Nevada City, Calif. – The Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved a $500,000 grant to the Penn Valley Community Foundation at its Aug. 25 meeting. The funding will support public infrastructure for the future Penn Valley Community Center.
Located at 10592 Spenceville Road, the approximately 10,000-square-foot community center received approval from the Nevada County Planning Commission on June 25. The facility is designed to provide services, programs and gathering spaces for Penn Valley residents, businesses and visitors.
Planned community and economic development resources at the center include:
- A visitor center hosted by the Penn Valley Chamber of Commerce.
- A business and workforce development hub.
- An e-connectivity hub and collaborative technology center offering high-speed broadband, Wi-Fi, computer stations and technology access.
“This support could not come at a more critical time for this project. We are poised to apply for a number of grant opportunities, and the County’s support demonstrates that this is a community priority. It will also help strengthen our fundraising efforts,” said Penn Valley Community Foundation President Teresa Dietrich.
The Penn Valley Community Foundation is hosting its Black Hats and Silver Buckles fundraiser on Sept. 12 at the Penn Valley Rodeo Grounds.
The center will also include a commercial kitchen, banquet hall, theater and stage, smart meeting rooms, two covered outdoor pavilions, a restroom building and a 2.5-acre garden area. The project is proposed on approximately 4.77 acres and includes a retention pond.
The Board first discussed using $500,000 in General Fund Transient Occupancy Tax revenues to support public infrastructure serving the project in January 2023.
“We had an area plan that we put together in Penn Valley, and this was a key issue that folks wanted addressed: a place to come and gather. This is really going to help our community grow. It’s been incredible to watch this grassroots group come together and make this happen,” said Supervisor Sue Hoek.
The Penn Valley Community Foundation anticipates beginning construction of the community center this fall.