Fallbrook's village area. The activities of the Fallbrook Village Association include managing the Pico Promenade. The Fallbrook Village Association decided signs and barriers were necessary for the Pico Promenade to reduce crime and improve public safety. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding will help with the purchase and installation of signs, a trail barrier with a post, chains and locks. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program money may also be used to help fund a one-time website update to promote safety and village revitalization.

The Vista Skatepark Coalition has a North County Celtic Queen Pageant as well as the Miss Bonsall Pageant and the Miss Vista Pageant. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program allocation will help purchase supplies such as crowns, sashes and pins, posters, flyers, mailers, programs, orientation materials, tableware, dance floor decor and take away items for entrants and attendees.

The Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services and also works with community and government organizations to provide programs which reduce juvenile delinquency and gang violence. Project RESPECT, which has existed in North County since 2014, provides recreation, education, mentoring and family services to at-risk teenagers. The Sheriff's Department is in the process of renovating a facility which will be dedicated to Project RESPECT programs and outreach and will give teenagers and their families daily access to recreation, physical fitness, nutrition, academic support and counseling programs. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding will help fund the capital cost to purchase and install a recording booth and accordion wall and will assist with the cost of musical instruments, sporting goods, fitness gear, a room divider, recording equipment, cameras, a tripod, lighting, video games, consoles, computers, a hard drive, memory cards, software, batteries and an identification card printer.

The North County Community Emergency Response Team consists of more than 600 volunteers from Fallbrook, Bonsall, De Luz and Rainbow who are trained in emergency response for such events as fires, weather-initiated disasters and terrorist attacks. The North County CERT regularly conducts scheduled drills in the community and also participates in regional and countywide exercises, and the CERT also educates the public about disaster preparedness and loss reduction.

In December 2019, the North County CERT was awarded a $15,613 Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grant for training materials and equipment such as vehicle and generator batteries, automated call and text notification software and backpacks containing helmets, gloves, goggles, vests, training manuals, binders and bottled water. The coronavirus restrictions prevented the North County CERT from conducting their scheduled training, so the Oct. 27 amendment to the grant agreement allows the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program money to be used for tire covers, decals, generator batteries, oil and tires, training supplies, personal protective equipment and mandatory insurance for disaster service workers and vehicles.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].