Community Enhancement Program Committee Meeting – October 12, 2026

The Forest Grove Community Enhancement Program (CEP) committee met on October 12, 2026, to hear presentations from six finalists for the city's $15,000 community enhancement grants. Of 11 grant applications submitted, committee members had scored all applications, and the six highest-scoring organizations presented. Each organization received six minutes to present and up to four minutes for committee questions. After discussion, the committee voted to award one-year $15,000 grants to three organizations.

Presentations

• Adelante Mujeres – Forest Grove Farmers Market Activities: Adelante Mujeres described the market's community impact, including approximately 100,000 visitors per year, 120 unique vendors, and the Kids Pop Club/Power of Produce program serving children ages 3–12 with $2 food vouchers. The representative said the organization served just over 2,000 children last year, with a majority from Forest Grove, and that the grant would support staff time, chef demonstrations, supplies, and vouchers. She also noted the organization is "almost 12 million dollars" and reduced its budget by 6% from last year due to federal funding cuts.
• GG's House – Do the Next Right Thing: GG's House founders described a 13-year-old volunteer-run organization that provides emergency, flexible assistance including bus tickets, schooling, funerals, household needs, and more. They reported feeding over 500 meals a month, supporting over seven food banks, and serving 61 people from January 1 to August 31, not counting food giveaways. They stated the organization is 100% volunteer-run and tracks every person and expense. They also mentioned their building was recently sold, and the grant would help them continue responding to community needs.
• Growing Gardens – Forest Grove Home Gardens Project: Growing Gardens presented its home gardens program, which connects qualifying participants with bilingual education, plants, seeds, and three years of classes and peer mentoring. In Washington County, Growing Gardens has distributed over 2,000 plant starts and had 125 people participate in gardening and green cleaning workshops this year. Only four families are currently in Forest Grove; the grant would add about 10 families per year and fund a community organizer and gardening supplies.
• Family Peace Center – Expanding the Circle of Care: The Family Peace Center reported 138% growth in targeted Forest Grove outreach for residents served and an 84% increase in service volume since starting the CEP grant, plus a 95% increase in rural participants from 2025 to 2026. Overall, 21% of its population now comes from rural Washington County. This summer, the center held six Forest Grove outreach events and had individual conversations with 327 people. A 2027 grant would fund targeted outreach materials, creative access campaigns such as social media, bathroom signage, salon training, and Highway 26 signage, and continued navigation and coordinated services.
• Forest Grove School District Family Resource Center: The coordinator said the center, housed at Cornelius Elementary, provides food, hygiene items, clothing, school supplies, and referrals to families in the district. Last year it provided direct resources to 340 students or families, holiday assistance to 397 students, and helped 38 families with city funding for ICE-impacted families. The school district does not fund the center; it relies on grants and donations. The grant would purchase food, hygiene supplies, clothing, school supplies, and emergency basic needs.
• Forest Grove Backpack Program: Board members presented the program's fifth year of providing weekend food bags to Forest Grove School District students. Last year, the program provided 4,382 weekend bags; in the first six weeks of this school year, it delivered 678 bags. It currently serves 128 families, including 22 students with dietary restrictions, 71 Hispanic/non-white children, and 19 McKinney-Vento students. Food costs are up approximately 4.2%. The Elks Lodge provides space, and the program is funded entirely by grants and donations.

Committee Discussion

• Committee members praised all six applicants and noted that many groups already collaborate, with GG's House repeatedly mentioned as a community anchor.
• One committee member expressed concern that the application scoring process may favor professionally written applications over demonstrated community need and suggested adding grant-writing or technical assistance for future applicants.
• The committee reached consensus to hold a future CEP work session to review and improve the application and scoring process.
• A committee member disclosed that they are on the Family Peace Center board of directors during the discussion.
• One committee member on Zoom said she approaches ranking by asking which vulnerable populations are most likely to fall through the cracks and need help most urgently.

Key Outcomes

• The committee approved a motion to award one-year $15,000 CEP grants to the top three ranked organizations: Forest Grove Backpack Program, Forest Grove School District Family Resource Center, and GG's House.
• The vote was 10–0.
• The committee also agreed to schedule a work session to reassess the CEP process for next year.