Tea Party gets the grant

The Chico Tea Party is gaining momentum. Earlier this month, the group received a $5,000 grant from the National Tea Party Patriots, which split up a $1 million donation—source not revealed—among smaller local groups. Chico was one of just 12 such groups in California to get a piece of the pie.

“We’re thrilled to have such a small town receive a portion of the money,” said Cindy Selby, one of the core leaders of the group. Contrary to what some may think, the group, with about 500 members on its e-mail list and 100 regular attendees, is “100 percent grassroots funded. This is the first time we’ve gotten money from an outside source,” Selby explained.

The grant money went to create 10 billboards, located throughout the area along high-traffic roads like The Esplanade, Mangrove Avenue and Highway 99. Their aim is to get people to the polls Nov. 2 and to publicize the local Tea Party group.