Brittney Lofthouse – Staff Writer
Non-profits provide essential services to residents that might otherwise go unmet. Recognizing the value that non-profits who serve Franklin residents hold for the community, the town of Franklin annually allocates $40,000 to be distributed to local organizations.
The Franklin Town Council adopted set requirements for the funding pool applications including that all applicants must be a non-profit, that funding will not be given on a reccurring basis, all funds must be spent within the fiscal year it is granted.
While the town of Franklin allocates $40,000 each year for non-profits operating within the city limits, this year the town had 13 groups apply for grant funds for a total request of $52,250.
Appalachian Animal Rescue
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to assist the public with the low cost spay and neuter program for pets
Noted: In 2016, 775 animals were either spayed or neutered. This program assists with animal overpopulation in the town of Franklin.
Arts Council
Amount requested: $3,000
One time or recurring request: One time
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used for the arts program in Franklin. Funding will go towards diverse music concerts.
Noted: The North Carolina Arts Council tracks municipal support for local art councils and leverages it into increased state funding for local art programs.
Community Care Clinic of Franklin
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to provide flu vaccines and other medications.
Noted: Eighty percent of patients work part time and cannot afford private medical care or insurance. The clinic provides free medical care to uninsured, indigent members of the Franklin community, whose income is at or below the 150 percent poverty level.
KIDS Place
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to provide services for child victims of abuse that are living within the town of Franklin. Services include child forensic interviews, child medical evaluations, trauma focused therapy, victims advocacy and case management, multi-disciplinary core team and community education.
Noted: More than 500 child forensic interviews have been conducted by KIDS Place. These interviews are conducted at the request of law enforcement and child protective services. KIDS place provides forensic interviews for all child abuse cases investigated by the Franklin Police Department.
Macon County Care Network
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: One time request
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to for nutritional assistance for town of Franklin residents and purchase food from Manna Food Bank which will be distributed to individuals and families in need.
Noted: In North Carolina, almost 1 in 4 children are food insecure. In Franklin, the statistic is almost 1 in 3 children are food insecure.
Macon New Beginnings
Amount requested: $3,750
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used for the rental of Memorial Park for fifty (50) weeks to house the Serving Spoon.
Noted: The Serving Spoon provides free meals to anyone who wishes to be served. The Serving Spoon serves on average 32 people every Thursday night for 50 weeks a year.
Macon County Historical Society Museum
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: One time
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to help pay for replacing the old tar paper roof.
Noted: Macon County Historical Society has received a bid to replace the building’s roof for $12,000. The museum has received a promise of $6,000 matching fund grant.
Men’s Teen Challenge of the Smokies
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used for phone costs and phone counseling for those with addictions.
Noted: Last year, 353 calls were received and of those calls, 77 were from Macon County. A 12-month residential program for men struggling with addiction is being offered.
Mountain Mediation Services
Amount requested: $1,500
One time or recurring request: Did not specify
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to help fund the Macon County coordinator’s position.
Noted: Mountain Mediation offers Medicaid appeals mediation, district court mediation, restore justice services for your and training in community mediation.
Read2Me
Amount requested: $3,000
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to pay for children ages birth to five years old who enroll in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to receive one book each month.
Noted: Approximately 195 children living in the city limits of the town of Franklin sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library each year.
Scottish Tartans Musuem
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: Did not specify
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to purchase a display case for military artifacts.
Noted: Last year, the Scottish Tartans Museum had 8,760 in the gift shop and 1,926 visiting the museum.
Streets of Franklin Heritage Association
Amount requested: $1,000
One time or recurring request: One time
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to purchase decorations for street light poles.
Noted: Streets of Franklin is looking to purchase decorative hangers for fall and spring to hang from the poles installed for hanging baskets.
The Literacy Council
Amount requested: $5,000
One time or recurring request: Recurring
Purpose of funds: Funding will be used to support the expense associated with the Franklin Tutoring Program.
Noted: The program allows trained tutors to go into classrooms of elementary schools in Franklin and work one on one with children during the school year.
The Town Council will meet again on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. to discuss the grant requests in full details.
