Transit-Oriented Communities Grant Program

The Planning and Policy Implementation Program Area is intended to help Local Agencies prepare and adopt long-range plans, policies, standards and codes to achieve three key goals:  (1) focus Santa Clara County’s future growth so it is equitable, sustainable, and within one-half mile of transit stations and centers; (2) align with VTA’s and MTC’s Transit-Oriented Communities policies, and (3) integrate art and/or equitable engagement policies and programs into existing and upcoming planning efforts. These funds can complement grant matching.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Advancing station area plans and processes;
• Transit access planning and access gap evaluation;
• Aligning local code and policies with MTC’s Transit-Oriented Communities Policy; and
• Developing and integrating municipal art programs and/or equitable engagement programs into existing or ongoing station area plans, as well as land use and zoning policies surrounding Caltrain, VTA transit stations and transit hubs.

The Community Resilience Program Area is intended to support Community-Based Organizations in three key areas: (1) increasing the stability and resilience of communities located near transit, (2) promoting and playing larger roles in implementing vibrant, inclusive and balanced, equitable Transit-Oriented Communities, and (3) strengthening emerging community development partners to advance affordable housing initiatives and small business resiliency.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing technical assistance, such as funding for pre-acquisition consulting costs
• Specialized support to new and smaller organizations to expand capacity to develop new affordable housing, and/or acquire, rehabilitate existing unsubsidized affordable housing;
• Facilitating partnerships between transit agencies, local governments and community members to align development with Transit-Oriented Communities objectives; and
• Supporting and sustaining small businesses that contribute toward community identity and economic growth.

The Education and Policy Program Area is intended to support neighborhood leadership and equitable engagement in Transit-Oriented Communities by providing accessible information and resources that empower community members to actively shape equitable and well-connected Transit-Oriented Communities. It also seeks to highlight transit as an essential service within thriving Transit-Oriented Communities by focusing on the benefits of and highlighting community voices, local success stories, and promoting inclusion of all community members.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting public awareness campaigns (e.g., education initiatives on TOC policies to enhance understanding and involvement, promoting transit through creative outreach efforts such as scavenger hunts, geocaching, travel passports);
• Transit-focused educational activities (e.g., transit-to-school/work campaigns);
• Equity-focused initiatives to accommodate community participation (e.g., translations/interpretation services, promotoras, food, childcare); and
• Providing housing access/readiness support (e.g., housing and homeowner application readiness workshops).

The Placekeeping, Arts, and Activation Program Area is intended to enhance the transit rider and overall community experience through vibrant and engaging public spaces that utilize arts and cultural expression or community beautification. The goal is to foster a sense of community, encourage interaction across generations and backgrounds, and promote placekeeping which preserves local culture, history, or value, and position transit stations and transit hubs as safe, accessible, attractive cultural destinations. Projects will result in enlivening access in and around transit stations with a focus on pedestrian comfort and experience to enhance the transit passenger environment.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Arts and culture projects that enhance transit connectivity and community culture/identity (e.g., neighborhood murals and public art created by community members and art-based community activations);
• Universal and inclusive design, accessible, image-based, color-based wayfinding that works for residents of all ages, abilities, and languages;
• Cultural and community celebrations that reinforce existing community and drive increased and sustained transit use (e.g., outdoor activities that are viewable from the street and publicly accessible, such as street festivals, performances, experiential art exhibits, food and maker pop-ups).

For art installations, projects must be clearly viewable from the street, public space and/or transit station/center.

Funding for projects that will lead to the adoption of plans, policies, and regulations that implement sustainable and equitable communities at VTA stations and transit corridors. These projects will align with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) requirements at the regional level. 

Total Funding: $350,000

City of Palo Alto – “San Antonio Road Area Plan”

The City of Palo Alto is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and has a population of approximately 70,000 residents.

The City of Palo Alto is re-imagining land use and transportation in the area connecting the San Antonio Caltrain Station to the Bay. This will enhance transit ridership, active transportation and new mixed-use development in the San Antonio Caltrain TOC by addressing land use, housing, mobility, interconnectivity, urban design and placemaking, community services and facilities, and explore the financial feasibility of implementing the final recommendations of the plan.

City of San Jose – “San Jose Station Area Access and Circulation Plan”

The City of San José is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and is the largest jurisdiction in the County with over 900,000 residents.

The City of San José will develop multimodal access and circulation strategies for the Santa Teresa Light Rail Station, Cottle Light Rail Station, and Blossom Hill Caltrain Station in South San José. These plans will improve access and circulation around key transit-oriented community stations through focused planning and
stakeholder engagement.

City of Santa Clara – “North Santa Clara Transit Station Access and Circulation Study”

The City of Santa Clara is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and has a population of approximately 130,000 residents.

