Four nonprofit organizations in the North Bay region have each been awarded $150,000 through the 2025 AHEAD program administered by FHLBank San Francisco, aimed at advancing economic development across California, Arizona, and Nevada. Among the recipients is the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, which will use its allocation to support the ‘Honoring Our Elders’ initiative. This effort includes hiring a community center activities coordinator, organizing weekly meals for elderly and disabled individuals, and managing regular food distribution events in Santa Rosa. The funding will also cover part of the coordinator’s salary and contribute to equipment and operational expenses.
The financial backing comes via Exchange Bank, which collaborated with FHLBank to disburse the grant. In addition, Exchange Bank allocated another $150,000 to the Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority in Ukiah to strengthen affordable housing, community development, and wellness programs.
Redwood Credit Union contributed an equal amount to North Coast Opportunities, enabling the expansion of financial aid services for farmworkers facing economic challenges. Part of the funds will also go toward supporting the Native and Indigenous Foodways Fund, which promotes culturally rooted food access.
Tri Counties Bank awarded $150,000 to Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake for a workforce development project designed to create part-time employment opportunities and foster economic self-sufficiency among tribal members in Lake County.
Bank of Marin supported three local groups with its allocations. It granted $116,000 to the Agriculture Institute of Marin to advance its ‘Promoting Business Growth’ effort in San Rafael, which enhances financial stability for agricultural workers through free farmers market access and small business training. An additional $100,000 was directed to Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito to fund Boatworks 101, a yearlong apprenticeship that prepares underrepresented youth for careers in the maritime sector. Lastly, Adopt-A-Family of Marin received $63,000 to assist with a housing stability program aimed at reducing the risk of homelessness.
FHLBank San Francisco reported that the 2025 AHEAD program distributed $8 million across 64 community initiatives, selected from over 400 applications. Of these, 45 projects are based in California, 13 in Arizona, and six in Nevada. The funding mechanism operates through partnerships with member financial institutions.
“These grants empower local organizations to address critical needs such as job creation, capacity building, and community resilience,” said Joe Amato, interim president and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco, in a public statement.
— news from The Press Democrat
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North Bay nonprofits awarded economic development grants
The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians is among four North Bay nonprofits awarded a $150,000 grant through FHLBank San Francisco’s 2025 AHEAD program, an initiative that supports economic development projects in three states. n nExchange Bank, in partnership with FHLBank, funded Dry Creek Rancheria’s award for Honoring Our Elders, a social services initiative. n nThe funds for the Santa Rosa-based tribe will go toward creating a community center activities coordinator position, providing weekly communal meals to elders and disabled populations, and managing weekly food distributions, according to FHLBank’s Sept. 11 news release. The monies also will help cover a portion of the coordinator’s salary and support equipment and organizational costs. n nFHLBank’s 2025 AHEAD program provided a total of $8 million to 64 economic development projects in communities throughout California, Arizona and Nevada, according to the announcement. FHLBank partners with its member banks to provide the funding. n n“The AHEAD program provides funding that our member organizations use to make grants to local nonprofits for initiatives that directly address capacity building, jobs and community needs,” Joe Amato, interim president and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco, said in the news release. n nExchange Bank also funded $150,000 to Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority in Ukiah to administer affordable housing, community development and wellness services programs, according to FHLBank’s release. n nRedwood Credit Union provided $150,000 to North Coast Opportunities in Ukiah. The funds will help expand economic assistance programs to farmworkers experiencing financial hardship, as well as help support the Native and Indigenous Foodways Fund, according to the announcement. n nTri Counties Bank funded a $150,000 award to Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. The grant for the Lake County organization will be used for a workforce development initiative to help support the economic advancement of tribal members through part-time job opportunities, the release stated. n nBank of Marin funded 2025 AHEAD awards for three organizations in the county. n nThe bank provided $116,000 to the Agriculture Institute of Marin to help the San Rafael-based organization’s Promoting Business Growth project, according to the release. The initiative works to increase financial security for farmworkers through free access to farmers markets and small business trainings. n nBank of Marin delivered $100,000 to Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito to help train underrepresented young adults to get jobs in the maritime industry through Boatworks 101, a yearlong apprenticeship program, the announcement stated. n nSan Rafael-based Adopt-A-Family of Marin was granted $63,000, provided by Bank of Marin, for a housing initiative to help prevent homelessness, according to the release. n nThe application process for the 2025 AHEAD program drew more than 400 grant requests, according to FHLBank. Of the 64 organizations that received awards, 45 were in California, 13 in Arizona and six in Nevada, according to the San Francisco bank.