Jurupa Valley committee hears CDBG public‑service grant presentations; funding recommendations set for March 13

Jurupa Valley’s grant review committee on an evening meeting heard presentations from multiple local and regional nonprofits seeking Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public‑service funds and reviewed the scoring and schedule for funding recommendations.

The committee approved minutes from its previous meeting before proceeding to nonprofit presentations. Staff member Ms. Sells reviewed the scoring method and calendar: city staff provide a technical score worth 35 points; commissioners each have 65 points to allocate. Commissioners must return scored sheets by Tuesday the 6th at 5 p.m.; the committee will meet March 13 to finalize funding recommendations that the City Council will consider on April 3. Ms. Sells also said the city’s separate Community Service Grants open in July and that those awards are $5,000 per nonprofit.

Path of Life, a homelessness outreach provider, told the committee it has worked in Jurupa Valley since about 2018 with CDBG support. CEO Chris Oberg and Chief Program Officer Victor Beauchamp said their proposal covers street outreach and an emergency community shelter. The agency committed to making at least 125 outreach connections with people living outdoors and to shelter at least 25 Jurupa Valley residents in the coming contract year; the presenter said the shelter will reserve three beds for Jurupa Valley residents and that the average length of stay for Jurupa Valley residents at the shelter in the current contract cycle is about 34 days. Oberg said the city has seen a reduction in unsheltered homelessness attributed in part to CDBG‑funded services but that housing inventory remains a problem.

Chat With Me Therapeutic Counseling Services (presented by “Dr. Black”) described 24/7 counseling options (telephone, text, in‑person, Zoom), services in Spanish and sign language, and existing connections to schools and families in the area. Dr. Black identified herself as a psychologist (Ph.D.) and said she has provided services across multiple counties and has previously received a San Bernardino County community business grant.

The Corona‑Norco Family YMCA (Willie Mobley, Healthy Living Director) outlined a Family Healthy Living proposal that would offer PLAY (structured physical education), the Healthy Weight Your Child program, nutrition classes, family fitness events, and youth sports (soccer, basketball, flag football). Mobley said programs can be scheduled after school or on weekends to suit families’ needs and highlighted partnerships with US Foods for nutrition education.

Girls on the Run Inland Empire (Kiana Oates, program manager) requested $10,000 to expand local programming after receiving an initial $5,000 CDBG award. Oates said the program served 63 girls this spring at Pedley Elementary (exceeding a prior goal to serve 25) and that nine teachers from Pedley are volunteers and trained as coaches. Coach and teacher Griselda Huizar spoke about parent and community engagement and an upcoming 5K on May 10.

Goodwill of Southern California (Mimi Hess, director of public partnerships) described workforce and opportunity‑youth programs, including paid training, digital/technical certificates and retail/warehouse placements. Hess said Goodwill has extensive Inland Empire operations and asked the committee for funding to establish a locally dedicated staff member and program in Jurupa Valley; the presenter said the requested amount would cover less than half the program cost and that Goodwill would leverage other revenue and program income.

The Jurupa District Lions Club (Hank Treba) requested support for a “We Care Bags” project of basic personal hygiene kits for families and seniors and described an April 12 vision‑screening event at Mission Middle School where the Lions anticipate serving several hundred people and providing free glasses.

Jurupa Youth sports organizations also presented. Anthony Kelly Jr., representing Jurupa (Steelers) Football and Cheer, described a long‑running youth football and cheer program, coach training and safety certifications, and operating costs including game/practice fees; he noted the program’s reliance on volunteer coaches and community partners.

Two applicants listed on the agenda — Family Services Association and the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center (and Planet Life) — did not have representatives at the meeting, the committee confirmed.

No grant awards or dollar allocations were decided at the meeting. Commissioners were reminded to complete their scores and return them to staff; the committee will meet March 13 to make funding recommendations to the City Council on April 3.

Minutes approval (formality): a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting was made and seconded and the committee voted to approve the minutes by voice vote.