Vallejo Pursues $5M Grant to Tackle Air Pollution

City Council directs staff on allocation of potential air quality funding from Bay Area Air District

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:12pm

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The Vallejo City Council has given direction to staff on how to allocate a potential $5 million grant from the Bay Area Air District to reduce air pollution and improve public health in the city. The funds would be split between initiatives like Safe Routes to Schools, community-based environmental justice programs, and upgrades to community centers in heavily impacted areas.

Why it matters

Vallejo faces significant air quality challenges, with two census tracts in South Vallejo ranking in the 94th and 98th percentiles for pollution burden statewide. This grant funding represents an opportunity for the city to directly address environmental justice issues and improve public health outcomes, especially for vulnerable communities.

The details

The $5 million grant would be allocated as follows: $1 million for Safe Routes to Schools, $1.75 million for community-based environmental justice programs, $750,000 for Vallejo Planning Department subsidies and enhancements, and $1.5 million initially proposed for energy upgrades. After feedback from the public, the council is considering splitting the energy upgrade funds evenly between the Florence Douglas Senior Center and the Norman King South Vallejo Community Center, as the latter is located in one of the most heavily polluted areas of the city.

  • The city has a May 29 deadline to apply for the 3-year Community Benefits Grant from the Bay Area Air District.
  • The Vallejo City Council discussed the potential $5 million grant at a meeting on April 1, 2026.

The players

J.R. Matulac

Vallejo City Council Vice Mayor, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Andrea Sorce.

Nalungo Conley

Vallejo Assistant City Manager, who presented the staff report on the grant funding.

Lorene Allio

Spokesperson for Fresh Air Vallejo, who advocated for directing funding to the heavily polluted South Vallejo area.

Peter Bregenzer

Vallejo City Council Member, who suggested splitting the energy upgrade funds between the two community centers.

Tonia Lediju

Vallejo City Council Member, who noted that the Florence Douglas Center serves residents from across Vallejo.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of focusing on solar panels for Florence Douglas, which is not in an intensely impacted area, the Norman King South Vallejo Community Center should be a clean air hub.”

— Lorene Allio, Spokesperson, Fresh Air Vallejo

“I hesitate to pull the funding from Florence Douglas Center. It serves people from District Six.”

— Peter Bregenzer, Vallejo City Council Member

“Individuals who live in South Vallejo, in North Vallejo, all over Vallejo attend that center (Florence Douglas).”

— Tonia Lediju, Vallejo City Council Member

What’s next

The Vallejo City Council has directed staff to rework the proposals and bring back a revised plan, with the goal of providing definitive direction before the May 29 grant application deadline.

The takeaway

This grant represents a critical opportunity for Vallejo to address longstanding environmental justice issues, especially in the heavily polluted South Vallejo area. By strategically allocating the funds across community programs, infrastructure upgrades, and job creation initiatives, the city can make meaningful progress in improving air quality and public health outcomes for its most vulnerable residents.