City of Coachella Mayor Pro Tem Neftali Galarza praised Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) for his recent budget victories. Garcia's budget collaboration resulted in financial aid for the Galilee Center, the City of Coachella and more, according to press release from July 7.
“We are grateful to have Assemblymember Garcia as a champion for our community — securing resources for roads, parks and affordable housing within the City of Coachella," Galarza said. "This latest half-a-million- dollar state investment will support vital water quality improvements."
Garcia and community partners were able to secure funds for various projects in district through the state budget process, despite facing financial challenges, the press release said.
Notable budget achievements cited in the press release include the allocation of $2 million toward the Galilee Center expansion. This initiative aims to help vulnerable families, farmworkers and asylum seekers by introducing a 6,000-square-foot emergency shelter and new offices for administration, the release said.
"We are humbled to receive this award that will help our service to the underprivileged community of Mecca and the surrounding areas," Gloria Gomez, president and founder of the Galilee Center, said.
According to the Galilee Center website, the center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to help meet the food, clothing and essential requirements of disadvantaged children, families and farmworkers residing in the East Coachella Valley. Established in 2010 by Claudia Castorena and Gloria Gomez, the Galilee Center distributes weekly food baskets, effectively providing over 350,000 meals each year.
In other funding awarded through Garcia's efforts, the press release said, a total of $500,000 has been designated to the City of Coachella for the implementation of a Stannous Chloride Pilot Project, aiming to enhance water quality.
Garcia said it wasn't easier to achieve this funding due to economic pressures.
“In the face of a budget deficit, we had to fight harder to deliver resources for community priorities," Garcia said in the release. "Working in partnership with State Sen. Steve Padilla and community, we have protected funding for essential programs and obtained investments to address a diverse range of district needs such as water quality, student housing, health care, emergency shelter and more.”