The Lyon County Commission will be applying for grant funding through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation on behalf of a local non-profit entity.
During the commission’s regular meeting Thursday morning, commissioners spoke with grant administrator Garret Nordstrom, who proposed that the county submit an application for an emergency solutions grant on behalf of Southwick House. Commissioners unanimously approved, and the application will be submitted early next week, according to Nordstrom.
The grant is administered through KHRC to fund organizations that work to address homelessness. The county will be seeking $50,000, which will be strictly for operational expenses.
The county is purely acting as a passthrough for the funding and will have no financial committments as a result of the application. Southwick Executive Director Susan Brinkman expressed her gratitude to commissioners for their action and added Southwick is proud to a “pilot” for an opportunity that could go on to support many other enetities in the future.
Thursday’s action was just the latest showing of support from the county for Southwick, as back in February, it also applied for and was granted an $800,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist with design and planning work for Southwick’s new transitional housing facility at 115 East Logan. It also comes as Southwick, according to Brinkman, has secured all the financial commitments necessary to break ground on the facility by next March.
That said, Brinkman tells KVOE News there is still work to be done as part of the agency’s $3.6 million capital campaign between now and then.
In other business on Thursday, commissioners received the annual Emporia Main Street report from Main Street Director Casey Woods. Woods noted that the past year has been one of collaboration for Main Street and various entities across the community, which has led to substantial opportunities for new development and growth.
Woods says this will provide an “awesome opportunity to take a more proactive stance for economic development.”
Speaking of collaboration, during the meeting, Woods was asked if there was more that could be done to keep county business owners informed of the various funding opportunities available to them through Main Street. Woods is planning to meet with county leadership in the coming months to discuss new ways to help promote said opportunities to communities outside of Emporia.
Also, on Thursday, commissioners approved a $40,000 services agreement with Brown & Brown Broker, with the full cost to be paid in quarterly increments from County General Contractual Services.
Commissioners also held one executive session for employee evaluation. Commissioners will reconvene for their weekly action meeting next Thursday at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
