Grantee Stories

El Pájaro Community Development Corporation

El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El Pájaro CDC) sees the need in our communities for better economic opportunities that give people the chance to build a business of their own, create jobs for themselves and their community and spur economic activity. Its mission is to promote community and economic development for underrepresented and underserved minority small business owners and entrepreneurs.

A two-year, $65,000 Community Impact grant is helping the organization establish a permanent office and training room in Salinas, and improve and increase outreach and service delivery to entrepreneurs throughout the Salinas Valley in three main sectors: home-based childcare businesses, food and farming entrepreneurs and small and micro-businesses in rural areas of the Pajaro and Salinas Valleys.

In the first year of the grant, El Pájaro CDC provided 350 Monterey County residents with business development training and assistance. Additionally, the organization has worked directly with 74 business owners to access capital funding for their business.

The grant also supports the organization's micro-lending program and economic development collaborations with the City of Salinas, including the East Alisal Vibrancy Program and the development of a community kitchen incubator supporting food-based entrepreneurs.

Spay Neuter Imperative Project

The mission of Spay Neuter Imperative Project (SNIP) is to provide low-cost mobile spay, neuter, vaccination and microchipping services to end the senseless suffering and death of animals due to overpopulation and illness. It seeks to make low-cost spay/neuter, vaccination and microchipping services widely accessible to pet owners in Monterey County.

SNIP focuses on the areas with the greatest need and largest population of low-income residents, including: Salinas/E. Salinas, Castroville, Soledad, San Lucas, Greenfield, Prunedale, Gonzales and King City. SNIP attempts to serve, but is not limited to, veterans, people living with disabilities, seniors, people living without shelter and agricultural workers, many of whom have been significantly affected by COVID-19.

Even during the depths of the pandemic, the ongoing need to spay and neuter pets/animals in these areas did not stop. Unwanted litters of kittens and puppies present financial hardship for low-income families. Many people were unable to work, making the cost of veterinary services untenable.

The $25,000 grant serves more than 250 families and helps them do the responsible thing for their pet and their community.