Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative secures funding, partnerships to strengthen local immigrant services

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a grant agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to authorize state funding in the amount of $141,235 to strengthen and support current programs and services available to the local immigrant population.

The Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative, which applied for the funding through the Local Immigration Integration and Inclusion Grant Program, will partner with the Sonoma County Office of Equity and Secure Families Collaborative, a local nonprofit that provides pro-bono legal and social services to immigrants, to bolster the County’s integrated system of care by identifying gaps in safety net services. 

“By conducting an analysis of regional economic development and social service providers, the County can identify ways to adapt and strengthen its partnerships and programs,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This important funding will support the development of a connected system of care to avoid duplication of services and target areas for improvement and collaboration.” 

In addition to conducting a gap analysis, the project involves the creation of a county asset map that will be a countywide tool for public use, including an inventory of Sonoma County’s social, cultural, economic and workforce development services designed to improve connections among critical service providers in the region.   

In 2015, EDC created the Business Diversity and Inclusion Program to support Sonoma County’s growing Latinx population. The program has since expanded its efforts to serve the broader BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and other diverse small business owners in the county. In 2024, the County approved a formal Language Access Policy with a goal to achieve equitable participation and improved access to County services for residents who do not speak English as their primary language.  

The Board of Supervisors supported the formation of Secure Families Collaborative in response to federal immigration policy changes and the aftermath of the 2017 wildfires. Core partners of Secure Families Collaborative provide a variety of essential services for immigrant community members in Sonoma County.  

For more information regarding Sonoma County’s Local Immigration Integration and Inclusion Grant, please contact the Economic Development Collaborative by calling (707) 565-7170 or email edc@sonoma-county.org. 

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Media Contact:
Dan Virkstis, communications specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org 
707-565-304