The Innovation Fund is an initiative of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to stimulate and seed demonstration programs and innovative public service projects for the benefit of Contra Costa County residents.
Donor Name: Contra Costa County
State: California
County: Contra Costa County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/07/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Board allocated $2 million of Measure X sales tax dollars in FY 2022/23 and an additional $2 million in FY 2024/25 to sponsor this competitive grant program among nonprofit community-based organizations in response to local service needs. The Innovation Fund is administered by the County Administrator’s Office on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
Five projects were funded in the total amount of $1,820,737 during the first grant round for the period December 1, 2023 through January 15, 2025. Up to ten innovative projects will be considered in the second grant round. Grant rounds are conducted in two Phases: (1) Project Concept Proposals, up to $5,000 and (2) Project Implementation Proposals up to $1,950,000.
Innovation Fund Priorities
The Board established four priorities that distinguish the Innovation Fund from other County-sponsored community grant opportunities:
- improving equitable access to public services
- removing structural barriers that cause inequities & poverty
- providing the greatest impact for every dollar spent
- transformative change rather than simply replicating safe, established programs.
Project/Program Categories
The Board defined five broad program/project categories to guide the Fund’s Review Panel in evaluating and recommending projects for the Board’s final consideration.
- Safe & Engaged Communities
- Improving health, wellness, and public safety outcomes through community outreach/awareness, education, and engagement.
- Individuals take more control over their own personal health and fitness and have better access to supportive tools and services
- Individuals take more control over their own personal safety at home, work or at leisure, and in preparation for natural or manmade disasters
- Increase public access to technology that connects individuals to needed public services
- Agriculture and Food Systems
- Improving environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Projects that:
- Increase access to and consumption of local agricultural and value-added products at local or export markets
- Improve the quality, productivity and safety of agricultural producers, systems and products through research, development and education
- Preserve agricultural lands through improvements to soil and water conservation programs, permitting policies, and landscape level innovations
- Support expansion of agricultural industries and methodologies with farmer training programs
- Facilitate the development of affordable farm worker housing by developing recommended reform and deploying strategies with existing government support programs
- Support the effective integration of the food systems network into local agricultural networks, production systems and value chains
- Improving environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Projects that:
- Economic Vitality
- Providing education, job training, decent jobs, and viable businesses to reduce the number of people at a poverty level. Projects that:
- Connect businesses and skilled workers
- Serve local workforce needs, such as childcare, transportation issues, training or career counseling and development, and advancing education
- Mitigate Contra Costa’s workforce challenges caused by COVID-19
- Providing education, job training, decent jobs, and viable businesses to reduce the number of people at a poverty level. Projects that:
- Clean & Sustainable Environment
- For projects designed to deliver energy-related social and environmental benefits to County residents and propose to identify or develop local renewable energy, energy efficiency or fuel switching in Contra Costa County that increases community access to or ownership of clean energy:
- Implement a demonstration project that has the potential to reduce the cost of living for county residents
- Address the disproportionate health, environmental, economic and climate impacts on disadvantaged communities
- Advance innovative, low-cost, efficient transportation systems like transportation network, autonomous vehicles, and bicycle/scooter sharing
- Advance renewable energy resilience projects for Contra Costa County
- Identify and implement energy efficiency projects to reduce energy expenses
- Plan and Implement renewable energy projects for Contra Costa County with significant return on investment
- Expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles
- Expand the network of zero emission vehicle fueling and charging stations
- For projects designed to deliver energy-related social and environmental benefits to County residents and propose to identify or develop local renewable energy, energy efficiency or fuel switching in Contra Costa County that increases community access to or ownership of clean energy:
- Reliable & Accessible Infrastructure
- Modernization, technology, or equity in digital access, cybersecurity, and resilience. Projects that:
- Increase access to technology within disadvantaged communities that connects individuals to needed public services
- Close the equity gap surrounding technology (digital divide)
- Improve existing business processes and workforce efficiency
- Enhance citizen experience through the launch new services or business models.
- Modernization, technology, or equity in digital access, cybersecurity, and resilience. Projects that:
Eligibility Criteria
The Board established eligibility criteria for the Innovation Fund to be verified by written evidence provided by the applicant:
- IRS Tax-Exempt Organization designation under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (most nonprofits)
- Operate in Contra Costa County or provide documented services for residents of Contra Costa County
- Meet County insurance requirements, including:
- General Liability Insurance coverage of at least $500,000
- Indemnifying the County, and covering for any emergent liabilities
- Workers compensation insurance is required for organizations that have employees, or if volunteers receive ANY stipends/payment
- Have bylaws or policies that describe the way business is conducted including management, fiscal policies and procedures, and policies on nepotism and the management of potential conflicts of interest.
- Have at least one year of experience with the project or in the program area being proposed.
- Have staff or authorized representatives adequately trained to administer and provide the program described.
For more information, visit Contra Costa County.
