Naperville council casts wide funding net

Naperville spread a little pre-Christmas cheer this week to several area charities looking for funding boosts.

The city council took less than 30 minutes Monday to divvy up more than $500,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds and $250,000 from the city's Social Services Grant Fund. Of the combined 45 requests, 40 got at least partial funding.

"We're all faced with choices and these are hard choices to make," said Carol Simler, executive director of DuPage PADS, which provides low-income housing opportunities and homeless shelters in the area. "I think the city council and staff are to be applauded this year for the efficient process that was much different than in years past."

In the past, the council spent hours debating funding requests before settling on figures. This year, members agreed on averages compiled by polling individual councilmen prior to Monday's workshop.

Simler's organization received full funding for a request to pay for an interim overnight housing program and partial funding for two other requests.

Western DuPage Special Recreation Association officials also were pleased by the amount of support they received for their two funding requests. They expected going into the process that the requests would be partially funded and they'd have to look to other donors for the shortfall.

"The amount was probably what we expected, maybe a little more, but it's something you never know," said Lanie Munzing, the association's grant writer. "We're fortunate in the fact that we know we have a lot of repeat funders out there."

She said Naperville's grant dispersal is the first step in getting the association's programs fully funded. Now that officials know how much the city is willing to cover, they can go to private donors to cover the remainder.

The council left $1,002 unattached in the social services fund. Katie Wernberg, the city's community grants coordinator, said she likely will recommend the excess be given to Community Career Center, which asked for $20,000 and received $13,571 from the council. A staff recommendation committee had suggested $17,000 for the group that helps local unemployed residents find new jobs.

"It had the biggest difference between the council and staff averages," Wernberg said.

The federal government distributes the Community Development Block Grants, while the city's Social Services Grants are financed through a portion of the city's food and beverage tax.

FYI

A look at the three largest allocations by Naperville for Community Development Block Grant and Social Service Grant requests:

Community Development Block Grants:

• $208,865 to Little Friends for acquisition of houses for developmentally disabled adults

• $67,958 to Bridge Communities for rehabilitation of transitional housing units

• $40,000 to Hamdard Center for transitional housing program for victims of domestic abuse

Social Service Grants:

• $35,143 to Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry for food costs

• $31,500 to KidsMatter for developmental programming

• $22,786 to Naperville CARES for emergency assistance program