SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council reviewed grant funding requests during its Dec. 12 meeting.
City Budget Analyst Sarah Farr and Accounting and Finance Program Manager Gloria Mantz presented Behavioral Health and Human Trafficking grant funding proposals.
The programs were among several vying for funds from the city.
Farr said that an award capped at $1 million would be granted to agencies securing four or more supporting votes from the Council. Those receiving three or fewer votes were not eligible for a grant award.
The spotlight first fell on Lutheran Community Services Northwest, represented by Rochelle Cleland, advocacy director, and grant writer Megan Eickmeyer.
Cleland emphasized Lutheran Community Services position as the sole sexual assault help center in Spokane County.
When questioned by Councilman Ben Wick about sustainability, Cleland outlined a three-year program aimed at gradual expansion.
“Our proposal is a three-year program,” she said. “We need to grow it before it becomes more permanent.”
Next, The Jonah Project, an advocate for survivors of human trafficking in Spokane Valley, took the stage.
Presented by McKenna Cozzetto, their program manager, the organization highlighted significant costs related to relocation and survivor advocacy.
Cozzetto expressed the need for additional personnel to enhance grant application efforts.
“If we could hire more people we would have more time to dedicate to applying for grants,” she said.
Neither agency secured the necessary four votes during the deliberations.
Councilwoman Brandi Peetz shared her perspective, acknowledging the agencies’ advocacy, but suggesting a preference for Behavioral Health for teens.
Mayor Pam Haley echoed her sentiment, underscoring the ongoing need for an additional police officer.
The meeting also touched on other topics, including a $400,000 grant for sports allocated to Spokane Sports.
In other business, the council unanimously approved spending $4.4 million in bed tax revenues for tourism facilities.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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