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Thrive West Central asks Vermillion County for up to $64,499 in 2026 support; requests $20,000 to sustain rural transit
Summary
Thrive West Central presented its 2024 annual return-on-investment report and sought county support in a $64,499.44 grant-matching request for 2026, including $42,000 for rural transit operations and a county ask of roughly $20,000 to maintain current service levels.
Ryan Keller, CEO of Thrive West Central, told Vermillion County commissioners on Sept. 8 that the nonprofit returned roughly $1.6 million in benefits to the county in 2024 on a $36,884 investment and that Thrive is requesting $64,499.44 from the county for 2026 to support economic development, aging services and rural transit.
Keller said the larger share of the 2026 request is for rural transit operations: "In the 2026 grant matching request ... 42,000 in rural transit operations." He said the transit program's 2024 expenses were about $180,000 but state and federal matching has changed and the county previously provided $20,000 in match. Keller said Thrive covered roughly $68,000 of match last year using other funding sources that are no longer available.
Keller asked the commissioners to consider an additional $20,000 in county support so Thrive can operate rural transit three days per week. He said the program served about 100 regular riders and that trip costs had been reduced from roughly $80 per trip to about $41 per trip through efficiencies.
Commissioners and attendees said budget hearings will determine the county contribution; the county council holds appropriation authority. Bill Reynolds, a Thrive board member, told the commissioners he will advocate for the funding during upcoming county budget hearings.
Why this matters: Rural transit provides rides for older adults and other residents who lack other transportation options; the requested county support would maintain current three-day service that commissioners and Thrive said supports access to medical appointments, groceries and other essential services.
Next steps: Commissioners agreed to review Thrive's materials, consider which line items to support and take the request to county budget hearings. No binding appropriation was made at the meeting.
Direct quotes appear in the public meeting record from Ryan Keller and Thrive board representatives.