The City of Santa Clara will complete an access gap analysis of four Transit-Oriented Community areas in Santa Clara: Old Ironsides Station, Great America Station, Lick Mill Station, and Great America Capital Corridor/ACE Station.

Funding to strengthen emerging community development corporations to support small business resiliency, or to increase their ability to advance housing preservation or affordable housing production.

Total Funding: $200,000

Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley - “Building Belonging: Preserving Small Businesses and Housing Near Transit”

The Latino Business Foundation of Silicon Valley (LBFSV) provides lasting support to financially excluded entrepreneurs through holistic, place-based services that help small businesses and organizations survive and thrive, retaining San José’s unique cultural flavors.

This project advances anti-displacement strategies through small business support and strengthens community permanence through housing justice. It will be carried out by: (1) Supporting small businesses to stabilize, adapt, and grow as transit-connected destinations; (2) Running a ‘Shop Local, Go Local’ campaign to position
businesses along VTA corridors and promote ridership; and (3) Expanding tenant protections and housing access through advocacy, transit mobilization, and youth leadership.

SV@Home – “Transit Oriented Preservation and Anti-displacement Zones (TOPAZ) Feasibility Analysis and Implementation”

SV@Home is a membership organization that creates the enabling environment for housing justice through policy advocacy, championing community leadership, and building narrative power.

Through the “TOPAZ Feasibility Analysis and Implementation” project, SV@Home will work with a broad coalitionof stakeholders to educate stakeholders on the benefits of Enhanced Infrastructure Finance Districts (EIFDs) that encompass VTA TOCs to provide ongoing funding for affordable housing preservation and production within community boundaries. The project will include a plan for creating and administering VTA TOC-based EIFDs that are based on input and broad buy-in from stakeholders.

Enterprise Foundation – “Neighborhood Small Business Center – Mountain View Station Area Module”

Enterprise Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equitable economic mobility through small business support, training programs, and access to capital. As host of the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center, Enterprise Foundation provides multilingual advising and technical assistance to historically excluded entrepreneurs across Santa Clara County.

Enterprise Foundation will establish a Neighborhood Small Business Center near the Mountain View Transit Center in partnership with the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce. The project offers bilingual advising, training, and workshops to strengthen business stability and promote transit-connected, equitable development.

Funding to strengthen community support and advocacy for TOC policies, investments, and implementation, and remove barriers to implementing inclusive and culturally relevant engagement activities and practices.

Total Funding: $100,000

Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends (SCCLFF) – “Project LiFT – Literacy For Transit”

Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends (SCCLFF) seeks to enrich lives and strengthen their community by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and creativity.

The SCCLFF’s Project LiFT (Literacy For Transit) will develop a curriculum for transit-themed ESL instruction to increase use of public transit among adults with limited English language skills. Free ESL workshops and small group tutoring will be offered for immigrant parents and caregivers from diverse backgrounds, at two school sites and all three library branches. Family literacy events at four preschool sites will feature transportation themes. These programs aim to encourage families to explore public transit options.

The Audacity Performing Arts Project, Inc. – “Digital Storytelling for Transit Equity: Voices from Title 1 Communities”

The Audacity Performing Arts Project engages Silicon Valley Title 1 schools in culturally relevant arts education.Through partnerships with school districts, teaching artists, and students, Audacity explores performing arts at
the intersection of technology, empowering students to engage in personal discovery and pursue higher education.

Through the “Digital Storytelling for Transit: Equity Voices from Title 1 Communities”, Title 1 students will create documentaries and podcasts that document transit access barriers in their communities, interviewing peers, families, and community members about transportation challenges, and developing advocacy materials for improved transit services while building media literacy skills.

Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action – “Youth Peer Transit Education”

Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA) empowers teens and young adults to combat climate change through impactful education and policy initiatives.

SVYCA’s “Youth Peer Transit Education” project will hire four high school interns from Eastside Union High School District to help lead educational outreach to increase youth transit ridership, reduce the need for car trips, and support intensive mixed-use, mixed-income development around transit stations and transit hubs in
East Side San Jose.

Nueva Vida Community – “Puentes Comunitarios”

Nueva Vida Community’s mission is to promote health and wellness through prosocial and educational activities and programs for people of all ages and genders.

This project builds on Nueva Vida Community’s successful collaboration with VTA to deepen equitable community engagement. The “Puentes Comunitarios” project will expand outreach by working closely with promotoras to ensure that Spanish-speaking and underserved residents are not only informed but also actively shaping the future of their neighborhoods. Through culturally relevant outreach, bilingual meetings, and accessible engagement tools, Nueva Vida Community aims to empower community voices.

