Citrus County preserves Nature Coast Volunteer Center with reduced staff and outside pledges after RSVP grant loss

The Citrus County Board on July 29 approved continued county support for the Nature Coast Volunteer Center after staff presented a reduced-cost plan to sustain the program following the loss of federal AmeriCorps RSVP grant funding. Support-services director Lindsay Roddenberry described the plan: the county will reclassify the former supervisor position to an hourly coordinator to reduce personnel costs while retaining a single staff member responsible for recruiting, placing and recognizing volunteers and coordinating disaster-volunteer functions. The county requested continuation of $68,314 in cash-match funding already included in the current budget; the County Charitable Foundation offered a conditional pledge of $20,000 and the United Way offered $12,000 specifically for volunteer recognition and retention. Roddenberry said the RSVP grant had supported two full-time positions and additional program costs; AmeriCorps indicated the agency may have a program shutdown in fiscal year 2026, increasing urgency to find alternate funding. County staff reported 395 registered volunteers and 47 stations; volunteers reported 51,181.25 hours during the last grant cycle, representing an estimated $1.78 million in in-kind value. Commissioners and staff praised the work of volunteers and the community organizations that pledged funds. Commissioner Holly Davis moved to accept the funding continuation and reclassification; Commissioner Diana Finnegan seconded and the motion passed 5-0. Next steps: County staff will complete the reclassification paperwork, execute the conditional funding arrangements with the charitable foundation and United Way as appropriate, and proceed with hiring or assigning the coordinator role. Staff will return with a plan to pursue additional grant funding, including a Florida Blue Foundation grant application the county submitted for a food-security and volunteer-support program.