California Consulting Community Newsletter

Edition 111 / April 2025

California Consulting Honors Our Valued Sponsors

City of Wildomar's Incredible Grant Journey: $4.7 Million Awarded

Cal Consulting is proud to celebrate the City of Wildomar for securing numerous outstanding awards totaling over $4.7 million! Through strong leadership, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to the community, Wildomar continues to deliver impactful projects that enhance public spaces, promote safety, and advance sustainability.

California Consulting Senior Project Manager Karen Simpson and Wildomar's administration make a wonderful team to secure the funding. We are honored to be a partner in this incredible journey and to share in the celebration of these achievements.

"These grants are a game-changer for Wildomar, allowing us to invest in vital infrastructure, safety, and sustainability projects that directly benefit our residents,” said Mayor Ashlee DePhillippo. "Securing over $4.7 million in grant funding is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and partners.”

The City’s largest award to date is an impressive $2,837,500 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These funds will support Phase 1 development of Wildomar’s 27-Acre Park, bringing expansive new recreational facilities, green spaces, and community amenities that will serve residents for generations to come.

Please click here for the entire article.

City of Menlo Park Secures $2.29 Million for EV Charging Infrastructure

Cal Consulting is proud to celebrate the City of Menlo Park for its successful award of $2,297,000 through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Climate Program Implementation - Charging Infrastructure Grant! This significant investment will support Menlo Park’s ongoing efforts to expand and enhance its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, reinforcing its leadership in sustainability and climate action.

This exciting milestone was achieved through the dedicated efforts of Cal Consulting Project Manager Maghan Barber, who worked closely with Menlo Park’s administrative team throughout the grant application process. Their collaboration ensured the City submitted a competitive and compelling proposal, ultimately securing this critical funding.

"Securing grant funding is essential to implementing the City’s Climate Action Plan, and we are so thrilled to announce our award to install new electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Cal Consulting played a pivotal role in this achievement by guiding our cross-departmental team to develop a competitive, detailed, and technical proposal,” stated Rachael Londer, City of Menlo Park-Sustainability Manager

Please click here for the entire article.

Celebrating Shari Edghill’s Grant Success: Over $49 Million Secured for Clients

California Consulting is proud to highlight the outstanding achievements of Senior Project Manager Shari Edghill, whose expertise in grant writing has led to securing an impressive $49,006,286 in funding for clients. With over 14 years of experience in grant writing and 25 years in business, legal, and operations, Shari has helped municipalities and organizations access critical funding for transformative projects in public safety, infrastructure, recreation, and energy.

One of her most impactful accomplishments includes securing multi-million-dollar funding through the California Department of Parks and Recreation Prop 68: Statewide Park Program (SPP). Her efforts have led to grants such as $7,841,000 for the City of Gardena, $6,950,000 for the City of Stanton, and $8,500,000 for the City of Needles, among others. These grants have allowed communities to revitalize public spaces, create new green areas, and improve access to outdoor recreational opportunities. Thanks to this funding, residents, families, and children can enjoy well-maintained parks and community resources for years to come.

“At California Consulting, we pride ourselves on delivering real results, and Shari exemplifies that mission. Her work has directly contributed to strengthening public safety, improving infrastructure, and enhancing recreational spaces across California.” stated California Consulting Director of Communications, Shasta Bell

Please click here to view the entire article.

March Madness - Grant Awards

California Consulting is thrilled to congratulate our clients who have secured grant funding in March 2025! These achievements are a testament to the dedication and hard work of local governments, organizations, and educational institutions striving to make a positive impact in their communities.

Here’s a shoutout to our amazing grant recipients:

City of Santa Maria: $500,000 from the FEMA - Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

City of Waterford:
$184,000 from StanCOG - Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) Development of an Active Transportation Plan.
$845,000 from StanCOG - Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) Washington Road Safe Routes to School Project.

Bi-Bett Corp.: $90,000 from Alameda County Health Department - Enhancement Funds.

City of Albany: $300,000 from MTC - Climate Program Implementation Charging Infrastructure Grant.

City of Menlo Park: $2,297,000 from MTC - Climate Program Implementation Charging Infrastructure Grant.

