SACRAMENTO – Assembly Member Anna Caballero today congratulated city officials and community leaders in the city of Soledad on winning a $145,000 grant to start detailed plans to rehabilitate Los Coches Adobe.

The grant will be issued by the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE), established in 2004 to fund projects through a competitive grant process to tell cultural and historical stories of California.

“A restored Los Coches Adobe will be a tremendous resource for the city of Soledad and Monterey County,” said Caballero.  “I’m proud of the Soledad city and community leaders that had the foresight and commitment to work for this grant and move this project along.”

Los Coches Adobe is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.  Plans for the project include museum exhibits that will tell the story of the California becoming a state.  There will also be a visitors’ center and a wine-tasting venue that will introduce visitors traveling along the historic El Camino Real (HWY 101) to the wines of Monterey County. 

Assembly Member Caballero supported the CCHE grant in a letter she wrote to the chair of the Endowment board of directors.  “This project holds significant potential to both tell an untold story of California’s people, and to provide a unique location for community economic development and cultural vitality,” wrote Caballero.  “I fully support this project.”

Soledad Mayor Richard Ortiz expressed appreciation for Assembly Member Caballero’s “diligent efforts in supporting our application.”

“She went the extra mile to speak to members of the CCHE board, conveying the importance of our project to our community,” said Ortiz.  “There is no question that her generous support and proactive leadership led to the success of this project.” 

He added:  “Our project was the only one from Monterey County and from a rural community to be funded.  Assembly Member Caballero’s efforts made the difference in our application being funded last week.” 

Funds for the project are expected to be available to the city of Soledad within two to three months.