The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) announced more than $750,000 in grant funding to support projects that improve access to public transit, strengthen community resilience, expand inclusive engagement, and celebrate community identity across Santa Clara County.

These investments, going to 14 recipients in four different categories, help cities and nonprofits advance equitable, transit-oriented communities (TOCs) that connect residents to opportunity while promoting cultural vibrancy and sustainability. This is the second year VTA has awarded these grants to various organizations and cities in Santa Clara County.  The award presentation was held at the San Jose Museum of Art on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 and streamed on Facebook Live.

The award categories:

Program Area A: Transit Access and Circulation Planning ($350,000)

• The City of San José will develop multimodal access and circulation strategies for the Santa Teresa, Cottle, and Blossom Hill stations to improve connectivity and safety in South San José.
• The City of Santa Clara will conduct an Access Gap Analysis for four stations—Old Ironsides, Great America, Lick Mill, and Great America Capital Corridor/ACE—to identify improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders.

Program Area B: Community Resilience – Total Funding: $200,000

Funding strengthens emerging community development corporations to support small business resiliency and housing preservation.

• Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley (LBFSV) will launch “Building Belonging: Preserving Small Businesses and Housing Near Transit,” helping stabilize small businesses, promoting “Shop Local, Go Local” campaigns, and expanding tenant protections.
• SV@Home will conduct a “Transit Oriented Preservation and Anti-Displacement Zones (TOPAZ)” feasibility study on Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs) to sustain affordable housing near transit.
• Enterprise Foundation will establish a Neighborhood Small Business Center near the Mountain View Transit Center to provide bilingual advising, training, and technical assistance.

Program Area C: Education and Engagement – Total Funding: $100,000

Funding strengthens community advocacy for TOC policies and inclusive engagement.

• Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends will implement “Project LiFT – Literacy for Transit,” offering free ESL workshops and family literacy events centered on public transit.
• The Audacity Performing Arts Project will launch “Digital Storytelling for Transit Equity,” empowering Title 1 students to create documentaries and podcasts on transportation access.
• Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action will lead a Youth Peer Transit Education program to increase youth ridership and reduce car trips.
• Nueva Vida Community will expand “Puentes Comunitarios,” to ensure that Spanish-speaking and underserved residents are not only informed but also actively shaping the future of their neighborhoods.

Program Area D: Placemaking and Cultural Activation - Total Funding: $100,000

Funding supports projects that reflect community vibrancy through arts and culture near transit.

• Poppy Jasper, Inc. will present “Poppy Jasper on the Line: Film & Culture in Transit-Connected Downtown,” activating downtown Gilroy and Morgan Hill with free film screenings and artist-led panels near VTA stations.
• School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza will host “Eastside Signature Events,” celebrating local heritage around the future 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station through festivals like Avenida De Altares, Fiesta Navideña, Fiesta Del Mariachi, and Chile, Mole, Pozole.
• Our City will beautify the Eastridge Transit Center through the “Utility Box Community Art Project.”
• Opera San José will expand its “Opera on First” initiative, transforming South First Street into a live opera hub, pairing performances with VTA access to connect arts and transit.

Together, these projects demonstrate a shared regional commitment to building equitable, connected, and culturally vibrant transit-oriented communities across Santa Clara County.