Board member proposes $3 million to help bill JEA, for nonprofits

District 7 Councilman Reggie Gaffney holds a press conference to announce a $3 million proposal to the JEA Project for Nonprofit Assistance and Grants on Monday, August 1 in Jacksonville City Hall.

Council Member Reggie Gaffney introduced Monday his intention to reallocate $3 million in beforehand reserved federal funding.

Two-thirds of the cash will go to serving to Jacksonville householders and renters pay their utility payments from JEA. The Final Million will proceed Gaffney’s earlier objective of giving cash to nonprofits whereas doubtlessly lowering town’s crime price.

“We’re in a recession proper now, and I need to inform you all the assistance is coming,” Gaffney stated throughout the press convention, standing within the Metropolis Corridor foyer. “This in all probability will not clear up everybody’s issues, however it is a begin.”

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Gaffney resigned from town council in Might to run for the state Senate. He’ll stay in workplace till his successor is elected to the District 7 seat.

Gaffney stated he’ll draft the invoice on Monday and submit it Wednesday.

It’s going to draw $3 million of the $73 million in federal pandemic reduction funds that Mayor Lenny Curry introduced final week after having his annual funds title protected for future use.

“The mayor supposed it for the aim, along with the reserve steadiness which is necessary to credit standing and buyers, to allocate $70 million plus in order that we would be the subsequent mayor and metropolis council subsequent 12 months and the next 12 months,” Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes instructed reporters after his funds speech final week: Complement any work they do with this federal funding.

He stated throughout Monday’s press convention that the cash Gaffney intends to make use of will probably be to assist “bear the ache” that Jacksonville residents are at the moment going through as a result of excessive payments.

The draft comes a number of months after Gaffney and former Metropolis Council President Samuel Newby introduced the “Jacksonville Rise Up” scholarship program. Nonprofits that goal to scale back violence by varied outreach efforts had been eligible for $9,000 every, for a complete of $336,000 in awarded funds.

Newby’s workplace instructed the Occasions-Union it had no touch upon Gaffney’s proposal presently.

On the press convention, he stated Gaffney realized that greater than 150 teams had utilized for the earlier program, which meant there was not sufficient cash obtainable to assist every group. Of the million proposed in that invoice, Gaffney stated he needs each eligible nonprofit group that applies for some funding.

Invoice could provide a second probability to assist, in keeping with the nonprofit founder

For Nikki Carswell, founding father of the nonprofit teams Silent Ladies Communicate and Younger Males, the proposed invoice may present a second probability to get assist. Carswell works with moms who’ve misplaced their kids to violence and helps facilitate counseling and help for younger individuals who have misplaced siblings.

Carswell didn’t win a Rise Up grant however stated it may very well be helped with either side of the proposed invoice: Serving to with JEA payments for moms and extra cash for her nonprofit may assist her get bodily area for the individuals she helps to attract on in occasions of want.

“After all, JEA payments, getting the utilities out of the way in which for me, that approach I’ve the soundness and revenue for a few of my mothers who’re going to need to bury an unprepared little one,” Carswell instructed The Occasions. Union after the press convention. “Most sources will do lots for me to get someplace to return.”