Funding to enhance the vitality of community culture, history, and local identity through engaging placekeeping activities and community events. These events and art installations will create accessible and welcoming public spaces that reflect the community’s vibrancy.

Total Funding: $100,000

Poppy Jasper, Inc. – “Poppy Jasper On the Line: Film & Culture in Transit-Connected Downtown”

Poppy Jasper’s mission is to change the way we see each other through lm. The organization celebrates underrepresented voices and the power of art to illuminate the human condition by promoting inclusion, championing diversity, and empowering all people, including people of color, women, and all those who have been historically marginalized, to tell their stories through film and the digital arts.

The Poppy Jasper Film Festival will activate the walkable, transit-adjacent downtowns of Gilroy and Morgan Hill through free public film screenings, mixers,  and artist-led panels that celebrate local storytelling. Events will be viewable from the street and centered near VTA stations, encouraging pedestrian engagement and showcasing the cultural identity of our region.

School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza – “Eastside Signature Events”

The School of Arts and Culture (SOAC) at the Mexican Heritage Plaza catalyzes creativity and community empowerment through creative place keeping, equitable engagement, and economic and community development initiatives.

SOAC’s Eastside Signature Events project will foster a sense of community and promote placekeeping that celebrates local heritage and culture in the neighborhood surrounding the planned 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station. Events include Avenida De Altares, celebrating Dia de los Muertos; Fiesta Navideña, a holiday
celebration inspired by Mexican traditions; Fiesta Del Mariachi, a family-friendly mariachi festival; and Chile, Mole, Pozole, a celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

Our City – “Eastridge Transit Center Utility Box Community Art Project”

Our City is dedicated to strengthening underserved communities in Santa Clara County and community-building
through educational and beautification projects that improve the quality of life of all residents.

Opera San José – “Opera on First”

Opera San José (OSJ) produces emotionally thrilling entertainment that engages and reflects the diverse Silicon Valley community while developing the next generation of opera talent.

Opera San José aims to inspire and enrich the community through its programs and elevate the transformative power of the arts locally, nationally, and internationally.

For two years, OSJ has joined South First Fridays quarterly at the historic California Theatre. With VTA’s TOCFunding, OSJ is now expanding through “Opera on First” – an arts initiative turning First Street into a live operahub. By pairing performances with easy VTA access, OSJ aims to boost public transit use and strengthen ties
with the community.

Funding for projects/efforts that will lead to the adoption of plans, policies, and regulations that implement sustainable and equitable communities at VTA station and transit corridors. 

Total Funding: $295,000

City of San Jose – “Consolidated Light Rail Urban Village and Station Area Corridor Planning”

The City of San José is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and is the largest jurisdiction in the County with over 900,000 residents. 

The City of San José will conduct station area planning around the VTA Light Rail corridor to create transit-oriented communities that benefit all community members by addressing transit access barriers, affordable housing and business stabilization strategies. This project will streamline with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit-Oriented Community requirements at the regional level. 

City of Santa Clara – “Santa Clara Station Area Form-Based Code”

The City of Santa Clara is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and has a population of approximately 130,000 residents. 

The City of Santa Clara will develop form-based zoning standards for the Santa Clara Station Area Plan, an Equity Priority Community, by codifying the vision of a well-connected, walkable transit-oriented community into the City’s General Plan. This project will streamline with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit-Oriented Community requirements at the regional level. 

Funding to strengthen emerging community development corporations to support small business resiliency, or to increase their ability to advance housing preservation or affordable housing production. 

Total Funding: $297,450

Carry the Vision - “Community Rising Coalition” 
Carry the Vision supports Gilroy's most under-served community members by co-creating compassionate communities one person at a time. Located in Gilroy, this project engages historically underrepresented households to advocate livable transit-oriented communities for all of South County by launching the Community Rising Coalition (CRC). CRC advocacy efforts will increase Carry the Vision’s ability to advance community development by focusing on affordable housing, workforce development, transportation equity, and services to advance community healing. 

Prosperity Lab – “Business 360°” 
The Prosperity Lab is a catalyst for positive economic development and empowerment of underserved communities and micro businesses in the Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area by developing and delivering impactful programs and innovating solutions.

Business 360° offers technical training in marketing, digitization, operational efficiency, and capital strategies to small local businesses in historically underserved areas of Gilroy and San Jose. The program will help businesses around existing and future transit stations in San Jose and Gilroy be more resilient and responsive to the economic and cultural growth brought on by transit investments. 

School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza – “La Avenida/La Placita Development Planning” 
The School of Arts and Culture (SOAC) at the Mexican Heritage Plaza serves as a catalyst for creativity and empowerment of the community through creative place keeping, equitable engagement, and economic and community development initiatives. 

