On July 30, Supervisor Joel Anderson hosted a State Grants 101 Workshop at the Crystal Ballroom in El Cajon. The workshop, intending to educate and assist attendees on applying for state and local grant funding was co-hosted by California Consulting Inc., the California Department of Justice (DOJ), and San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (ARCC) Jordan Z. Marks.
Over 100 attendees arrived to a vibrant networking reception in the spacious Crystal Ballroom, accompanied with food and beverages provided by the Chaldean Community Council. The reception brought together public officials, educators, and local leaders to break down the complexities of applying for federal, state, and local grant funding. Attendees ranged from small business owners, nonprofits, and representatives from cities across Southern California eager to learn how to better compete for public funding. Speaker topics included best practices for grant writing, common pitfalls, and how local agencies can strategically align their proposals with state and federal funding priorities.
The program featured a range of speakers, and began with opening remarks from San Diego ARCC Jordan Z Marks, Dr. Noori Barka of the Chaldean Community Council, and Andrew Hayes, a Trustee of the Lakeside Union School District. All of these speakers thanked Anderson for organizing the educational event and encouraged attendees to ask questions and to stay engaged during the workshop presentations.
The workshop began with Samantha D’Ambrasio’s presentation from California Consulting, Inc., focusing on grant writing best practices and how California Consulting can assist grant applicants through the application process. Attendees then heard from Sara Isgur of Kosmont Companies with a presentation on economic development and infrastructure, a crucial aspect of nonprofit and public agency applications ensuring that grant funding will be used optimally. The workshop concluded with a presentation on “Getting DOJ Ready” presented by Joseph Zimring from the Office of the California Attorney General (AG), ensuring that attendees are aware of the guidelines for applying for state funding.
After the event, attendees said they felt better prepared when applying for state funding. “I learned a lot, I was close to hiring a grant writer and now I feel like a grant writer. It worked!” said Sadam of the Manzoor Foundation. “Extremely helpful for people getting started with state grants” said Shayra, a representative of the City of Desert Hot Springs.
A special thank you goes to the Chaldean Community Council, which generously provided the food and space for the event. Their hospitality made the afternoon informative and welcoming for all who attended.
“I’m grateful for our community partners at the Chaldean Community Council” said Anderson. “It’s always great to work alongside professional organizations focusing on serving our constituents.”
For more information about the County services and resources offered by Supervisor Anderson’s office, please reach out on the Supervisor’s website at www.supervisorjoelanderson.com/contact or by calling his office at (619) 219-2470.
Ian Harper is Communications Manager For San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson.
