Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that he secured $1,000,000 in federal funding for the construction of a new 7,500 square foot clubhouse in City of Scotts Valley for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County. The clubhouse will serve the children of Scotts Valley and surrounding San Lorenzo Valley communities. The finished project will serve an estimated 400 youth per year, with an average daily attendance of 150 kids and teens, via after school and out-of-school time programs that offer academic support, art, fun physical activities, music, cooking classes, and more.
“The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County do excellent work to enable young people to excel, especially at the Joe & Linda Aliberti Clubhouse in Scotts Valley,” said Rep. Panetta. “However, their afterschool programs continue to grow, and their resources are stretched thin. This significant federal investment for a new youth center in Scotts Valley will provide our children with an improved, state-of-the-art, and bigger clubhouse to play, exercise, and receive academic and social support. Moreover, it will be a hub for children and families in the entire San Lorenzo Valley. I’m proud to ensure that the federal government continues to play its part to invest in our children, families, and communities with funding for this new clubhouse for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County so that they can continue to invest in our future.”
“At a time when families are navigating rising living costs and increasing barriers to essential services such as meals and childcare, Congressman Panetta’s ability to secure this critical investment for the Aliberti Clubhouse strengthens our capacity to provide high-quality, affordable, and reliable afterschool and summer programs for children and teens in Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley for generations to come,” said Lis DuBois, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County. “We are deeply grateful for Congressman Panetta’s continued commitment to strengthening our community.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County opened a 2,400 square foot clubhouse in 2018 that serves an average of 330 youth per year and has been enrolled to capacity with a wait list every year. During the COVID pandemic, the Club played a vital role in the community, providing youth programs and local parks, community center, and school campuses following the closure of the City’s childcare program. The new youth center will seek to address the shortage of childcare spaces in Scotts Valley, ultimately making living and working in the region more affordable.
Rep. Panetta has been a fierce advocate for affordable living in Scotts Valley during his time in Congress. In addition to the funding announced today, he secured $1,000,000 for the Scotts Valley Town Center to acquire 8.15 acres of land, with the eventual goal being to develop 14 total acres of vacant land into a mixed-use “downtown” urban core, including affordable housing.
The funding secured for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County is part of a grant that Rep. Panetta advocated to be included in the most recent appropriations package. The funds will be delivered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program, which helps increase the competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining businesses that provide employment and services for their residents.
In the 116th Congress, Rep. Panetta and House Democrats led the way in bringing back a process to allow Representatives—who know their districts best—to request and secure funds for the programs and places that matter most to communities. The projects Rep. Panetta fought for address clear and present needs in California’s 19th Congressional District and represent his commitment to strengthening the federal partnership with the people and values of our communities.
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