Joseph Project seeks $25,000 from county for training and direct services; commissioners ask for financials

Marlon Vaughn, CEO of the Joseph Project, asked the Hendry County board on Oct. 28 to consider a $25,000 donation to support the nonprofit's workforce training and direct aid efforts.

Vaughn described the group's work in Clewiston and surrounding areas: a weekly food distribution that counts household members (staff estimated about 400 people served per week counting households), phlebotomy classes with a 100% graduation record and placement of roughly 80% of graduates in the field, and partnerships with CareerSource and area colleges. Vaughn said the Joseph Project helps clients access SNAP, Medicaid and disability benefits, and for veterans operates referral work with an outside law firm. He said recent training successes included students progressing from phlebotomy to radiology and LPN coursework and that the organization also helps with books and small tuition gaps for residents who fall through other funding cracks.

Vaughn asked the county for $25,000 to support a new phlebotomy course and to provide financial assistance for residents; he provided a written financial summary to commissioners at the meeting. Commissioners expressed support for the organization's mission but several said they wanted more time to review the submitted financial documents and explore other funding sources (grants, local business partners) before allocating county funds from the general budget. One commissioner noted the county had just adopted a budget with tax rate implications and said they were reluctant to use county general funds for donations without further review.

The board did not vote on the requested donation during the Oct. 28 meeting; commissioners instructed staff to circulate the Joseph Project's financials for review and to place the request on a future agenda for formal consideration.