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County seeks to reduce beneficiaries under CDBG food program after Mercy House chosen as partner
Summary
Montgomery County staff requested a public hearing to amend a 2020 CDBG coronavirus grant closeout, proposing to reduce the beneficiary count from 2,520 to 397 because Mercy House—selected as the nonprofit partner—has more limited capacity; staff said Mercy House currently provides about 500 meals per day and Manor House will increase capacity.
County staff asked the commission to set a public hearing on Feb. 17 to amend a 2020 Coronavirus Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) closeout that funded food-preparation equipment and a food truck. Staff said the amendment would decrease the number of beneficiaries listed in the original grant application from 2,520 to 397 because Mercy House, the nonprofit partner ultimately selected, is smaller than the two nonprofit partners originally anticipated.
“Asks request a public hearing to be held February 17 in order to amend or decrease the number of beneficiaries from 2,520 to 397,” a staff representative said.
County speakers and commissioners described Mercy House as providing around 500 meals per day from its Council Street location and said Manor House, once open, would allow the program to scale up service. Staff explained the original larger beneficiary figure reflected a plan split between two larger nonprofits; Mercy House’s smaller capacity prompted the proposed amendment to close out the grant. Staff said Adecca (the state/grant administrator) had given verbal consent to the decrease and that the county hoped to close the grant by March 31 to maintain eligibility to apply for future CDBG funds.
Commissioners praised community donations and volunteers who have supported the ministry; one commissioner highlighted a community contractor that donated electrical repairs to the Manor House project after copper thefts. Staff said they encourage commissioners and residents to visit Council Street to observe the operation.
The commission set the hearing request for Feb. 17; the amendment and closeout will be handled through the public-hearing process and any formal vote that follows.
