Press Releases
City of Gonzales Launches a Capital Campaign to Build the Dennis & Janice Caprara Community Center
Lead donors gave a combined total of over $5 million dollars to the capital campaign
On Thursday, December 8th the City of Gonzales held a press conference to launch the public phase of a capital campaign to build a new community center. Speakers at the press conference included Senator Anna Caballero, Supervisor Chris Lopez, Mayor Jose Rios, Bruce Taylor from Taylor Farms, and Youth Commissioner Sheryln Flores-Magadan.
The Dennis & Janice Caprara Community Center Complex will be constructed on a city-owned parcel at Gabilan Court and 5th Street, just east of Fairview Middle School, and will be comprised of a community hall, teen innovation center, fitness center, County library, outdoor theater space, and a courtyard with outdoor gathering spaces.
"The Community Center Complex will be a great benefit to our entire community, a safe and inclusive gathering place for recreation, learning, and community activities," said Carmen Gil, Interim City Manager.
The estimated project budget is $34.8 million, and the entire project has been broken down into three phases so the project can be built as funds become available. Phase one is estimated to cost $21 million. The city currently has the funding to construct Phase 1 including $7.5 million from Measure X sales tax funds, $800,000 from Community Development Block Grants funds, $1.8 million from Monterey County and $5 million from Senator Anna Caballero/State of California.
The goal for the capital campaign is $10 million dollars and the City of Gonzales announced at the press conference that they are halfway to that goal. Lead gifts given prior to the public phase launch of the campaign total over $5 million dollars and were generously donated by Taylor Farms, Rubbo Pura Family, Mrs. Janice Caprara, Rava Ranches, and Santa Fe Foods.
To keep donations separate from city funds the city partnered with the Community Foundation for Monterey County to set up a fund specifically for the capital campaign. All donations from individuals and grant funds will go to the Community Foundation and will be used exclusively for building the community center.
For more information about the community center and capital campaign or to donate go to www.cfmco.org/GonzalesCommunityCenter.
Fly through video of the conceptual design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VysHBpe0Qg
About City of Gonzales
The city of Gonzales, California is located in Monterey County. The quaint and culturally diverse community of approximately 9,000 people is in the heart of the Salinas Valley’s agricultural and wine region. Gonzales is an established regional leader in agricultural-technology and innovation, environmental awareness and sustainable practices. Gonzales is home to companies such as HealthySoil, which manufactures products to improve agricultural crop production; Converted Organics, a natural fertilizer company; Taylor Farms, a fresh vegetable production facility, Mann Packing/Del Monte Fresh, a leading supplier of fresh cut vegetables; Ramsay Highlander, an innovator, designer and manufacturer of technologically-advanced harvesting equipment; Papé Equipment Handling, Braga Fresh, Green Valley Farm Supply, Tessemae’s, American Bioscience, Caraccioli Cellars, and Constellation Brands, an international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits.