Moving Forward in Mendota - Tom's Perspective - May 24, 2025
Mendota Secures Grant for Walking and Biking Path
Tom spoke to members of the team working on securing grants for Mendota's development. This week, the city was awarded a grant for a two-mile walking and bike path, an early step outlined in the city's plan.
Although details about the specific individuals working on grant acquisition for Mendota’s development remain scarce, the Dementia Friendly Mendota Task Force serves as a community initiative, comprised of representatives from first responders, libraries, local government officials, healthcare providers, residential care facilities, banks and financial institutions, faith communities, support organizations at local, state, and national levels. Notably, Amy Brewer is a member of this task force. However, its focus is on making Mendota more dementia-friendly rather than solely on development or grant acquisition.
The task force has developed resources such as ID cards for first responders and a community-based Dementia Resource Guide, possibly supported by grants or partnerships, though specific information about the grants themselves is not available.
The Mendota Unified School District, led by Jose Ochoa, receives significant state funding and approximately $5 million in federal grants annually for educational programs. These funds are separate from city development grants.
The recently awarded walking and bike path grant is a significant milestone towards Mendota's development, indicating the team's hard work is yielding positive results. Further details about the grant acquisition team are forthcoming.
The Dementia Friendly Mendota Task Force, which addresses health-and-wellness, lifestyle, and community initiatives, might also collaborate on securing grants for fitness-and-exercise programs, such as a home-and-garden project focusing on encouraging gardening for elderly residents with dementia. While the specific individuals responsible for grant acquisition for Mendota's development are yet to be revealed, Amy Brewer, a member of the task force, is among those working towards the city's future.