Mendota Unified School District: $93,597 from San Joaquin Valley Air District - Public Benefit Grant.

City of Pittsburg:
$13,000 from Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services Bureau - Organizational Capacity Building (Equipment).
$50,000 from Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services Bureau - Organizational Capacity Building (Senior Programming).
$120,000 from Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services Bureau - Organizational Capacity Building (Adaptive Sports Program).

These grants will help fund critical projects, including infrastructure improvements, climate action initiatives, health programs, transportation safety, and community enhancements. We are incredibly proud of our clients and their continued commitment to progress and positive change!

Congratulations once again to all of our March 2025 grant recipients. Keep up the fantastic work, and we look forward to seeing these projects come to life!

Exciting Funding Opportunity:

USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

Cal Consulting is thrilled to share a new funding opportunity for local governments, Tribal entities, and regional organizations! The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, aimed at enhancing roadway safety and reducing fatalities.

Grant Details:

Deadline: June 26, 2025
Award Amount: $100,000 to $25 million
Match Requirement: Yes, 20%

Purpose of the Grant:

The SS4A Grant Program offers Planning and Demonstration Grants to develop, complete, or enhance comprehensive safety action plans. These plans are designed to create a holistic, strategic approach to eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries within a locality, Tribe, or region.

The grants also support supplemental planning and demonstration activities that can help shape a new or existing Action Plan. The USDOT encourages the inclusion of demonstration activities within applications to showcase innovative safety strategies.

This is an incredible opportunity to develop proactive safety plans that protect communities and improve transportation networks. Don't miss out on the chance to secure funding for impactful, life-saving projects!

For more information and to apply, visit the USDOT SS4A page: S afe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)

Let Cal Consulting help you navigate the application process and put your community on the path to safer streets! Contact us today!

California’s Green Economy & Grant Funding: ILG Webinar Features California Consulting

In a thought-provoking discussion on the future of California’s economy, industry leaders recently gathered for a webinar exploring the state’s shift toward sustainability. Organized by the Institute for Local Government (ILG), the event provided valuable insights into how municipalities and businesses can leverage funding and policy initiatives to support green infrastructure and economic development.

Steve Samuelian, CEO of California Consulting, joined a distinguished panel that included Larry J. Kosmont (CEO, Kosmont Companies), Joseph Dieguez (Sr. VP, Kosmont Companies), Bonnie Lipscomb (Director of Housing & Economic Development, City of Santa Cruz), and Brian Coleman (Project Financing Manager, GO-Biz). Moderated by Melissa Kuehne (ILG), the discussion centered on California’s transition to a sustainable economy and the financial tools available to drive this change.

Please view the entire article here.

Upcoming Webinars and Workshops

Grant Corner

District Attorney Grants

Housing Grants

USBR WaterSmart Grants

Library Museum Grants

Water Grants

Grants for Cities:

CPUC: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Deadline: Subgrantee Prequalification: March 25 – April 24, 2025, Project Application: April 2 – May 2, 2025

Amount: Not specified, California’s overall BEAD allocation from the federal government is $1.86 billion

Eligibility: Local governments, Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, public utilities, private utilities, cooperatives, public utility districts, private companies, public-private partnerships, regional consortia, economic development organizations, and groups of eligible entities applying jointly.

Match: 25%

URL: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/beadprogram

SCAG: Surface Transportation Block Grant & Congestion Mitigation And Air Quality Improvement Programs

Deadline: May 16th, 2025 (subject to change)

Amount: No award floor or ceiling

Match: Matching requirements for STBG and CMAQ funds are dependent on project type, but most require a minimum of 11.47 percent match in non-federal funds

Eligibility: In general, SCAG cities, counties, transit agencies, federally recognized Tribal governments, and CTCs are eligible to apply for CMAQ and STBG funds. Each CTC is responsible for coordination and submission of project nominations to SCAG from eligible entities from their respective counties. SCAG encourages CTCs to coordinate with SCAG and other affected CTCs on project nominations for multi-county projects and to support multi-county agency projects such the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency, and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)

