Limestone County nonprofits ask commissioners for level funding or modest increases

Representatives from several Limestone County nonprofits told commissioners on July 21 they need continued or increased county funding to sustain programs serving children, families and small businesses. Emmett Moore with the Family Resource Center, Terry Richardson of Athens Main Street, Becky Bentley of the Limestone Child Advocacy Center, Bethany Shockey of the Limestone County Development Association, Craig Beasley for the jointly appointed library board and Chloe Wilson of the county Extension office all spoke during the public-comment portion of the work session.

County funding supports programs ranging from literacy and parenting classes to farmers markets, forensic interviews for abuse victims, economic development recruitment and 4‑H youth programming — services the speakers said leverage other grants and private donations.

The requests matter because county appropriations are used as matching funds for state and federal grants and to pay for basic operating costs that nonprofit partners say they cannot otherwise cover.

Emmett Moore with the Family Resource…