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Funds to support Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC)’s Vista Hermosa Development in Santa Paula

The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has just approved a $120,000 grant to the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) from the Merewether Community Fund for predevelopment costs on Vista Hermosa, a new 24 unit multi-family farm worker housing project for low and very low income workers. The development, one of five farm worker housing projects in CEDC’s development pipeline, will be located near the corner of Palm and Harvard in Santa Paula and is scheduled to start construction in September of 2005. Dan Hardy is project manager for this development.

With six housing developments currently under construction, CEDC is the primary non-profit housing developer serving Ventura County. Since incorporating in 1981, CEDC has built over 850 units of affordable for-sale and multi-family rental housing, manages nine properties (300 units) of rental housing for very-low and low income families, has provided financial and homebuyer education and counseling to over 1,000 families, and has helped 220 families into ownership through its NeighborWorks® Home Ownership Center. Through a community-building focus, CEDC aims to help support families’ strengths, broaden their opportunities, and revitalize the communities in which they live.

Mike and Loretta Merewether established this $600,000 fund with VCCF two years ago by donating appreciated real estate. The Merewethers said, “It is great to have a part in helping direct the funds to worthy causes in our own community while we are still living, rather than sending it to the government in taxes.” Also in 2004, VCCF granted $202,500 from the Ventura County Fund for Farm Worker Housing for the acquisition, development, and preservation of safe, decent, and affordable housing for farm workers. CEDC was also one of the recipients of these funds for its Solo Cup and Casa Campesina farm worker developments in Santa Paula and Oxnard, respectively.
Mike has been an active member of the City of Ventura Farm Worker Housing Committee following a January 2004 countywide Summit meeting in Santa Paula. The Committee’s purpose is to support and promote decent, safe, sanitary, legal and affordable housing for farm workers and their families in or close to the City of Ventura. Under the oversight of the Ag Futures Alliance Farm Worker Housing Task Force, the Committee has met with city officials, service groups, churches and land owners and is actively looking for viable sites for farm worker housing in or near Ventura, close to shopping, transportation and schools, or to partner with a developer as part of a larger project. Merewether stressed, “Agriculture is a big economic driver in our county, and we have a moral obligation to provide decent housing for some of the lowest paid and hardest working individuals in our community.”

Other resources regarding farm worker issues include two documentary films by Dulanie Ellis, which can be requested by e-mail at housefarmworkers@verizon.net or by calling 486-9665. Task Force members can also lead discussions at video showings or speak to service groups. In addition, Dora Crouch, a retired professor, member of the Santa Paula Farm Worker Housing Support Group and housing activist, recently issued a $5,000 challenge grant for the Task Force’s House Farm Workers! project, which was exceeded through individual, family, and organizational donations.



	Funds to support Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC)’s Vista Hermosa Development in Santa Paula The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has just approved a $120,000 grant to the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) from the Merewether Community Fund for predevelopment costs on Vista Hermosa, a new 24 unit multi-family farm worker housing project for low and very low income workers. The development, one of five farm worker housing projects in CEDC’s development pipeline, will be located near the corner of Palm and Harvard in Santa Paula and is scheduled to start construction in September of 2005. Dan Hardy is project manager for this development. With six housing developments currently under construction, CEDC is the primary non-profit housing developer serving Ventura County. Since incorporating in 1981, CEDC has built over 850 units of affordable for-sale and multi-family rental housing, manages nine properties (300 units) of rental housing for very-low and low income families, has provided financial and homebuyer education and counseling to over 1,000 families, and has helped 220 families into ownership through its NeighborWorks® Home Ownership Center. Through a community-building focus, CEDC aims to help support families’ strengths, broaden their opportunities, and revitalize the communities in which they live. Mike and Loretta Merewether established this $600,000 fund with VCCF two years ago by donating appreciated real estate. The Merewethers said, “It is great to have a part in helping direct the funds to worthy causes in our own community while we are still living, rather than sending it to the government in taxes.” Also in 2004, VCCF granted $202,500 from the Ventura County Fund for Farm Worker Housing for the acquisition, development, and preservation of safe, decent, and affordable housing for farm workers. CEDC was also one of the recipients of these funds for its Solo Cup and Casa Campesina farm worker developments in Santa Paula and Oxnard, respectively. Mike has been an active member of the City of Ventura Farm Worker Housing Committee following a January 2004 countywide Summit meeting in Santa Paula. The Committee’s purpose is to support and promote decent, safe, sanitary, legal and affordable housing for farm workers and their families in or close to the City of Ventura. Under the oversight of the Ag Futures Alliance Farm Worker Housing Task Force, the Committee has met with city officials, service groups, churches and land owners and is actively looking for viable sites for farm worker housing in or near Ventura, close to shopping, transportation and schools, or to partner with a developer as part of a larger project. Merewether stressed, “Agriculture is a big economic driver in our county, and we have a moral obligation to provide decent housing for some of the lowest paid and hardest working individuals in our community.” Other resources regarding farm worker issues include two documentary films by Dulanie Ellis, which can be requested by e-mail at housefarmworkers@verizon.net or by calling 486-9665. Task Force members can also lead discussions at video showings or speak to service groups. In addition, Dora Crouch, a retired professor, member of the Santa Paula Farm Worker Housing Support Group and housing activist, recently issued a $5,000 challenge grant for the Task Force’s House Farm Workers! project, which was exceeded through individual, family, and organizational donations.