Shalom Center denied funds

The City Council approved a grant Wednesday giving $133,000 to community organizations.

However, the grant leaves out funding for the Shalom Community Center’s Hunger Relief Project.

The distribution of the federal Community Development Block Grant’s $886,670 for 2010 was adopted 8 to 0 during the city council meeting.

Recipients of the grant includes Community Kitchen, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Stepping Stones, Martha’s House and the Middle Way House.

The Shalom Community Center’s Hunger Relief Project was the only one not approved under the community development programs.

Fifteen percent of the grant is distributed among social services programs such as Martha’s House.

Twenty percent of the grant is reserved to pay for administering the funds.

The other 65 percent of the grant’s total money is reserved for community improvements. The approved programs include a parking lot for the South Central Community Action Program.

Lisa Abbott, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development, said last year there was an informational meeting about the application process. In December the applications were turned in and then reviewed by the citizen’s advisory committee.

The application process included a public hearing at which the agencies explain their programs and why they should receive funding, Abbott said. The funds are then distributed according to the scores each program receives.

The Housing and Neighborhood Development department will release an annual action plan next month, Abbott said. The plan will be sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which responsible the federal money.

— Elvia Malagon