Town of Yountville
Staff Report
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Agenda Item #: 9E
Yountville Town Council Staff Report
DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Samantha Holland, Parks & Recreation Director
PREPARED BY: Samantha Holland, Parks & Recreation Director
RECOMMENDATION
Receive update, review proposal and adopt Resolution Number 26-4438, approving updates to the Imagine Yountville Grant Program and direct the Yountville Community Foundation to proceed with administering the updated program for 2027.
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Town Council began allocating funds for a community grant program that was to be administered through the Yountville Community Foundation. In June of 2024, the Town Council approved by Resolution the outline of the program and directed the Yountville Community Foundation to proceed with the program as outlined.
After two grant cycles, 2025 and 2026, the Yountville Community Foundation has awarded 9 grants totaling $48,642. In 2025, the grants were awarded to the George C. Yount Historic Cemetery Association (3 Projects), E & M Presents, the Farmstand Garden Program, and the Yountville Holiday Dinner Program. In 2026, the Yountville Community Foundation awarded grants to the Farmstand Garden Program, Hospitality Hounds, and the Yountville Optimist Club.
After reviewing the program and assessing its ability to stimulate new and exciting ideas to achieve the goal of bringing happiness to Yountville’s residents, the Yountville Community Foundation discussed the following changes that it is bringing forward for approval by the Town Council.
The recommended changes to the program are as follows:
• Create two levels of grants: Large grant and small grant. Large grants would be $2,500-$20,000. Small grants would be $250 – $2,500. The Yountville Community Foundation is hoping to encourage more small projects that individuals or small groups could take on without a huge lift but that could still make a positive impact. We envision the small grants would be similar to the “happiness projects” from the past.
• Simplify the Small Grant Program application to make it more easily accessible to individuals or small groups wanting to provide and achieve a smaller and simpler project. • Encourage broader participation with a more robust marketing campaign. • Encourage broader participation by offering a fun and interactive grant information session and encouraging past grant recipients to share their stories.
These new programs would still operate within the allotted maximum distribution each calendar year. Currently budgeted in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 fiscal year general fund budget for Community Promotions and Programs is $25,000 each year. We have operated on a drawdown method, only transferring needed funding each year from the Town to the Yountville Community Foundation to replenish the program up to the allotted distribution amount for each year. The fund balance for distribution in 2026-27 would be approximately $35,000.
Before the Council today is a Resolution to approve the changes as outlined and direct the Yountville Community Foundation to proceed with the revised grant program for 2027. The Yountville Community Foundation will continue to bring annual reports to the Council to update on the success of the program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Exempt per California Environmental Act (CEQA) Guideline, Section 15061(b)(3) as an activity that has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Is there a Fiscal Impact? Yes
Is it Currently Budgeted? Yes
Where is it Budgeted? General Fund Budget 01-1015 Community Promotions & Programs Division Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? Mandatory
Is there a Staff Resource Impact? Yes
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No 26-4438
2. Draft Application for Small Grant Program
3. Draft Application for Large Grant Program