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Nonprofits ask Rockville council for sustained or increased FY27 funding at final budget hearing
Summary
At the April 13 public hearing on the FY27 operating and CIP budgets, local nonprofits including Sunflower Bakery, Peerless Rockville, Manna, NAMI and the Rockville Science Center urged continued or increased city grants to support workforce training, food assistance, heritage preservation, mental‑health support and science education.
The council’s fourth and final public hearing on the City of Rockville’s FY27 operating budget drew a wide set of nonprofit speakers who sought continued or larger community‑grant support.
Julia Sarmiento of the Latino Economic Development Center asked the council to back a $4,000 grant to support LEDC tenant‑services tailored to Rockville residents, including eviction prevention and access to rental assistance. Several speakers — including Beryl Feinberg and Madison Colonna — highlighted Sunflower Bakery, a workforce‑development program for neurodivergent teens and young adults, and asked the council to continue a proposed $25,000 community services grant to support hospitality training and job coaching.
Peerless Rockville leaders pressed the council to maintain prior funding levels rather than reduce operating grants, saying archival and interpretive services for the city rely on stable support. Food‑security provider Manna (formerly Manna Food Center) and the Treehouse Child Advocacy Center described increasing demand for services and urged sustained investment in nonprofit partners. NAMI Montgomery County and others described how city grants support free peer‑run mental‑health programming and crisis supports.
Staff noted the public record for the FY27 budget closed that evening and will be considered again in a budget work session on April 20. Mayor Ashton and council members thanked speakers and noted the proposed adoption schedule in May.
Quote: "Every item we sell provides critical training to our students," said Madison Colonna of Sunflower Bakery, asking the council to continue grant support so hospitality and culinary training can expand locally.