SANTA CRUZ >> The city of Santa Cruz Children’s Fund Oversight Committee is offering grant funding to support programs and services for Santa Cruz children and youth younger than age 25 with an application deadline of March 11.

“We are committed to supporting programs that have a meaningful impact on the social and emotional well-being of our youth,” said Santa Cruz Councilmember Martine Watkins in a statement who chairs the Children’s Fund Oversight Committee. “Through these grants, we aim to enhance early childhood development programs, prevention programs and programs for vulnerable youth in our community.”

The Children’s Fund Oversight Committee manages the funds that are collected through the cannabis business tax. The passage of Measure A in 2021 allocates 20% of the revenue from the cannabis tax to youth and early childhood development programs and services, which for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 totals $761,409.

The city urges eligible organizations such as nonprofit organizations and governmental bodies to apply for the grant and points out that child care providers must hold current licenses with the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services.

Applications will be reviewed by the Children’s Fund Oversight Committee, which will consider the applicant’s completeness, clarity, and impact, and applicants who can leverage funds through additional sources will be prioritized.

According to the city’s website, funding priorities for this grant cycle are centered on the creation of new state subsidized and unsubsidized child care, the enhancement of programs that support the social and emotional well-being of children, youth and teen recreational programs, programs that support youth mental health and programs that support vulnerable youth that are disconnected from school, family and community.

The grant application process opened in February and the deadline for submissions ends at 4 p.m. March 11 with the committee reviewing applications in April and putting them before the City Council tentatively in May. Grant recipients will be announced and awarded in June.

Applications can be submitted to the Children’s Fund Oversight Committee via Assistant City Manager Lisa Murphy at lmurphy@santacruzca.gov or at cityofsantacruz.com.