“La Avenida Cultural District” is SOAC’s vision for transforming property in East San Jose into an equitable transit-oriented community with a cultural district overlay zone, thriving business improvement district, affordable housing, and community service providers. SOAC will hold community engagements, convene the Cultural District Advisory Council, and establish the Mayfair Neighborhood Trust to advance the La Avenida development/cultural district, while supporting the long-term economic well-being of the low-income, Latino, and Asian communities in East San José. 

Funding to strengthen community support and advocacy for Transit Oriented Communities policies, investments and implementation, and remove barriers to implementing inclusive and culturally relevant engagement activities/practice.

Total Funding: $297,450

Palo Alto Forward – “TOC Education, Engagement, and Advocacy”
Palo Alto Forward focuses on expanding housing and transportation choices for Palo Alto by working with residents and city government.

Through the “TOC Education, Engagement, and Advocacy” effort, Palo Alto Forward will host a series of advocacy events about policy and zoning initiatives to support the creation of transit-oriented communities around the University Avenue and California Avenue Caltrain stations and along El Camino Real. 

Palo Alto TMA – “Mode shift for low wage essential workers”
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (Palo Alto TMA) is working to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, traffic congestion, demand for parking, and greenhouse gas emissions by delivering targeted transportation solutions.

With funding form VTA’s Transit-Oriented Communities Grant, the Palo Alto TMA will support low-wage service workers along the El Camino Real corridor in switching from driving to transit by providing free transit passes to ride VTA buses, refurbished bikes, and micro-mobility options. These free resources will help provide sustainable transportation solutions to a vulnerable population in need of reliable and safe transportation alternatives to driving. 

Transform – “Sustainable Transportation Education and Engagement”
Transform works to ensure that people of all incomes thrive in a world safe from climate chaos.

Through public engagement and community workshops, Transform will offer resources and knowledge to help communities overcome barriers to sustainable transportation, empower leaders, and provide greater options for communities to advocate for policies that will advance equitable Transit-Oriented Communities. 

Funding to enhance the vitality of community culture, history, and local identity through engaging placemaking/placekeeping activities and community events. These events and art installations will create accessible and welcoming public spaces that reflect the vibrancy of the community. 

Total Funding: $90,000

Arts Mountain View – “Mountain View Transit Project” 
Arts Mountain View aims to bring outdoor murals to Mountain View to beautify the city.

The Mountain View Transit Project will engage a local artist to create a large mural facing the Mountain View Transit Center that will feature bright colors and Mountain View iconography. The mural will act as a landmark indicating the arrival to Mountain View for light rail riders. 

Cinequest Inc. – “Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival” 
Cinequest empowers artistic creations to engage audiences, youth, artists, and innovators to forge community. Cinequest hosts the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, Maverick Studio, and Picture the Possibilities youth creativity services.

The Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival is a 30-year tradition in San Jose and now also in Mountain View, which ranks among the world's best film festivals. The locations vary around the city next to VTA light rail and bus, including at the California Theatre, the Hammer Theatre Center, and the ShowPlace Icon Theatre. Cinequest will engage local artists to create art for marketing campaigns displayed near transit, and curate local program content for the local community. 

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose – “Levitt Pavilion Concert Series” 
Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose supports the community and revitalizes the historic St. James Park by hosting performances and creating an inclusive destination for all people.

The Levitt Pavilion Concert Series will feature local music and performing arts, providing accessible entertainment for all with food, drinks, nonprofit tabling, and children's activities. The Concert Series offers a chance to enjoy diverse talent and foster a sense of community in the heart of the city. 

Gilroy Arts Alliance – “Our Community Pillars Art Project”
Gilroy Arts Alliance is building a collaborative arts community and promoting and supporting multi-cultural arts in and around South County. They also promote unity and inclusiveness by creating multi- cultural exhibits that inspire and engage a strong community.

The "Our Community Pillars Art Project" aims to inspire artistic expression in the youth of the community by beautifying outdoor concrete pillars near the Gilroy Transit Center. The project focuses on middle school artists, encouraging them to work together and become leaders during transformative times in their lives. 

Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) – “¡WEPA! FEST”
MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana) is a contemporary Latinx arts space that uplifts Latinx artists and culture in order to engage people in civic dialogue and community transformation.

¡WEPA! FEST is a celebration of Puerto Rican and Caribbean music and culture at Parque de los Pobladores. By activating the park and encouraging access by transit and walking, the event increases awareness of transit, while elevating the visibility and representation of Latinx art and culture.

San Martin Neighborhood Association – “Spruce Up San Martin”
San Martin Neighborhood Association is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rural identity of San Martin.

The Spruce Up San Martin project will enhance the San Martin Caltrain station area by implementing placemaking measures, including improving the landscaping of two medians near the station to create an identifying feature for the station and a more appealing experience for transit users and residents alike. 

