Fallbrook Center for the Arts given $58,000 of county ARPA money

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The County of San Diego earmarked some of its American Rescue Plan Act Program funding for its Community Enhancement program and, on June 28, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the allocation of a $58,000 APRA grant to Fallbrook Center for the Arts, Inc.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote allocates the money for the Fallbrook Art Center facility. The funding will be used for marketing, website, public art installation, art class supplies, and gallery lighting costs.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included $350 billion of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocations for eligible state, territorial, tribal, and local governments. The funding addresses the public health emergency and economic impacts of the coronavirus epidemic and can be utilized for four eligible categories: mitigation of negative economic impacts, premium pay for eligible workers performing essential work, provision of government services lost revenue would have eliminated, and necessary infrastructure investments including water, sewer, and broadband.

Community Enhancement funds, which are for the most part generated from the Transient Occupancy Tax on lodging facility rooms, are intended to promote tourism including visitors from other parts of the county. Each county supervisor recommends the allocation of his or her Community Enhancement funds, although those allocations must be approved by a majority of the board. Supervisor Jim Desmond recommended the use of his District 5 budget for the grant to the Fallbrook Art Center, and all four of his colleagues supported the allocations.

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 coronavirus shutdown limited the ability of the Fallbrook Art Center to open or hold classes and also limited fundraising opportunities.