Village awards $7,000 CDBG grant to Franklin Preschool after public hearing

The Village of Franklin trustees voted Monday to award the villages full 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation of $7,000 to the Franklin Preschool following a public hearing and presentations from local community groups.

The decision came after representatives of the Franklin Community Association and the Franklin Preschool described competing needs for limited village CDBG funds. Tanya Mehdi Hammond, vice president of the Franklin Community Association, urged the council to consider a recurring $7,000 sponsorship for the Roundup and parade to preserve that long-standing community event: "We would instead like to pass the village council to consider a regular annual $7,000 donation to the FCA to have the village of Franklin be the lead sponsor of the parade," she said.

Trustees said they had to balance eligibility and the public benefit standard that governs CDBG funds with immediate community needs. A representative of the Franklin Preschool, who identified herself as representing the preschool, told trustees the program is responsible for daily playground upkeep and must refresh sand and mulch to meet licensing standards at an estimated $4,000 per year. "In 2023 alone, we spent $18,000 on equipment upgrades and removal of unsafe structures," the preschool representative said, adding the programs enrollment has fallen, creating an operating deficit.

Council members questioned whether the FCA met CDBG eligibility rules given recent changes to its tax status; Matt Howell, treasurer for the FCA, said the association was informed in late October that its 501(c)(3) status had been reinstated retroactively. Trustees discussed both the FCAs community role in staging the Roundup and the preschools daily service to families when weighing the allocation.

After hearing public comment and internal discussion, a trustee moved to allocate the full $7,000 CDBG award to the Franklin Preschool for program year 2026; another trustee seconded the motion and the council approved it by voice vote. The motion was presented and seconded during the meeting record and the council recorded the outcome as approved; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the public hearing transcript.

Trustees noted that federal grant timing may delay disbursement; one speaker cautioned the funds "won't be there probably for another [year]." Council members also emphasized that the dialogue about longer-term village support for the FCA and the Roundup is not closed and said the village will examine other budget or sponsorship options in the coming months.

The council closed the public hearing and moved on to other agenda items. The preschool is the selected recipient for the 2026 CDBG allocation; trustees said staff will follow up with timelines and any expenditure requirements for the grant money.