One Napa Valley Initiative (Citizenship Program)

Geographic Scope: Napa County, California

Program Type: Major citizenship and naturalization initiative

Launched in 2013, the One Napa Valley Initiative is a comprehensive program to help Napa County's eligible legal immigrants become U.S. citizens. The foundation invested $1 million over three years to help the county's legal immigrants achieve citizenship, with the largest discretionary grant being $295,000 in 2014.

Background

• Commissioned a comprehensive study in 2012 from the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.
• Study found that only 30% of Napa County's foreign-born population have become citizens vs. 37% in California overall
• Study identified approximately 9,000 eligible immigrants in Napa County who are eligible for citizenship but have not naturalized
• A scarcity of legitimate immigration services in the county contributes to the gap

Program Goals

• Increase naturalization rates among eligible legal permanent residents
• Help 2,000 legal permanent residents apply for citizenship
• Create naturalization infrastructure in Napa Valley
• Support potential future beneficiaries if national immigration reform occurs

Benefits of Citizenship

• Correlated with higher educational attainment for children whose parents naturalize
• Associated with higher family income
• Linked to higher proficiency in English
• Supports more active engagement in community affairs

Services Provided

• Outreach and awareness activities
• Low-cost application services
• Naturalization interview preparation
• Citizenship exam preparation
• Legal assistance
• Classroom-based instruction

Program Results (First Year - 2013-2014)

• Helped more than 500 residents with legal assistance or classroom help
• 165 citizenship applications submitted
• 65 residents became U.S. citizens

Funding

• 2013: Approximately $285,000 distributed
• 2014: $295,000 (largest discretionary grant made that year)
• Total Commitment: $1 million over three years

Immigrant Population Context

• 24% of Napa County residents born outside the country (vs. 27% statewide)
• 9,000 legal permanent residents contribute approximately $1 billion annually to the economy
• Approximately 12,000 additional undocumented residents estimated
• Two-thirds of immigrant population has lived in area 10-20 years
• High rates of homeownership (55% of immigrants own homes)
• Lower poverty rates for Latino immigrants (11% lower than statewide average)

Contact Information

• Phone: (707) 254-9565 ext. 16
• Email: hello@napavalleycf.org
• Address: 3299 Claremont Way, Suite 4, Napa, CA 94558
• Website: napavalleycf.org

How to Apply

Services became available within three months of program launch (late 2013). Interested eligible immigrants should:

1. Contact the Napa Valley Community Foundation
2. Inquire about available citizenship and naturalization services
3. Access outreach and education programs in the community

Available Support

• Free or low-cost application preparation assistance
• Citizenship interview preparation
• Exam preparation support
• Group classes for citizenship preparation
• Legal assistance with application process