Airport board approves $717,338 in community grants recommended by Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation

The Truckee Tahoe Airport District board voted Dec. 4 to approve the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation—s (TTCF) recommendations to award $717,338 in agency partnership funds to local nonprofits.

The grants stem from TTCF—s annual agency partnership cycle. Dan Carey, TTCF—s community impact manager, told directors the foundation updated its scoring rubric this year to include guidance for capital-campaign requests and to align evaluations with the district—s policy instruction PI-311. A nine-member volunteer review committee performed independent scoring and met to reach consensus on recommendations.

Phyllis McCahon, who presented the committee—s results, said the group recommended fully funding eight of 10 general project applications and recommended funding two capital campaign applicants that had completed permitting and were ready to proceed; one capital applicant lacked required permits and was not recommended. The committee—s total recommended award was $717,338.

"In the interest of being good stewards of public funds, our committee centers outcomes around transparency and equity," McCahon said during the presentation.

Directors discussed whether to increase awards to two capital applicants and one smaller applicant; board members said they respected the committee—s work but also noted there was additional tax revenue this year. After public comment from several partner organizations (including Rocker Memorial Skate Park and Tahoe Cross Country), President Rick Stevens called for a motion. A director moved to approve TTCF—s recommendations; a second was recorded and the board took a roll-call vote.

Vote tally (roll call): Director Diamond: yes; Director Hetherington: yes; Director Odette: yes; Director Rolfe: yes; Director Stevens: yes. Motion carried; the recommended $717,338 was approved.

The board and presenters emphasized that the TTCF process required applicants to demonstrate matching or partner contributions and alignment with airport public purpose categories such as conservation, public-safety improvements that affect airport access/egress, STEAM education and greenhouse-gas mitigation. TTCF staff noted improvements to the application and scoring process this cycle, including dedicated review criteria for capital campaigns.

The decision authorizes staff to work with TTCF to draft contracts and follow-up paperwork to implement the awards.

Ending: Directors and community members thanked TTCF volunteers and staff for the multiweek review process and the number of applicants and projects that applied in this cycle.