West Central Community Action requests $4,000 from Mills County after reporting more than $800,000 in local services

Whitney Mueller, representing West Central Community Action, asked the Mills County Board of Supervisors for the same county contribution as last year — $4,000 — during the board’s meeting. "We are requesting the same amount that we have last year, which is $4,000," she said, asking the board to maintain the small local grant that helps leverage larger program dollars.

Mueller told supervisors the agency served 218 households in Mills County during fiscal year 25, comprising nearly 500 individuals. She said the organization operates one Head Start classroom in Hastings serving 20 children and an Early Head Start home-based option for five children, and that the county saw an increase in registered childcare programs this year. "We have one Head Start classroom in Mills County ... and we serve a total of 20 children," Mueller said.

On energy and emergency-assistance programs, Mueller said weatherization work benefitted LIHEAP-eligible households and that two households received about $79,000 in weatherization services. She said the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIDI) helped 211 households with nearly $117,000 in assistance, and emergency funds aided 30 households with about $13,000 in payments.

Mueller noted the food pantry and outreach office moved to the switch center to co-locate services with Head Start, and said that change helped increase donations and pantry usage; she reported assisting 64 households and 194 individuals following the move. The presentation included a financial summary the agency provided: roughly $617,000 in program dollars and vendor payments directed to Mills County clients or local vendors, and "over $802,000 worth of services were provided by West Central Community Action" for the county during the reporting period.

Board members asked whether a $4,000 county contribution produced meaningful local results. One supervisor asked rhetorically about the ratio between the county request and the services delivered; Mueller replied there is little duplication of services in Mills County and that the county allocation helps meet matching or local outreach needs.

The board did not take a recorded vote on the request during the presentation; the item was presented for consideration and follow-up. Mueller closed by thanking the board and noting staff who manage outreach services in the county.