Center for Community Transformation receives more than $1.3 million in grants to further community impact

New funding of more than $1.3 million has been received by Fresno Pacific University's Center for Community Transformation (CCT). The funds will help further the work CCT is currently doing in the Valley and beyond. The awards include a $358,157 USDA grant and a five-year, $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

USDA funding for rural communities

CCT received the USDA grant on September 30 but due to processing delays connected to the federal government shutdown, funds were officially awarded in early December.

The funds will be used to streamline support to both existing businesses and startups in 11 rural communities: Sanger, Reedley, Parlier, Cutler, Orosi, Dinuba, Kingsburg, Selma, Laton, Caruthers and Kerman.

"CCT will continue holding listening sessions in these communities," said Carlos Huerta, executive director of CCT. "We want to curate the right supports for those in these areas."

CCT will partner with local chambers of commerce and city economic development departments to support job creation, job retention and overall business health.

This grant funds the launch of a new program, the Rural Ignite Business Accelerator, which offers the opportunity for rural Valley entrepreneurs and business owners to receive in-depth, expert training in a variety of targeted topics.

This year's grant builds on the $190,000 grant CCT received last year.

"These funds allow us to deepen our commitment to the Valley's rural communities," Huerta said. "We're equipping business owners with tools, training and collaborative support."

Lilly Endowment Inc. extends support for leadership formation

CCT also received a five-year, $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded in early December. This funding extends CCT's original 2020 grant from Lilly and expands its LaunchPad program to six new cities around the country in partnership with Leadership Foundations. Additionally, this funding will support the creation of bilingual training materials and the launch of a third all-Spanish certificate at CCT in Biblical Studies, complementing the two existing Spanish certificates in Community Transformation and Children's Ministry.

"We're grateful to Lilly Endowment Inc. for their continued trust and support," Huerta said. "This funding allows us to invest deeply in leaders who are serving their congregations in sacrificial ways."

For more information about CCT, visit cctfresno.org.

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