Press Releases

Congressman Carbajal was joined by Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, City Councilmembers Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez, Mike Cordero, and Gloria Soto, JCC leaders Dale Hiramatsu, Jo Anne Nishino Spencer, Keiko Monahan, Linda Mathiesen, Recs & Parks Commissioners Rebecca Carey and Sally Lopez, Recs & Parks Assistant Director Angela Oslund, Public Works Director Brett Fulgoni, and Public Works staff Thomas Korman and Guillermo “Willy” Aguilera.

Ahead of the groundbreaking this month of the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center (JCC), Congressman Salud Carbajal joined Mayor Alice Patino, members of the Santa Maria City Council, JCC Board, and other Santa Maria officials to highlight the $500,000 federal investment delivered for the facility in the 2023 federal budget to support its construction.

“I’m proud to help fund a project that recognizes the diversity and heritage that makes our Central Coast community the special place that it is,” said Rep. Carbajal. “There’s a rich agricultural history here on the Central Coast, especially in Santa Maria, and the Japanese-American community played an important role in shaping that. This community center will honor that legacy and serve as a benefit to all our Central Coast residents.”

The 10,000-square foot Santa Maria Japanese Community Center will feature memorabilia documenting the lives of Issei: first-generation, Japanese American immigrants and their contributions to the Santa Maria Valley agricultural industry since the early 1900s.

“We are excited about this additional funding for the future community center, which builds upon the $350,000 donation from the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center, and other funding. The structure and grounds will serve as a gathering spot for all cultures within our community, and honor the Issei generation and its contributions to the agricultural industry in the Santa Maria Valley,” Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino said.

The $500,000 award is one of 14 community projects that received direct funding in the 2023 federal budget due to Rep. Carbajal’s advocacy.

Other Santa Barbara County projects funded in this year’s federal budget include upgrades to Lompoc’s Pioneer Park, Orcutt’s public library, and Marian Regional Medical Center.