Student scholarships, a community service grant program and a laundry list of capital improvements are among the projects likely soon to be financed through the foundation charged with allocating restitution funds paid in the wake of the San Bruno gas line explosion.
The San Bruno Community Foundation, which manages the roughly $70 million paid by Pacific Gas and Electric after a pipeline explosion obliterated a portion of the Crestmoor neighborhood in 2010, discussed future projects during a monthly meeting Wednesday, May 4.
The foundation will soon take control of the lump sum of money, currently held by the San Bruno City Council, and begin meeting its obligation to spend the money in ways that benefit the community.
The foundation has set aside roughly $1 million of the $68.5 million paid by PG&E to finance an initial round of community programs, while the board members discuss larger projects which could be built with a bulk of the rest of the money.
The smaller, more manageable initiatives expected soon to be funded include a college scholarship for local students, a community enhancement grant program and a variety of other benefits including streetscape improvements downtown and the construction of a neighborhood park, among other efforts.
Foundation members expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to begin spending some of the money in the community, nearly four years after it was paid by the utility company.
“This is the foundation’s first output of investment out into the community,” said foundation President Nancy Kraus. “This is very, very, very exciting.”
The scholarship application deadline has passed and the foundation plans to announce the seven winners who will split the $100,000 pot during a ceremony Friday, June 1.
Of the 45 applicants, 40 sought to enroll from high school in a community college or four-year university and five intended to transfer from a community college.
A panel of 11 anonymous volunteers reviewed the applications and will select the winners.
The foundation has also earmarked $200,000 to finance a grant fund which will pay toward community enhancement programs.
Programs which focus on areas in San Bruno such as sports and recreation, open space, education, youth activity, public spaces, human and social services, economic vitality, transit, housing and a variety of other issues would be able to apply for the grant funding.
The foundation expects the deadline for applications to land in the fall, with hopes of beginning to allocate some of the funds before the end of the year, according to a report.
Foundation board member Patricia Bohm, who helps oversee formation of the grant program, said she was ready for the initiative to get off the ground.
“We’re really excited for this to launch,” she said.
Eight grants worth $25,000 will ultimately be distributed, and interested parties can apply online through the foundation’s website.
Foundation members see a natural transition in focus from the scholarship program, which began in January and will end in June, with the intent of shifting into development of the grant program in the second half of the year, according to the report.
The city and foundation also plan to pool resources and collaboratively work on a variety of efforts.
Up to $300,000 may be granted by the foundation to the city for a comprehensive study of the capital projects and infrastructure fixes which need to be addressed.
Residents have identified a variety of large projects, such as construction of a new community center, library or community pool, among other ideas, as developments they would like financed with the fund, but the foundation has not yet developed a timeline or budget for such initiatives.
An additional $170,000 could be spent in conjunction with the city to improve pedestrian safety along Cherry and San Bruno avenues downtown.
Development of a city-owned property along Florida Avenue into a community park could be a target of nearly $200,000 in contribution from the foundation as well.
The foundation is also seeking to spend $30,000 to host a community celebration, which could be folded into the city’s annual summer Posy Parade.
The City Council has discussed the variety of collaborative projects, and officials have expressed an appetite for pursuing them, according to the report.
The restitution money managed by the foundation is separate from the $50 million trust agreement paid by PG&E to the Crestmoor neighborhood.
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