A Washington, D.C. based group will continue seeking federal funds to channel to the city of Ceres following last week’s 3-2 vote of the Ceres City Council.
The city hired Capitol Advocacy Partners a year ago to seek grants and the contract was expiring. The city has been paying $5,600 per month, or $67,200 for the year. In 2023 City Manager Doug Dunford recommended the action from his past experience with Dana DeBeaumont and her company. He said that over past decade DeBeaumont has written and received numerous substantial grants for Central Valley cities.
Since hiring Capitol Advocacy, the firm has worked and close to getting $2.2 million for the renovation of the Ceres American Legion Memorial Hall. The consultants are on the verge of potentially winning a $3,600 grant to buy bullet proof vests for police officers, a $204,933 Tobacco prevention grant , a $438,374 School Violence Prevention Grant, a $76,000 Department of Energy grant to buy electric vehicles, $40,000 from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and lastly a $986,000 Urban Tree Replanting Grant.
Dunford said the firm is helping the city seek a $250,000 cyber security grant with no local match.
Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra erroneously began asserting that the city snagged $1.1 million in funds “even though we paid almost the same.” She suggested going after less expensive grant writers.
City Manager Dunford quickly set her straight, saying, “I’m not really sure where you’re seeing that we’re spending a million dollars writing for grants.”
“The return on investment regarding this is a lot better because they’re actually back there talking to the individuals who are actually making decisions,” said Dunford.
Vierra also noted the firm charges extra per grant requests written, which prompted Dunford to answer, “True but we’re nowhere near close to $1.1 million.”
“I just don’t want to have an expense and not see anything in return that’s not going to assist the city,” said Vierra.
Dunford concluded that “it’s actually well spent money.”
When it came time to vote, Vierra and Councilman James Casey voted no, outvoted by Mayor Javier Lopez, and Councilmembers Bret Silveira and Daniel Martinez.
