Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fitchburg awards $124,000 in Healthy Neighborhoods grants to local nonprofits
Summary
Council approved eight Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative grants totaling $124,000 to local nonprofits including River Food Pantry, Allied Food Pantry, Rooted Wisconsin and Bikes 4 Kids Wisconsin. The HNI committee increased maximums and prioritized programs that will deliver services at the Hosta Hochi community space.
Fitchburg — The Common Council on April 28 approved Resolution R95‑26, awarding $124,000 in Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative (HNI) grants to eight local organizations.
Finance staff said 17 organizations applied and the committee selected eight grantees with larger awards than in past years to reflect rising program costs and staff capacity to manage grants. Recipients and intended programming named in the packet include River Food Pantry, Allied Food Pantry, Rooted Wisconsin (community meals and food pantry service), Active Youth Wisconsin, Badger Prairie Needs Network, Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, Bikes 4 Kids Wisconsin and Reach Dane.
HNI coordinator Jessica Wolf (present online) told council the committee added bonus points this year for programming that will be hosted at the Hosta Hochi community space; several grantees plan pop‑up services and community meals there during summer months. The committee awarded one full requested amount for a smaller program and otherwise distributed awards ranging from $4,000 up; larger grants were in the $20,000 range.
Council members noted growing demand for food assistance since the COVID period and discussed possible refinements to HNI scoring and categories for future grant cycles. Several members emphasized the program’s role in supporting basic needs and connecting residents to services.
What happens next: staff and grantees will coordinate dates and outreach for Hosta Hochi programming; council asked for regular reporting on funded activities. All grant decisions and program descriptions were taken from council materials and meeting remarks.
