Blacksburg hears funding requests from local nonprofits ahead of FY2025–26 budget

Blacksburg Town Council on the night of the meeting heard presentations from local nonprofits and community groups seeking support in the town’s FY2025–26 budget process. Presenters outlined services ranging from early‑childhood book distribution to adult literacy, arts and cultural programming, community gardens and food access.

The presentations opened after the council approved the consent agenda. Speakers representing about a dozen organizations described missions, recent activity, and how town funding would be used. Several groups named specific dollar requests; where a request was not stated in the presentation, the article notes that it was not specified.

Why it matters: The organizations seeking support provide services used by Blacksburg residents — including preschool literacy, adult education, senior services, arts programming and food access — and several presenters said local government funding composes a portion of their operating budgets.

What presenters told the council

- Anne, a representative of a local choral group, opened with a short demonstration and told the council the group requested $1,000 for scholarships. She said the chorale paid for scholarships that year and used town support to defray dues for singers who could not otherwise afford them.

- John Byers, representing Wonder Universe/Children’s Museum, asked the town to increase support to $5,000 and described the museum’s 15,000 square feet of…