Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff
May 16, 2023
NAPA COUNTY, CA — The Napa County Board of Supervisors awarded $2.3 million of Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) grant funds to 13 community providers who put forth 14 projects to help support critical safety net services for the upcoming fiscal year, and in some instances, up to two additional years. Over the next three years of enhanced MSA funding through multi-year grant awards, the county has committed to providing $4 million to community-based organizations.
Organizations that will receive MSA grant funds include the Cope Family Center, Wayfinder Family Services, UpValley Family Centers of Napa County, On The Move – VOICES Napa, On The Move – Napa County Recovery Center, Fair Housing Napa Valley, Planned Parenthood Northern California, OLE Health, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, Saint Helena Hospital Foundation, Queen of the Valley Medical Center – Community Health Investment, Feeding It Forward, and Abode Services.
“This Board of Supervisors continues its longstanding tradition of using its discretionary MSA grant funds to support programs and services that are critical to our safety net here in Napa County,” said Napa County Board of Supervisors Chair Belia Ramos. “It’s wonderful to see so many providers in our community carrying out safety net services to support our residents.”
Since 2001, Napa County has dedicated tens of millions of dollars in tobacco settlement funds to community-based organizations through a competitive grant program. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board increased the amount of MSA funding available for grant awards by $1 million each year ($1.1 to $2.1 million annually) for a five-year period from Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-2021 through FY 2024-2025 and to $1.5 million in FY 25-26. These increases result in an overall commitment of $12 million over six years.
“I’m grateful to live and work in a community where our Board of Supervisors makes funding available for our community partners who play a critical role in our safety net with a clear prioritization on the many aspects of our social drivers of health,” said Director of Napa County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Jennifer Yasumoto. “Napa County is a special place and it’s an honor to work alongside providers who all serve our community and support its health and well-being.”
The 14 projects are wide-ranging and include a new Guaranteed Income Program for extended foster care youth and other community programs directed at food insecurity, housing instability, and healthcare. These projects are in addition to 10 projects totaling approximately $1.7 million that were awarded multi-year grant funding in last year’s MSA grant process that continue forward.
This press release was produced by the Napa County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.