Commissioners back Aaron’s Place planning grant application

Representatives of Aaron’s Place asked the county to provide a letter of support so the nonprofit can apply for a $75,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning grant to fund a feasibility study, environmental reporting and operating‑and‑maintenance estimates required for a larger expansion.

Cheryl Beulah, representing Aaron’s Place, said the organization has seen a roughly 25–26% increase in walk‑in clients since moving to its 6th Street location and needs a larger, climate‑controlled distribution area and community kitchen capacity to handle regular food distributions and food‑processing activities. "We definitely need to put something strictly on paper to see how we can move forward," Beulah said, describing the request as a first phase that would enable future applications for construction funding.

A commissioner moved and the board seconded and approved providing the required support letter so Aaron’s Place may proceed with the CDBG planning grant application. County staff explained CDBG planning grants require a local sponsor; Aaron’s Place would be the subrecipient if the county is the applicant, and procurement rules require selection of a consultant through a solicitation process.

Why it matters: The planning grant would fund the professional study necessary to pursue larger construction or site‑acquisition funds (for example, USDA or other community facility sources). County officials said they want to review reporting materials before submittal and flagged past experiences where incomplete procurement or reporting caused counties to repay CDBG dollars, so they will monitor grant administration closely.