Community Foundation for Monterey County announces recipients of nearly $2 million in grants for Pajaro recovery.

As part of the Pajaro recovery plan, Monterey County set aside $2 million from a $20 million state allocation to support the town of Pajaro in the form of community grants that will focus on resilience efforts. 

On Dec. 18, the Community Foundation for Monterey County announced the 22 nonprofit organizations that will receive grant funds for work in community of Pajaro. The organization will distribute 23 grants to 22 nonprofits, totaling nearly $1.9 million (the rest of the $2 million was used to cover administrative costs). 

Recipients include Community Bridges and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Monterey, which are also running the cash aid assistance program for flood survivors in Pajaro, as well as Center for Community Advocacy, Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueño, Hijos del Sol for a mural project, Teeth for Life Scholarships to support dental care, Second Harvest Food Bank, Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance, and others. 

According to Dan Baldwin, president/CEO of the Community Foundation, the funds were allocated based on the impact the projects would have in the community. 

In total, the foundation received 39 applications which a volunteer committee reviewed and made recommendations to the CFMC board, which approved the final the list. 

“The committee was comprised of a small business owner, a youth representative, two local government officials and two Pajaro residents, so we really felt like we had great representation from the community of Pajaro telling us what the primary needs were,” Baldwin said during a press conference hosted by the County of Monterey on Dec. 18. 

The grantees’ focus will vary and focus on different aspects including health, farmworker advocacy, digital equity, disaster preparedness and more.