The Planning and Policy Implementation Program Area is intended to help Local Agencies prepare and adopt long-range plans, policies, standards and codes to achieve three key goals:  (1) focus Santa Clara County’s future growth so it is equitable, sustainable, and within one-half mile of transit stations and centers; (2) align with VTA’s and MTC’s Transit-Oriented Communities policies, and (3) integrate art and/or equitable engagement policies and programs into existing and upcoming planning efforts. These funds can complement grant matching.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Advancing station area plans and processes;
• Transit access planning and access gap evaluation;
• Aligning local code and policies with MTC’s Transit-Oriented Communities Policy; and
• Developing and integrating municipal art programs and/or equitable engagement programs into existing or ongoing station area plans, as well as land use and zoning policies surrounding Caltrain, VTA transit stations and transit hubs.

The Community Resilience Program Area is intended to support Community-Based Organizations in three key areas: (1) increasing the stability and resilience of communities located near transit, (2) promoting and playing larger roles in implementing vibrant, inclusive and balanced, equitable Transit-Oriented Communities, and (3) strengthening emerging community development partners to advance affordable housing initiatives and small business resiliency.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing technical assistance, such as funding for pre-acquisition consulting costs
• Specialized support to new and smaller organizations to expand capacity to develop new affordable housing, and/or acquire, rehabilitate existing unsubsidized affordable housing;
• Facilitating partnerships between transit agencies, local governments and community members to align development with Transit-Oriented Communities objectives; and
• Supporting and sustaining small businesses that contribute toward community identity and economic growth.

The Education and Policy Program Area is intended to support neighborhood leadership and equitable engagement in Transit-Oriented Communities by providing accessible information and resources that empower community members to actively shape equitable and well-connected Transit-Oriented Communities. It also seeks to highlight transit as an essential service within thriving Transit-Oriented Communities by focusing on the benefits of and highlighting community voices, local success stories, and promoting inclusion of all community members.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting public awareness campaigns (e.g., education initiatives on TOC policies to enhance understanding and involvement, promoting transit through creative outreach efforts such as scavenger hunts, geocaching, travel passports);
• Transit-focused educational activities (e.g., transit-to-school/work campaigns);
• Equity-focused initiatives to accommodate community participation (e.g., translations/interpretation services, promotoras, food, childcare); and
• Providing housing access/readiness support (e.g., housing and homeowner application readiness workshops).

The Placekeeping, Arts, and Activation Program Area is intended to enhance the transit rider and overall community experience through vibrant and engaging public spaces that utilize arts and cultural expression or community beautification. The goal is to foster a sense of community, encourage interaction across generations and backgrounds, and promote placekeeping which preserves local culture, history, or value, and position transit stations and transit hubs as safe, accessible, attractive cultural destinations. Projects will result in enlivening access in and around transit stations with a focus on pedestrian comfort and experience to enhance the transit passenger environment.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Arts and culture projects that enhance transit connectivity and community culture/identity (e.g., neighborhood murals and public art created by community members and art-based community activations);
• Universal and inclusive design, accessible, image-based, color-based wayfinding that works for residents of all ages, abilities, and languages;
• Cultural and community celebrations that reinforce existing community and drive increased and sustained transit use (e.g., outdoor activities that are viewable from the street and publicly accessible, such as street festivals, performances, experiential art exhibits, food and maker pop-ups).

For art installations, projects must be clearly viewable from the street, public space and/or transit station/center.

Funding for projects that will lead to the adoption of plans, policies, and regulations that implement sustainable and equitable communities at VTA stations and transit corridors. These projects will align with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) requirements at the regional level. 

Total Funding: $350,000

City of Palo Alto – “San Antonio Road Area Plan”

The City of Palo Alto is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and has a population of approximately 70,000 residents.

The City of Palo Alto is re-imagining land use and transportation in the area connecting the San Antonio Caltrain Station to the Bay. This will enhance transit ridership, active transportation and new mixed-use development in the San Antonio Caltrain TOC by addressing land use, housing, mobility, interconnectivity, urban design and placemaking, community services and facilities, and explore the financial feasibility of implementing the final recommendations of the plan.

City of San Jose – “San Jose Station Area Access and Circulation Plan”

The City of San José is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and is the largest jurisdiction in the County with over 900,000 residents.

The City of San José will develop multimodal access and circulation strategies for the Santa Teresa Light Rail Station, Cottle Light Rail Station, and Blossom Hill Caltrain Station in South San José. These plans will improve access and circulation around key transit-oriented community stations through focused planning and
stakeholder engagement.

City of Santa Clara – “North Santa Clara Transit Station Access and Circulation Study”

The City of Santa Clara is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and has a population of approximately 130,000 residents.

