Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ventura County wins $93.76 million in state behavioral health infrastructure grants
Summary
County behavioral health officials announced $93,760,044.27 in state funding under Proposition 1 to build a Lewis Road mental health rehabilitation center and a 16‑bed psychiatric health facility in East County; projects are shovel‑ready and will advance after prior local match funding.
Dr. Loretta Denering, Ventura County behavioral health director, told the Board of Supervisors on May 13 that the county has been awarded $93,760,044.27 from the state’s Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program.
The funding is split across two projects: a long‑planned Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC) on the Lewis Road campus — a project the board previously earmarked $20 million toward — and a 16‑bed psychiatric health facility tied to the East County crisis stabilization unit. Denering said both projects were considered “shovel ready,” noting site control and matching funds were in place.
“The County of Ventura is the recipient of 2 awards in the amount of $93,760,044.27,” Denering said, adding that the awards result from years of planning and “over 100 letters of support” from local partners and stakeholders.
County staff and supervisors framed the awards as the outcome of long advocacy and earlier local investments. A county executive office representative noted the board’s prior American Rescue Plan Act investment in the Lewis Road site enabled eligibility for the state program. Brendan (staff member) and supervisors who spoke at the meeting said they would return to the board with implementation milestones and public updates as the projects move forward.
County officials described the projects as aimed at treating residents locally rather than sending them out of the county for care. Denering and staff said substantial work remains — including design, permitting and contract procurement — but that receipt of Proposition 1 funding moves the projects to the next phase.
The presentation did not include a vote; supervisors thanked staff and signaled ongoing oversight. No start dates or contractor selections were announced at the meeting.
Community leaders and the county behavioral health office said they will present specific milestones and timelines to the board and to the public as planning and procurement progress.
