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Sunflower Bakery seeks $25,000 FY26 grant to expand job training for people with learning differences
Summary
Sunflower Bakery requested city funding to expand hospitality and culinary training for young adults with learning differences and asked the council to continue support included in the manager's recommended FY26 budget.
Sunflower Bakery, a Rockville-based nonprofit social enterprise that trains young adults with learning differences, asked the council on March 17 to continue city support in the FY2026 budget.
Jodi Tick, executive director, told the council that Sunflower has expanded programming since moving to Rockville in 2020 and now operates pastry, hospitality and a new culinary program, with increased enrollment and employer partnerships. Tick said the organization requested continued City funding to grow hospitality enrollment and graduate more students into local employment opportunities.
At the public hearing, Beryl Feinberg and Jodi Tick asked the council to support a caregiver grant of $25,000 that appears in the city manager’s recommended budget. Feinberg said the program’s investments in Twinbrook and expanded hours, accreditation steps and job coaching merit continued City support.
Why it matters: Sunflower’s work provides workforce development for Rockville residents with disabilities and requests in the FY26 budget would expand local training and placement services. The manager’s recommended budget lists a city commitment to community grants and staff identified the community grants process as moving to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
No formal council action on the grant was recorded during the March 17 session; the funding request will be considered during budget deliberations and adoption.
