When it comes to natural bounty, Gilroy is a pillar of industry.
Locals can now parade their hometown pride by sporting California’s
newest special interest license plate; the proceeds of which
directly support agricultural education, career awareness, career
training and youth leadership development.
Gilroy – When it comes to natural bounty, Gilroy is a pillar of industry.
Locals can now parade their hometown pride by sporting California’s newest special interest license plate; the proceeds of which directly support agricultural education, career awareness, career training and youth leadership development.
The drive, which is spearheaded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, needs 7,500 paid pledges for the plates to be issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. After deducting a small processing fee, the DMV will forward a majority of the special license plate revenue as a flexible funding source to help promote a crop of agriculture-related education programs.
Gilroy High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter is aiming to sell 15 of the plates, “but it’s been hard,” said Heather Nolan, GHS science teacher and FFA club advisor.
“The program is set up as security to keep our programs alive,” she said. “With the budget issues and the state of education, this program has been devised to continue to provide funding.”
For now, Nolan said GHS’s FFA program is paid for by a grant the club applies for every spring, but by selling the plates “we ensure the continuation of our programs if those dollars and grants go away.”
Tax-deductible fees for the Cal Ag License Plates cost an additional fee above normal DMV registration fees. To order a sequentially numbered set of plates (a random set of six numbers and letters selected by the DMV) patrons will pay $50 and $40 per year to renew their registration. To order personalized plates with a maximum of six characters, the cost climbs to $98 and $78 to renew. For the latter price, you may also convert existing personalized license plates to California agriculture plates.
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To download, print and mail in a form, visit www.secure.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/calagplate. The website has an extensive list of answers to frequently asked questions. You may also sign up for the program online at the above website.
Questions and comments may emailed to Ca********@*****ca.gov, or by calling 1-916-341-3065.
To get in touch with Heather Nolan, email her at He***********@*********ca.us.
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