Commissioners sign letter supporting CCAP’s Community Services Block Grant funding

Casey Brown, community engagement coordinator for Community Crisis Assistance Program (CCAP), asked the Crawford County Commission to sign a letter supporting CCAP’s application for federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding at the meeting. Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to provide the letter; the action was approved and three signed copies were requested.

The county-level CSBG funds are the core source of funding CCAP uses locally, Brown said. "Today, we're just asking for a letter of support for that funding," Brown said, and provided a summary of services supported in Crawford County: "we've got a hundred and 3 families housed consisting of 257 individuals who are utilizing either our section 8 or our TBRA programming," two early-childhood education centers serving 21 children at the centers plus 19 receiving home visitation services, and nearly 60,000 rides granted last calendar year through multiple transportation programs.

Brown also said CCAP expects weatherization services to resume in the third quarter, which would help eligible families reduce utility costs. Brown noted the agency is conducting its required triennial community needs assessment and is soliciting public responses via social media and its website to tailor CSBG-funded services.

Commissioners asked whether CCAP had seen funding cuts; Brown replied the agency had heard about cuts generally but had not experienced direct reductions. After brief discussion the commission approved the request; two signed copies of the letter were prepared so CCAP could take one and the county could retain one.

The action taken was limited to providing a letter of support for CCAP’s CSBG application; no county funding commitment or formal allocation was recorded during the discussion.