The California Endowment is setting the stage for a 10-year, health improvement project that will pump millions of dollars into Salinas’ poorest neighborhoods.

Dubbed “Building Healthy Communities,” the endowment will fund a strategic plan in East Salinas to address issues including youth violence, health coverage, and housing. “It’s really about community health,” says Program Officer Justine Choy. “The strategy will be very tailored to what East Salinas needs.”

Salinas leaders must first decide which organization will facilitate the planning stage, which will include outreach to residents and the forming of one comprehensive strategy. The Endowment will meet with nonprofit groups Wednesday to decide which agency will coordinate the effort.

The Alisal is one of 14 California communities the Endowment picked to focus its resources. Endowment officials would not estimate how much money East Salinas will get under the initiative, which will start in 2010. Endowment spokesman Jeff Okey says the original hope was to spend $1 billion over 10 years in the 14 communities, but it’s hard to nail down a number now given the recession.

For more on the California Endowment’s new plan visit: http://www.calendow.org/healthycommunities/