Building Gamechangers
In Salinas
Today’s Decision
This is not a rent reduction — it's a strategic investment.
By redirecting $59,999 toward Salinas youth development, the Council unlocks measurable outcomes without adding a single dollar to the City budget.
The choice made today will shape the next 20 years of opportunity for Salinas youth.
21 Years of Serving
Salinas Youth
#1 amongst peer group, First Tee network
Largest youth development org in Mo Co
137,000 cumulative youth impacted
13,000 youth served annually (2025)
48% of participants are female
96% of participants are minorities
65% of coaches are former participants
Serving 31 Salinas schools in 4 districts
Long-term programming delivered at a City facility — making this a true public-private partnership at scale.
FTMC impacts youth in the two zip codes with:
The highest risk
The highest D.C.I. ranking (Distressed Community Index) The highest concentration of elevated crime conditions
Salinas Youth Participation
Education Outcomes That Move the Needle
FTMC Program Youth
District Average
19 22
29 23
Data-Backed Results
Verified by AUSD and Data+Design, program participants outperform peers on both key academic indicators. 3 points lower - chronic absenteeism than district peers 6 points higher - ELA proficiency than district peers
Small gains at scale translate into long-term, community-wide impact
FTMC Scholarship
Program
219
Scholars served through the pipeline program
84%
College graduation rate among participants
61%
Graduate within 4 years (nat’l average 24-27%)
28,000
Mentoring hours invested in student success
The Economic Case Is Overwhelming
Lifetime Value Per Graduate
Each high school graduate generates an estimated $480,000* in lifetime economic value through higher earnings, taxes paid and reduced social costs.
Break-even point: Just 2 graduates
50 graduates: $24M community impact
Full pipeline: ~$88M projected impact
The City’s $60,000 investment generates returns that are impossible to replicate through any other budget line. *University of Pennsylvania's Center for Benefit-Cost Studies of Education
Redirecting $60,000 Per Year
The City’s investment could:
Provide 3 PIF Scholarships every year
Grant 6 additional FTMC scholarships every year
Impact 300 more youth for an entire year
Provide bus transportation every day for 180 youth to attend daytime programming for a school year Annually FTMC Provides:
$986,000 in annual access-value scholarships
$38,000 in college scholarships
$300,000 in CSUMB college Scholarships
Prevention Is Public Safety
Youth Crime Has Significantly Declined
Youth development programming is a proven crime prevention strategy — and the numbers tell the story in Salinas.
Proven crime prevention strategy
Keeps youth in school, not the justice system
Youth crime rates down as programs expanded
THE MATH IS SIMPLE
$297M
Annual cost of crime to Salinas taxpayers
$60,000 Invested in Prevention
$100,000 One Incarceration
The Golf Course:
Setting the Record Straight
Not a Profit Center -
A Community Asset
FTMC has invested $4.47M in the golf course since 2016. The organization has paid $540K in lease payments — covering approximately 13% of total expenses — while absorbing all operational complexity.
Without this partnership, the City would bear the full burden of staffing, maintenance, and liability. This arrangement protects taxpayers.
A Partnership Built on Public Benefit
Aligned Structure
The County leases the same property for $1. Aligning this lease structure reflects the genuine public benefit delivered.
City Retains Ownership
The City maintains full ownership of the asset while offloading operational risk and cost to the program operator.
Low Risk, High Return
A proven partner with 20 years of results. The risk profile for the City is minimal; the community return is exceptional.
Shaping the Next 20 Years
What Approval Unlocks
+300 youth served annually
Expanded capacity to reach more Salinas families
+3,000 youth over 10 years
A decade of compounding community impact
Expanded school partnerships
Deeper reach into Salinas schools and underserved neighborhoods Stronger workforce pipeline
College graduates who stay, work, and invest in Salinas
Putting $59,999 in Budget Context
A Fraction of the Whole
Salinas operates on a $285 million total annual budget. The proposed investment represents just 0.02% of that — with no new spending required.
This is a reallocation, not an addition.
No tax increases
No new budget line items
Maximum ROI of any discretionary decision this cycle
All Other City Spending 99.98%
·
Youth Investment ($59,999) 0.02%