Mayor’s tight budget proposal includes grants to help most needy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Grants to 35 social service agencies are part of Mayor Linda Gorton’s budget proposal now under consideration by the Urban County Council.

With Council approval, $3 million in “Extended Social Resource Grants” will be awarded to  agencies that work in four priority areas: Community Wellness and Safety ($1.2 million); Childhood and Youth Development ($600,000); Food Insecurity and Nutritional Access ($450,000); and Overnight Emergency Shelter ($750,000).

Eight agencies will get funding for the first time.

The five agencies receiving top ratings for their proposals were AVOL; Chrysalis House; Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Bluegrass; Seedleaf; and Greenhouse 17.

Social Services Commissioner Chris Ford said grant winners were recommended after an exhaustive examination of 88 requests for a total of $7.28 million.

In recent years, the city has almost doubled funding for these grants as federal and state governments have cut back.