The City of Santa Clara will complete an access gap analysis of four Transit-Oriented Community areas in Santa Clara: Old Ironsides Station, Great America Station, Lick Mill Station, and Great America Capital Corridor/ACE Station.

Funding to strengthen emerging community development corporations to support small business resiliency, or to increase their ability to advance housing preservation or affordable housing production.

Total Funding: $200,000

Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley - “Building Belonging: Preserving Small Businesses and Housing Near Transit”

The Latino Business Foundation of Silicon Valley (LBFSV) provides lasting support to financially excluded entrepreneurs through holistic, place-based services that help small businesses and organizations survive and thrive, retaining San José’s unique cultural flavors.

This project advances anti-displacement strategies through small business support and strengthens community permanence through housing justice. It will be carried out by: (1) Supporting small businesses to stabilize, adapt, and grow as transit-connected destinations; (2) Running a ‘Shop Local, Go Local’ campaign to position
businesses along VTA corridors and promote ridership; and (3) Expanding tenant protections and housing access through advocacy, transit mobilization, and youth leadership.

SV@Home – “Transit Oriented Preservation and Anti-displacement Zones (TOPAZ) Feasibility Analysis and Implementation”

SV@Home is a membership organization that creates the enabling environment for housing justice through policy advocacy, championing community leadership, and building narrative power.

Through the “TOPAZ Feasibility Analysis and Implementation” project, SV@Home will work with a broad coalitionof stakeholders to educate stakeholders on the benefits of Enhanced Infrastructure Finance Districts (EIFDs) that encompass VTA TOCs to provide ongoing funding for affordable housing preservation and production within community boundaries. The project will include a plan for creating and administering VTA TOC-based EIFDs that are based on input and broad buy-in from stakeholders.

Enterprise Foundation – “Neighborhood Small Business Center – Mountain View Station Area Module”

Enterprise Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equitable economic mobility through small business support, training programs, and access to capital. As host of the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center, Enterprise Foundation provides multilingual advising and technical assistance to historically excluded entrepreneurs across Santa Clara County.

Enterprise Foundation will establish a Neighborhood Small Business Center near the Mountain View Transit Center in partnership with the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce. The project offers bilingual advising, training, and workshops to strengthen business stability and promote transit-connected, equitable development.

Funding to strengthen community support and advocacy for TOC policies, investments, and implementation, and remove barriers to implementing inclusive and culturally relevant engagement activities and practices.

Total Funding: $100,000

Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends (SCCLFF) – “Project LiFT – Literacy For Transit”

Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends (SCCLFF) seeks to enrich lives and strengthen their community by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and creativity.

The SCCLFF’s Project LiFT (Literacy For Transit) will develop a curriculum for transit-themed ESL instruction to increase use of public transit among adults with limited English language skills. Free ESL workshops and small group tutoring will be offered for immigrant parents and caregivers from diverse backgrounds, at two school sites and all three library branches. Family literacy events at four preschool sites will feature transportation themes. These programs aim to encourage families to explore public transit options.

The Audacity Performing Arts Project, Inc. – “Digital Storytelling for Transit Equity: Voices from Title 1 Communities”

The Audacity Performing Arts Project engages Silicon Valley Title 1 schools in culturally relevant arts education.Through partnerships with school districts, teaching artists, and students, Audacity explores performing arts at
the intersection of technology, empowering students to engage in personal discovery and pursue higher education.

Through the “Digital Storytelling for Transit: Equity Voices from Title 1 Communities”, Title 1 students will create documentaries and podcasts that document transit access barriers in their communities, interviewing peers, families, and community members about transportation challenges, and developing advocacy materials for improved transit services while building media literacy skills.

Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action – “Youth Peer Transit Education”

Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA) empowers teens and young adults to combat climate change through impactful education and policy initiatives.

SVYCA’s “Youth Peer Transit Education” project will hire four high school interns from Eastside Union High School District to help lead educational outreach to increase youth transit ridership, reduce the need for car trips, and support intensive mixed-use, mixed-income development around transit stations and transit hubs in
East Side San Jose.

Nueva Vida Community – “Puentes Comunitarios”

Nueva Vida Community’s mission is to promote health and wellness through prosocial and educational activities and programs for people of all ages and genders.

This project builds on Nueva Vida Community’s successful collaboration with VTA to deepen equitable community engagement. The “Puentes Comunitarios” project will expand outreach by working closely with promotoras to ensure that Spanish-speaking and underserved residents are not only informed but also actively shaping the future of their neighborhoods. Through culturally relevant outreach, bilingual meetings, and accessible engagement tools, Nueva Vida Community aims to empower community voices.

Funding to enhance the vitality of community culture, history, and local identity through engaging placekeeping activities and community events. These events and art installations will create accessible and welcoming public spaces that reflect the community’s vibrancy.