URL: https://scag.ca.gov/stbg-cmaq-program

HCD: Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities

Deadline: May 28th, 2025

Amount: Maximum: $50 million ($35 million for AHD/HRI, $15 million for STI/TRA/PGM) Minimum: $10 million

Match: No

Eligibility: Local governments, Transportation and transit agencies, Non-profit and for-profit housing developers, Joint powers authorities, K-12 school, college and university districts, Federally Recognized Tribes, California Native American Tribes

URL: https://sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs/ahsc/

https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/programs-active/affordable-housing-and-sustainable-communities

Grants for Art Projects Program

Deadline: R2: Grants.gov: July 10th (SF-424), NEA: July 22nd, 2025

Amount: $10,000-$100,000

Match: 1:1

Eligibility: Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; Units of state or local government; or Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.

URL: https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects

California Department of Parks and Recreation: Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

Deadline: August 5, 2025

Amount: Up to $6 million

Match: Yes - 50%

Eligibility: Cities, counties, tribal governments, JPAs, park districts, and special districts with authority to acquire, operate and maintain public park and recreation areas

URL: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21360

Grants for Education:

CA Dept of Education Funding: Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE)

Deadline: April 18, 2025

Amount: $6,000

Match: No

Eligibility: LEA’s grade 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Local educational agencies must be certified as tobacco free by July 1, 2025. Funding is available to school districts, direct-funded charter schools, consortium leads, and county offices of education that serve students in grades six through twelve.

URL: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=6398

JJ Watt Foundation

Deadline: Rolling, apply based on sport start season

Amount: Varies depending on ask (reimbursement for equipment)

Match: No

Eligibility: 6-8 grade

URL: https://jjwfoundation.org/request-funds/

CDE: Learning Communities for School Success Program

Estimated Deadline: TBD May 2025

Amount: Approved LEAs will receive $50 per 2020-21 enrolled student for each year of the three-year grant. Minimum three-year grants for LEAs with 100 or less enrollment will be $15,000. Maximum LEA grants will be $2,000,000 for three-year grant period. This Award is made contingent upon the availability of funds.

Match: Yes

Eligibility: All LEAs, which includes school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, are eligible to apply. LEAs with a high rate (exceeding the state average) of chronic absenteeism, dropout, and out-of-school suspension will be given priority, as well as those with a significant representation of foster youth or in a community with a high crime rate.

URL: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=5596#:~:text=Approved LEAs will receive %2450,upon the availability of funds.

Celebrating Our Teams Success

Our team continues to grow and thrive! This month, we’re celebrating both the promotions of some outstanding individuals and the addition of talented new hires to our team. Your achievements and dedication are a testament to the power of perseverance and collaboration. Congratulations to all, and thank you for helping make our community stronger! We’re excited to see the great things you’ll accomplish in your new roles!

Sam D'Ambrosio Promoted to Grant Specialist

We are thrilled to announce that Sam D'Ambrosio has been promoted to Grant Specialist at California Consulting!

Sam has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in grant writing, consistently going above and beyond to support our clients and secure critical funding.

Since joining California Consulting, Sam has played a key role in numerous successful grant applications, showcasing commitment to excellence and passion for making a difference. This promotion reflects hard work, talent, and unwavering dedication to the field.

Please join us in congratulating Sam on this well-deserved promotion! We are confident this new role will make even greater contributions to our mission.

Congratulations, Sam! Your commitment to our team and clients is truly inspiring!

Caitlin Williams Promoted to Management Assistant

We are thrilled to announce that Caitlin William has been promoted to Management Assistant! Caitlin’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence have truly set her apart, making her an invaluable member of our team.

In her new role, Caitlin will take on additional responsibilities, supporting our management team and contributing to strategic initiatives. Her exceptional organizational skills and positive attitude have consistently made a difference, and we have no doubt she will continue to excel in this new capacity.

Please join us in congratulating Caitlin on this well-deserved promotion! We are excited to see all that she will accomplish as Management Assistant.

Congratulations, Caitlin!

