This follows after the city opened the funds for grant applications at an original maximum award amount of $445,000. The two applications considered were from Forgotten Angels Foundation and CCFC.
FAF serves mentally-disabled adults in the area. CCFC provides mental health counseling for uninsured and underinsured individuals and families.
Applicants had to show their activities helped in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FAF requested $206,127 and would match it for a total of $412,254 for a new pavement project.
CCFC requested the maximum amount available to purchase the building it leases so the organization wouldn’t have to pay the monthly expense of rent.
“I can not tell you how transformational this will be,” CCFC CEO and Co-founder Dawn Lawless said. “About a $40,000 decrease in budget expenses means that I can hire a therapist.”
Ultimately, a five-member city staff review committee recommended CCFC for the grant, even though it would require an extra $95,000 over the initial maximum award amount. The additional funds can be obtained through ARPA Special Revenue Fund 356, according to an executive summary prepared by city staff.
“It’s one thing to say mental health matters in your community and it’s another to actually try to do something about it,” Council member Adrian Hernandez said.
Following the acquisition of the building, any necessary renovations will be funded through Community Development Block Grant funds.
The sale will be finalized prior to Dec. 31, according to the item schedule in the executive summary.
“Very excited to see where this goes in the future,” Mayor Kevin Cole said.
Council member Joseph Koza was absent from the meeting and did not participate in the vote.