Total Funding: $100,000

Poppy Jasper, Inc. – “Poppy Jasper On the Line: Film & Culture in Transit-Connected Downtown”

Poppy Jasper’s mission is to change the way we see each other through lm. The organization celebrates underrepresented voices and the power of art to illuminate the human condition by promoting inclusion, championing diversity, and empowering all people, including people of color, women, and all those who have been historically marginalized, to tell their stories through film and the digital arts.

The Poppy Jasper Film Festival will activate the walkable, transit-adjacent downtowns of Gilroy and Morgan Hill through free public film screenings, mixers,  and artist-led panels that celebrate local storytelling. Events will be viewable from the street and centered near VTA stations, encouraging pedestrian engagement and showcasing the cultural identity of our region.

School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza – “Eastside Signature Events”

The School of Arts and Culture (SOAC) at the Mexican Heritage Plaza catalyzes creativity and community empowerment through creative place keeping, equitable engagement, and economic and community development initiatives.

SOAC’s Eastside Signature Events project will foster a sense of community and promote placekeeping that celebrates local heritage and culture in the neighborhood surrounding the planned 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station. Events include Avenida De Altares, celebrating Dia de los Muertos; Fiesta Navideña, a holiday
celebration inspired by Mexican traditions; Fiesta Del Mariachi, a family-friendly mariachi festival; and Chile, Mole, Pozole, a celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

Our City – “Eastridge Transit Center Utility Box Community Art Project”

Our City is dedicated to strengthening underserved communities in Santa Clara County and community-building
through educational and beautification projects that improve the quality of life of all residents.

Opera San José – “Opera on First”

Opera San José (OSJ) produces emotionally thrilling entertainment that engages and reflects the diverse Silicon Valley community while developing the next generation of opera talent.

Opera San José aims to inspire and enrich the community through its programs and elevate the transformative power of the arts locally, nationally, and internationally.

For two years, OSJ has joined South First Fridays quarterly at the historic California Theatre. With VTA’s TOCFunding, OSJ is now expanding through “Opera on First” – an arts initiative turning First Street into a live operahub. By pairing performances with easy VTA access, OSJ aims to boost public transit use and strengthen ties
with the community.

Funding for projects/efforts that will lead to the adoption of plans, policies, and regulations that implement sustainable and equitable communities at VTA station and transit corridors. 

Total Funding: $295,000

City of San Jose – “Consolidated Light Rail Urban Village and Station Area Corridor Planning”

The City of San José is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and is the largest jurisdiction in the County with over 900,000 residents. 

The City of San José will conduct station area planning around the VTA Light Rail corridor to create transit-oriented communities that benefit all community members by addressing transit access barriers, affordable housing and business stabilization strategies. This project will streamline with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit-Oriented Community requirements at the regional level. 

City of Santa Clara – “Santa Clara Station Area Form-Based Code”

The City of Santa Clara is located in Santa Clara County, CA, and has a population of approximately 130,000 residents. 

The City of Santa Clara will develop form-based zoning standards for the Santa Clara Station Area Plan, an Equity Priority Community, by codifying the vision of a well-connected, walkable transit-oriented community into the City’s General Plan. This project will streamline with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit-Oriented Community requirements at the regional level. 

Funding to strengthen emerging community development corporations to support small business resiliency, or to increase their ability to advance housing preservation or affordable housing production. 

Total Funding: $297,450

Carry the Vision - “Community Rising Coalition” 
Carry the Vision supports Gilroy's most under-served community members by co-creating compassionate communities one person at a time. Located in Gilroy, this project engages historically underrepresented households to advocate livable transit-oriented communities for all of South County by launching the Community Rising Coalition (CRC). CRC advocacy efforts will increase Carry the Vision’s ability to advance community development by focusing on affordable housing, workforce development, transportation equity, and services to advance community healing. 

Prosperity Lab – “Business 360°” 
The Prosperity Lab is a catalyst for positive economic development and empowerment of underserved communities and micro businesses in the Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area by developing and delivering impactful programs and innovating solutions.

Business 360° offers technical training in marketing, digitization, operational efficiency, and capital strategies to small local businesses in historically underserved areas of Gilroy and San Jose. The program will help businesses around existing and future transit stations in San Jose and Gilroy be more resilient and responsive to the economic and cultural growth brought on by transit investments. 

School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza – “La Avenida/La Placita Development Planning” 
The School of Arts and Culture (SOAC) at the Mexican Heritage Plaza serves as a catalyst for creativity and empowerment of the community through creative place keeping, equitable engagement, and economic and community development initiatives. 