Kristi Baker Joins California Consulting as New Grant Writer

We are excited to welcome Kristi Baker to California Consulting as a Grant Writer! Kristi brings over 15 years of experience in grant writing and consulting, following a successful 20-year career as an educator in Texas public and Catholic diocesan schools. Her passion for communication, research, and project management has driven her success in securing funding for nonprofits, corporations, educational institutions, and municipalities.

Kristi’s recent focus has been on broadband infrastructure, where she has written and managed complex federal and state grants—including BEAD, ARPA, and USDA ReConnect—for major clients such as Frontier Communications, Wecom Fiber, and Nextlink Internet. She is skilled in developing grant processes, managing compliance, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

Kristi holds a Bachelor of Arts from East Texas Baptist University and a teaching certification from the University of North Texas. In her free time, she enjoys baking, a passion she honed through culinary training.

Welcome to the team, Kristi!

California Consulting Welcomes Hector Velasquez as New Grant Writer

California Consulting is thrilled to welcome Hector Velasquez as our new Junior Grant Writer! Hector brings a wealth of experience in data analysis and analytics, skills honed during his time working at the prestigious USC Rossier School of Education.

During his time there, he participated in various mixed-methods evaluations aimed at addressing challenges in educational equity. Hector was initially hired as a graduate research assistant for two years and later became a staff member on his team.

He was involved in projects that evaluated the effectiveness of Black College Success Programs, College Preparatory Programs, and initiatives designed to assess the impact of mentorship and online science curriculum interventions on low-income and minoritized middle school and college students’ science identity and social capital, particularly in relation to Physics and Astronomy fields. Throughout this role, Hector specialized in leading data collection efforts through student surveys, visualizing the results using Tableau, and conducting qualitative interviews with participants involved in these evaluations.

Hector holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. He is passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to support local governments, school districts, and organizations in achieving their goals. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to innovative approaches, Hector is ready to make an impact.

We are excited to have Hector on board and look forward to the valuable contributions he will make to our projects! Please join us in giving him a warm welcome to the California Consulting family.

Welcome New Clients

CC is excited to welcome the City of Calabasas, City of Salinas, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League, Centralia Elementary School District, the City of Gridley, the City of Fullerton, the City of Jackson, the City of El Cajon, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, the City of Suisun City, and the SNO Foundation into the California Consulting Community for grant writing services. We are excited to secure funding for your projects.

Celebrating Our Renewal Clients

CC is thrilled that the City of Sausalito, The City of Baldwin Park, and the City of Firebaugh have renewed their contracts. We look forward to our continued collaboration that strategically secures funding to enhance their communities.

California Consulting in the Community

4/3/25- Sacramento CA- CC Senior Associate Dale Sumersille attends the Sacramento Area Council of Governments Transportation Committee.

3/28/25- Orange County, CA- Cal Consulting Sr. Associate Janine Heft attended the 2025 Women in Leadership Summit in Costa Mesa

3/27/25- Los Angeles County, CA - CC Senior Client Relations Associate, Karen Herrera, recently attended the South Bay Council of Governments General Assembly Annual Meeting!

3/26/25 - Long Beach, CA CC Senior Client Relations Associate, Karen Herrera, had to opportunity to attend the Catalyst Convening for the Los Angeles Region.

3/18/25- Orange County, CA- Cal Consulting Senior Associate Janine Heft attended the City of Irvine’s State of the City Address. We are honored the City of Irvine is a client for grant writing servcies.

3/13/2025- Orange County, CA- Cal Consulting Senior Associate Janine Heft attended the Cal Cities Orange County Quarterly Meeting.

3/11/2025- Alameda County, CA -California Consulting Senior Associate Stephen Sanger had the privilege of presenting at the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTA).

3/10/25- Yolo County, CA- Senior Asssociate Dale Sumersille attended the YOLO Transportation District Board of Directors Meeting where she gave a presentation.

o3/7/25- Ventura County, CA- Cal Consulting Senior Associate Danielle Noble attended the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Meeting.

3/6/25- Yolo County, CA- Cal Consulting Senior Associate Dale Sumersille attended the City of Davis State of the City Luncheon. Cal Consulting is honored that the City of Davis is a client for grant writing servcies.