top of page

About the AVCA

Since 1961, Almaden Valley Community Association (AVCA) has been bringing City Hall to Almaden. Every month, this volunteer non-profit organization brings government leaders, both elected and employed, to Almaden to discuss issues that affect our community.

 

Over the years AVCA members have influenced many positive changes for Almaden as well as San Jose.

History, Accomplishments, and Direction

The Almaden Valley Homeowners Association (AVHA) was founded in 1961 to provide the citizens of the developing community in the Almaden Valley with an organization that would inform and reflect the views of that community. At that time, planned developments weren't required to have a homeowner's association, so the voice provided by AVHA served to focus on quality of life issues.

 

In 1990 the original AVHA constitution was restructured into what became the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation for designation as a nonprofit corporation. The name was also changed to the Almaden Valley Community Association (AVCA) to reflect the diversity of the community, which now included not just homeowners, but also renters, merchants, and businesses. At that time, membership was at its high of 365.

 

AVCA lobbied hard and long to secure funding for the Los Alamitos/Calero Creek Park/Trail, raised funds during the Books-for-Almaden drive for the Almaden branch of the library, participated in raising funds for the Trees for Almaden drive to landscape the median on Almaden Expressway, and provided funds and hard work to get the Stile Ranch Trail built.

 

Shortly after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, AVCA initiated an Almaden Valley Emergency Response Team (A.V.E.R.T.) program. Various community grants and fund raising events provided the means to place three 'ARKs' in the Almaden Valley and stock them with emergency supplies. In 2001 these ARKs were donated to the Red Cross with the understanding that the Red Cross would maintain them and keep them in the Almaden Valley.

 

Beginning in early 1995, AVCA initiated and co-sponsored two District 10 candidate debates with the League of Women Voters. These candidate forums have continued on a yearly basis and now are being conducted solely by AVCA.

 

​Over the years, AVCA has also hosted numerous community meetings and events on topics such as
the proposed sale of the Henderson School property, Pac Bell's plans to lay fiber optic cable in
Almaden, the IBM Harry Road Development Proposal, the Calpine Metcalf Power Plant, the
Almaden Youth Association McKean Road Sports complex, the proposal to rename the Almaden
Branch Library, Secondary Housing for San Jose, the Winfield Bridge Proposal and PG&E electrical
outages. We co-sponsored a community daffodil planting on the Almaden Expressway with Council
Member Pat Dando and put together a community salute and farewell to an Almaden native son,
San Francisco 49er Brent Jones.

Policy For Giving Grants

From time to time, the AVCA Board may consider giving a grant for a project consistent with the mission of the AVCA.  External unsolicited grant requests will generally not be considered.

The following are guidelines that the AVCA Board has adopted.

  • Grants should not leave the AVCA Treasury with less than the amount projected for continuous operation of AVCA for three years without further income. 

  • A minimum of 30 days should elapse between a request for a grant, internal or external, and an agreement to grant the request. 

  • The grant should be for an activity in the Almaden Valley, and the activity should stay in the Almaden Valley.

  • Ideally, the grant is for a one-time project, and a separate grant is required for any renewal. 

  • The funds for the grant should be expressed as up to a stated number of dollars.

  • The AVCA Treasurer will directly pay the expenses for the proposed project up to the total amount agreed upon as a grant. 

  • The AVCA Board will be advised monthly, by the Treasurer, as to the progress of payments.

bottom of page