“La Avenida Cultural District” is SOAC’s vision for transforming property in East San Jose into an equitable transit-oriented community with a cultural district overlay zone, thriving business improvement district, affordable housing, and community service providers. SOAC will hold community engagements, convene the Cultural District Advisory Council, and establish the Mayfair Neighborhood Trust to advance the La Avenida development/cultural district, while supporting the long-term economic well-being of the low-income, Latino, and Asian communities in East San José. 

Funding to strengthen community support and advocacy for Transit Oriented Communities policies, investments and implementation, and remove barriers to implementing inclusive and culturally relevant engagement activities/practice.

Total Funding: $297,450

Palo Alto Forward – “TOC Education, Engagement, and Advocacy”
Palo Alto Forward focuses on expanding housing and transportation choices for Palo Alto by working with residents and city government.

Through the “TOC Education, Engagement, and Advocacy” effort, Palo Alto Forward will host a series of advocacy events about policy and zoning initiatives to support the creation of transit-oriented communities around the University Avenue and California Avenue Caltrain stations and along El Camino Real. 

Palo Alto TMA – “Mode shift for low wage essential workers”
The Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (Palo Alto TMA) is working to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, traffic congestion, demand for parking, and greenhouse gas emissions by delivering targeted transportation solutions.

With funding form VTA’s Transit-Oriented Communities Grant, the Palo Alto TMA will support low-wage service workers along the El Camino Real corridor in switching from driving to transit by providing free transit passes to ride VTA buses, refurbished bikes, and micro-mobility options. These free resources will help provide sustainable transportation solutions to a vulnerable population in need of reliable and safe transportation alternatives to driving. 

Transform – “Sustainable Transportation Education and Engagement”
Transform works to ensure that people of all incomes thrive in a world safe from climate chaos.

Through public engagement and community workshops, Transform will offer resources and knowledge to help communities overcome barriers to sustainable transportation, empower leaders, and provide greater options for communities to advocate for policies that will advance equitable Transit-Oriented Communities. 

Funding to enhance the vitality of community culture, history, and local identity through engaging placemaking/placekeeping activities and community events. These events and art installations will create accessible and welcoming public spaces that reflect the vibrancy of the community. 

Total Funding: $90,000

Arts Mountain View – “Mountain View Transit Project” 
Arts Mountain View aims to bring outdoor murals to Mountain View to beautify the city.

The Mountain View Transit Project will engage a local artist to create a large mural facing the Mountain View Transit Center that will feature bright colors and Mountain View iconography. The mural will act as a landmark indicating the arrival to Mountain View for light rail riders. 

Cinequest Inc. – “Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival” 
Cinequest empowers artistic creations to engage audiences, youth, artists, and innovators to forge community. Cinequest hosts the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, Maverick Studio, and Picture the Possibilities youth creativity services.

The Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival is a 30-year tradition in San Jose and now also in Mountain View, which ranks among the world's best film festivals. The locations vary around the city next to VTA light rail and bus, including at the California Theatre, the Hammer Theatre Center, and the ShowPlace Icon Theatre. Cinequest will engage local artists to create art for marketing campaigns displayed near transit, and curate local program content for the local community. 

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose – “Levitt Pavilion Concert Series” 
Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose supports the community and revitalizes the historic St. James Park by hosting performances and creating an inclusive destination for all people.

The Levitt Pavilion Concert Series will feature local music and performing arts, providing accessible entertainment for all with food, drinks, nonprofit tabling, and children's activities. The Concert Series offers a chance to enjoy diverse talent and foster a sense of community in the heart of the city. 

Gilroy Arts Alliance – “Our Community Pillars Art Project”
Gilroy Arts Alliance is building a collaborative arts community and promoting and supporting multi-cultural arts in and around South County. They also promote unity and inclusiveness by creating multi- cultural exhibits that inspire and engage a strong community.

The "Our Community Pillars Art Project" aims to inspire artistic expression in the youth of the community by beautifying outdoor concrete pillars near the Gilroy Transit Center. The project focuses on middle school artists, encouraging them to work together and become leaders during transformative times in their lives. 

Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) – “¡WEPA! FEST”
MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana) is a contemporary Latinx arts space that uplifts Latinx artists and culture in order to engage people in civic dialogue and community transformation.

¡WEPA! FEST is a celebration of Puerto Rican and Caribbean music and culture at Parque de los Pobladores. By activating the park and encouraging access by transit and walking, the event increases awareness of transit, while elevating the visibility and representation of Latinx art and culture.

San Martin Neighborhood Association – “Spruce Up San Martin”
San Martin Neighborhood Association is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rural identity of San Martin.

The Spruce Up San Martin project will enhance the San Martin Caltrain station area by implementing placemaking measures, including improving the landscaping of two medians near the station to create an identifying feature for the station and a more appealing experience for transit users and residents alike.