We recently announced the 15 Kern County nonprofits invited to move on in our two-part Fall Cycle, along with the projects they are hoping to get funded. Below, is a little bit more about those particular projects.
$100,000 Grant Award Finalists
–Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County for their Nutrition Program — Storage Room to Commercial Kitchen Renovation project, which will transform their 997 square foot storage room at the Armstrong Youth Center into a functioning kitchen, allowing them to bring back their Teaching Kitchen program.
–Children First Campaign: the construction of the East Bakersfield Family Zone Pocket Park, a neighborhood green space, located at Brown and Monterey streets.
–Community Action Partnership of Kern: CAPK Food Bank Solar Energy Improvement Project will install solar panels on CAPK’s Food Bank, saving them money on electricity bills, and allowing them to distribute even more food.
–Kern County Library Foundation: the creation of an interactive Creative Lab, a MakerSpace type of area, located at the Beale Library branch.
–Kern Medical Center Foundation: for their Blindness & Vision Loss Prevention program, which will involve purchasing technology to diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
–Saint Vincent de Paul: The Thrift Store Roof Replacement Project will replace the 61-year-old roof of their thrift store, located at 300 Baker Street, with a more energy-efficient one, including new insulation, ridge vents and 16 new skylights.
–Tehachapi Community Theatre Association: for the BeeKay Theater Expansion Project, which will expand the theater by adding a green room, dressing room, costume, make-up and props areas, and better restroom facilities.
$50,000 Grant Award Finalists
–Bakersfield SPCA: the WAGGIN’ TAIL CORRAL — “Saving Lives One Paw at a Time” project involves transforming the 1,800 square feet of open space outside of their lobby doors into a pet playground (the WAGGIN’ TAIL CORRAL), for small dogs, allowing the dogs exercise, and providing a space for potential adopters and the dogs to interact.
–Independent Living Center of Kern County: the purchase of a Wheelchair Accessible Van, which will help their clients with transportation issues, as well as providing transport for their Reuse Repair and Job Placement programs.
–Kern Partnership for Children and Families: the funding of a new surface for their Children’s Visitation Center Playground, providing a safe environment for children to play and interact with their family members.
–New Advances for People with Disabilities: the Access to Fine Arts and Dreams project involves the purchase of an audio/video/lighting system with full production capabilities, to create an ADA accessible design stage theater.
$25,000 Grant Award Finalists
–CASA of Kern County: their Technology Improvement project involves the purchase of a new integrated phone system, replacing their 22-year old current system — which their vendor has had to buy parts for at yard sales!
–Equine Rescue Outakuntrol: for an Animal Mobile Disaster Evacuation Unit, a self-contained horse trailer that will act as an animal mobile evacuation emergency unit.
–Lamont Women’s Club, Inc.: The Old Lamont Sign — Restoring Pride and a Future project will relocate and refurbish the old Lamont town sign.
–Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation: Technology for College Readiness and Success will be a resource center for students and their families to work on college, financial aid, and scholarship applications, and will include the purchase of 24 laptops and a high speed internet connection.
Bakersfield Californian Foundation 