Receive an update on the Yolo County Youth Commission Year 2 of YEA Grant Process and approve four YEA Grant Program Awards of $40,000 each to the Woodland Public Library, Our House Café dba Purple Tree Café, Campus Life Connection, and United Way California Capital Region. (No general fund impact) (Brazil/Bryan) (Est. Time: 10 min.)

On May 10, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of the Yolo Youth Commission as a 2-year pilot program (Resolution No. 22-59). With the creation of the Yolo Youth Commission, the Board also approved a Grant Funding Agreement awarding the Yolo County Office of Education $400,000 from County-generated cannabis tax revenues to administer the Youth Commission (Agreement No. 22-78). The Board subsequently appointed 15 Youth Commissioners on November 22, 2022.  

One of the responsibilities of the Yolo Youth Commission is evaluating grant proposals for youth-led efforts and organizations in Yolo County and developing a grant funding plan for presentation to the Board of Supervisors for approval, with $160,000 budgeted per year for grant awards In its first year, under the direction of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and the Yolo County Office of Education, the Youth Commission initiated a request for proposals (RFP) to fund youth initiatives and program development with grants offering a total of $160,000. The Commission designed and facilitated an RFP process that featured robust community engagement. Three areas of need among Yolo County Youth were identified: Job Readiness and Life Skills, Civic Engagement, and Recreational Events that Build Community. All proposed programs and services were to adhere to these three areas of need. Additionally, RFP respondents were informed all services were to be conducted within Yolo County and accessible by youth residing in any of the communities of which the County is comprised.

The Commission initiated the Year 2 request for proposals (RFP) to fund youth initiatives and program development with grants offering a total of $160,000. The Commission designed and facilitated an RFP process that featured robust community engagement. Five areas of need among Yolo County Youth were identified: Education, Mental and Behavioral Health, College and Career Readiness, Life Skills and Recreational Activities, and Civic Engagement and Community Organizing. All proposed programs and services were to adhere to these five areas of need. Additionally, Year 2 RFP respondents were informed all services were to be conducted within Yolo County and accessible by youth residing in any of the communities of which the County is comprised.

The Year 2 RFP attracted 22 applicants from organizations across the County. The Youth Commission selected four programs that it identified as meeting all RFP criteria and values of the Youth Commission. The table below displays the chosen programs and proposed funding amounts.
 

Youth Commission (YC) Year 2 YEA! Grant Proposed Project Name	Organization Name	Proposed Funding	YC Funding Decision
Youth Programs: Adulting 101, Bookmobile, and Beyond!	Woodland Public Library	$40,000	$40,000
Career Readiness with Purple Tree Cafe	Our House Cafe dba Purple Tree Cafe	$38,809	$40,000
West Sacramento Collings Teen Center	Campus Life Connection	$40,000	$40,000
KinderCamp Expansion to Clarksburg	United Way - California Capital Region	$39,800	$40,000
Total		$158,609	$160,000

An agreement will be developed with each organization receiving grant funds detailing how the Yolo Youth Commission and the Yolo County Office of Education will provide support, oversight, advocacy, and progress reporting. Development of this agreement will precede program funding, which will occur via MOU with the Yolo County Office of Education upon the Board of Supervisors' ratification of the Youth Commission's selections.

Pursuant to the resolution establishing the Yolo Youth Commission, the Commission's grant funding plan is deemed accepted by the Board unless the Board rejects the Commission's plan by a four-fifths vote. In the event of such a vote, the grant funding plan would return to the Youth Commission for further consideration prior to re-presentation to the Board. 

Yolo County Office of Education
County Counsel