The Macon County Community Funding Pool Task Force presented its nonprofit funding recommendations at the April 12 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
The Community Funding Pool was established to help the Board of Commissioners allocate tax-generated funds to local non-profits in a fair and efficient way. Previously, each nonprofit would present their individual requests to the Board of Commissioners.
The county allocated a total of $75,000 for the nonprofit requests for fiscal year 2021-2022.
Karen Wallace, Fontana Regional Library director, presented the recommendations on behalf of the Community Funding Pool Task Force. She said the task force uses a scoring matrix to determine the level of funding for each organization.
The task force received requests from 12 agencies totaling $98,311. Wallace said they chose not to fund two requests this year, because those organizations had approached the Board of Commissioners and received funding commitments directly from the county. The two organizations not funded this year were KIDS Place and Sk828.
“It was a difficult decision for us,” Wallace said. “Both had very legitimate cases.” She said the task force felt if they started making exceptions, then it defeats the purpose of the funding pool.
In July 2021, KIDS Place Executive Director Alisa Ashe approached the Board of Commissioners for help in offsetting the organization’s 67% loss in Victims of Crime Act funding. At that time, she estimated they would need to make up at least $110,000 to maintain a basic level of operations. She asked commissioners for a one-time allocation of $75,000, which was approved by a 3-2 vote.
In March, Sk828 received a $35,000 commitment from the county to support construction of the skatepark to be built at Sunnyside Park (the old Whitmire property). The town has donated the property and the design fees, and Sk828 has been pursuing grant opportunities and donations from individuals and businesses.
KIDS Place requested $7,500 and Sk828 requested $5,000 from the Community Funding Pool.
The Board of Commissioners approved the following funding recommendations (the original request is listed in parenthesis):
Bascom Corporation for STEAM programs, $311 ($311)
Franklin Amateur Swim Team for Junior Olympics project, $6,905 ($5,000)
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust for Kids in Nature education program, $5,404 ($3,500),
International Friendship Center for food pantry program, $6,571 ($10,000)
Macon County CareNet for food assistance program, $3,905 ($2,000)
Macon County Humane Society for facility renovation project, $5,238 ($10,000)
Macon Medication Assistance Program, $5,095 ($10,000)
Macon Program for Progress for Parents as Teachers operational support, $10,000 ($10,000)
REACH of Macon County for domestic violence client services, $10,000 ($10,000)
Read2Me for Dolly Parton Imagination Library, $6,905 ($5,000)
Special Liberty Project for veteran spouse support/equine retreat program, $5,333 ($10,000)
Teen Challenge of the Smokies for automotive vocational training project, $9,333 ($10,000).