Franklin nonprofits, library and health agencies brief council and request funding

Several local nonprofits, the library system and public-health and education partners briefed the Franklin City Council on Feb. 23 and asked the council to continue or increase funding.

Anne Jackson Edwards, executive director of Rawls Museum Arts, thanked the city for past support and said continued local funding would let the museum secure matching funds of up to $4,500 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. "Supporting the arts is not a luxury. It's a proven investment in community well-being," she said.

Carl Heck, presenting economic-development activity, requested $125,000 to restore pre-pandemic capacity and advance a Main Street initiative; he also described a proposal for four partner contributions of $30,000 each toward a visitor center. "We're planning to put in the shared services area somewhere in Franklin," he said, outlining tourism and business-attraction efforts.

Ben Down, director of Blackwater Regional Library, reported about 19,000 visits to the Franklin branch since July 1 and growing program use. During questions councilors asked why the library had been delayed opening one morning; Down said the system used a two-hour delay that day and agreed to provide additional staffing and hours details on request. He also said he would provide demographic staffing data to councilors who asked about diversity.

Whit Harper from Western Tidewater Free Clinic requested $52,548 and described clinical services and patient impacts, including dental visits and an Every Woman's Life program that helped a patient secure Medicaid and treatment. Natalie Rountree of the Western Tidewater Health District asked for $110,000 and summarized environmental health inspections, immunizations and program activity across the district.

Gail Cherzinski of the Virginia Legal Aid Society described services for housing, public benefits and family law and said the group closed 101 Franklin cases last fiscal year; she noted the organization will distribute updated eviction-law information through its website and local outreach as new laws take effect July 1.

A college president (introduced as Dr. McCray) and Lorraine Greenwhite of Early Childhood Western Tidewater described college student supports, workforce training, and early-childhood programs (training hours, crib distributions, partnerships) and asked the council to sustain local funding.

The council recognized social-services benefit program specialists in a consent resolution and heard a brief update that the unit comprises 11 staff who manage SNAP, TANF, childcare assistance and other services for residents.

Council members largely thanked the presenters and asked staff for follow-ups on program details, staffing and where the requested funds would be allocated if approved in the budget process.