Community Impact

Since 2006, The Martis Fund has invested nearly $8 million to non-profit organizations in the Martis Valley region through funding Open Space Conservation, Habitat & Forest Management & Restoration, and Workforce Housing grants throughout the Martis Valley and greater Placer County region.

Open Space Conservation Fund Grants

Invested over $3.7 million in land protection and habitat restoration in our region

Truckee River Watershed Council

These funds supported the Dry Lake/East Martis Restoration Project.

Truckee Donner Land Trust

In 2007, $3.53 million supported the purchase of the 1,481 acre undeveloped Waddle Ranch east of Highway 267. Now open to the public, Waddle Ranch provides miles of cross-country skiing, hiking, and biking trails and contributes to the creation of a ten-mile open space corridor for wildlife movement and recreation. Additionally, a project to study deer migration was supported through the Martis Fund.

Habitat and Forest Management and Restoration Fund Grants

Invested over $3.2 million into projects supporting protecting and restoring our watersheds, habitats, and trails throughout our region.

Truckee River Watershed Council

The Martis Fund has invested over $2 million into watershed and habitat restoration projects with the Truckee River Watershed Council. Projects include:

  • Adopt-A-Stream Water Quality Monitoring
  • Main stem Martis Creek restoration
  • Capacity building to fulfill Habitat and Forest programs
  • Middle Martis Creek Wetland Restoration & Martis Estates Restoration
  • Matching grants for TRWC’s Together for the Truckee Society
  • Support for the Tahoe Truckee Conservation & Stewardship Fund
  • Truckee River Weed Warriors Program & continuation funding
  • Matching grant to support the Martis Valley Watershed Assessment
  • Trail Realignment and Meadow Restoration along Martis Creek
  • Martis Valley restoration projects
  • Martis Dam Assessment
  • Watershed Assessment Grant
  • State Water Plan Tracking
Mountain Area Preservation Foundation

These funds supported a matching grant for the Trout Creek Restoration Project, Pocket Park and a Bark Beetle study.

South Yuba River Citizens League

These funds supported the Van Norden Meadow Restoration Project.

Sugar Pine Foundation

These funds supported Sugar Pine Restoration in Eastern Placer County.

Tahoe Fund

These funds supported matching grants for the North Shore Sugar Pine Reforestation & survey, and Stewardship Messaging.

Truckee Trails Foundation

These funds supported the Elizabethtown Trail and Restoration Project & Sawtooth Ridge Environmental Constraints Analysis.

The Nature Fund – Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation

These funds supported the Nature Fund grants for conservation and habitat restoration in the Martis Valley region.

Truckee Donner Land Trust

These funds supported a study of the Martis Valley deer herd.

Workforce Housing Grants

Invested over $2.2 million through housing efforts in our community

Workforce housing is a major priority for the Martis Fund. The Fund has invested $1.45 million into our Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP). To date, this program has resulted in providing over 30 families who live and work in our region with down payment assistance financing. We have invested over $800K in additional grants supporting workforce housing efforts in our community such as: Community House, a project of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation; Emergency Assistance Funding – Housing Advocacy and Case Management Programs through the Family Resource Center of Truckee (now Sierra Community House); and supported the Emergency Warming Center in providing support to homeless individuals and families in need of shelter and supportive services.

Additionally, $1.4 million has been earmarked through the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Regional Housing Solutions Fund for the Truckee Railyard/Artist Lofts project to support housing for our local workforce and will provide 71 low-income units for our community. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019. For more information about the project please visit: https://truckeerailyard.com/

For more information about the Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP) please contact Sierra Business Council, DPAP Program Administrator, Gina Jones at gkjones@sierrabusiness.org. To learn more about the program please visit: http://sierrabusiness.org/what-we-do/projects/972-martis-fund-homebuyer-assistance-program