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Nonprofits and regional partners brief supervisors; requests range from small grants to membership fees
Summary
Several nonprofits and regional partners presented program updates and budget requests during the countybudget workshop: the free clinic and food pantry sought operating support, Piedmont Soil & Water asked for $12,900, Steps/community-action requested level funding and shelter support, and Virginia's Heartland proposed a $34,400 membership fee for the county.
Multiple outside agencies used the budget workshop to present program updates and request county support.
Alex McCoy, executive director of Virginia's Heartland Alliance, described a regional economic-development nonprofit and asked Amelia County to consider joining at a proposed rate of $2.50 per resident (roughly $34,400 based on 2024 population figures). McCoy said the alliance works on business-park assessments, business-retention visits and a Zoom Prospector sites database to help market available properties in the region.
Kristen Jackson, executive director of the Commonwealth Regional Council (the Planning District Commission), summarized CRC services for member localities including grant writing and administration, comprehensive- and transportation-planning, GIS and regional hazard-mitigation work. She highlighted recent regional grant wins, the regional housing study and a Main Street revitalization pilot that can help Amelia Courthouse.
Social-service presenters described direct client work and specific funding requests. A food-pantry director updated supervisors about a leadership change, volunteer support, partnerships (FeedMore, Bishop's Storehouse) and the pantry's role as the countywide emergency food provider; the director asked the board to consider increasing county support beyond the prior $7,500 allocation.
The Free Clinic of Powhatan (which serves Amelia residents) described its medical, dental and behavioral-health services and reported county support of $5,000 in the budget; clinic leaders said they are requesting $10,000 in the current cycle to sustain and expand outreach and pharmacy support. Myra Goodman Smith (an Amelia resident and clinic board member) and clinic executive director Elizabeth Ree emphasized new outreach and nutrition programs and the clinics move to a Medicaid-hybrid model to reach more residents.
Piedmont Soil & Water Conservation District representatives requested level funding of $12,900 to support farmer cost-share programs, septic assistance and an education trailer for outreach in the county.
Longwood University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) director, Dana Knot, outlined no-cost consulting, training and newer capital-access programs and asked supervisors to continue support and promote SBDC services to local entrepreneurs.
Community Action/Steps vice president Sean Roger asked for level county funding ($15,012) for the agency's programs (Head Start/early childhood and homelessness response). He also described Meline's House, the region's domestic-violence shelter (opened Sept. 30, 2024), which the agency asked the counties to support at $11,000 from Amelia; Steps also requested the next $6,250 payment of a four-year, $25,000 one-time commitment toward a planned transitional-housing/micro-home project.
Supervisors thanked presenters and asked staff to follow up with the detailed budget forms and clarifying information. Several supervisors said they wanted better documentation of prior-year funding and clearer links between county investment and service usage.
