City awards funding to 5 non-profits
The Whole Child will receive $15,000 for employee wages from the new Community Based Organization funding request program. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)
DOWNEY - The first allocations of the city’s new Community Based Organization Funding Request Program were officially given the greenlight, divvying up $77,000 amongst five non-profit organizations.
The city council agreed to award various amounts to The Downey Symphonic Society, Desert Reign Church, Stay Arts, The Whole Child, and the 10-20 Club for their respective programs and events.
The CBO grant was established in June as a way to manage an increasing trend of local groups and organizations seeking financial help from the city for programming and events. The City Council ultimately decided to allocate $100,000 each year, and have each group submit proposals.
The city received seven submissions. Applicants were evaluated based on how many Downey residents would be served, program alignment with City Council priorities, and how well each program fit the current needs of the community.
The allotments are as follows:
- $10,000 to The Downey Symphonic Society for approximately 40 musicians’ wages for the annual Pops in the Park Concert
- $20,000 to Desert Reign Church towards vehicle fuel, insurance, and repairs for the “About Being Loved” Food Pantry and Resource Center
- $15,000 to Stay Arts towards staff, services, and supplies for spring art classes and workshops
- $15,000 to The Whole Child for employee wages at the Family Access Center in Downey
- $17,000 to the 10-20 Club towards staff and supplies for wellness workshops
The Whole Child could potentially forfeit its CBO allotment, as it is currently working with the state and the city on a state housing grant which would fill the needs similar to what they had applied for. If approved, an agreement between the city and The Whole Child would be brought back to the city council, and the CBO monies would be returned.
The $15,000 given to Stay Arts would be in addition to the $36,000 for the Gallery’s rent that the city had approved earlier in the evening. City Manager Roger Bradley said that Stay could have applied for the rent through the CBO program.
The two applicants not selected were Drumming For Your Life, which requested $19,320 for staff and supplies for a reading and rhythm program, and LA CADA, which requested $20,000 for a partial FTE (full time equivalent) case manager for homeless services.