April 10, 2025
The California Statewide Communities Devleopment Corporation (CSCDC) has provided $12,000,000 of New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation to the Dolores Huerta Foundation for construction of the new Dolores Huerta Peace and Justice Cultural Center in Bakersfield, California.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) is a nonprofit organization established in 2003 by Dolores Huerta. Dolores Huerta is a renowned American labor and civil rights leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers union in the 1960s, alongside Cesar Chavez. During her decades of leadership, she was instrumental in securing better wages and working conditions for farm workers. Huerta has also served as a devoted advocate for social justice and the rights of immigrants, women, minorities, LGBTQ citizens, and at-risk youth. In 2012, President Obama awarded Dolores Huerta the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for her lifetime of advocacy on behalf of the underserved. Today, at age 95, Huerta remains active with DHF as its Board President and full-time unpaid volunteer.
The NMTC financing will support DHF’s construction of the Peace and Justice Cultural Center, a 30,200 SF multi-use community facility in downtown Bakersfield. The Center will establish a permanent headquarters for DHF in Kern County to continue the legacy of Dolores Huerta and serve as a hub for community engagement. DHF will provide a range of education, healthcare, and community services for local community residents, including English language classes, leadership development programs for adults and youth, health insurance enrollment, emergency food and shelter referrals, and behavioral health services.
In addition to the $12,000,000 in NMTC allocation from CSCDC, the project also received NMTC allocation from Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution and Enterprise Financial CDE, LLC. U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation served as NMTC equity investor for the NMTC financing.
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