Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance

  Chair Green welcomed everyone to the workshop at 4:32 pm. He stated the purpose of tonight’s workshop. Bishop Salem gave the invocation. Then, Chair Green led with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Citizens Requesting to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items (3-minute limit) 

Anyone wishing to speak on agenda items or non-agenda items should schedule or notify the County Administrator's Office before attending the meeting and will be asked to follow the Gadsden County Public Meetings Citizens Access Guidelines. Also, Public comment for Commission meetings can be submitted via email to CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov until 11:00 a.m. October 27, 2022. Comments submitted after the deadline, but prior to the meeting will be added to the official record, but the County cannot guarantee that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting.

  Chair Green read the above statement.

Bishop Charles Salem III, 847 Jetty Ave Quincy, FL 32351, Share Your Heart Ministry

Wilbert Butler Jr, 2028 Pemberton Court, Non-Profit Support

Sherrie Taylor

General Business

1.   Introduction

2.   Review and Discussion of Funding for Non-Profits of Gadsden County
  Mr. Dixon said they were present to discuss the process for the funding of Non-Profits. He said Ms. Daniels would be presenting a presentation.

  Ms. Daniels said she had a PowerPoint presentation. They looked back at prior processes the County had for funding to non-profit organizations in the community. There had been a process in place several years ago. It was the Gadsden Non-Profit Partnership (GNPP). She read the purpose of the GNPP and the packet included the procedures. This process has been used by the county several years ago, so they took that process and streamlined it. This gives them the opportunity to read through the process, application and the agency review form. They will be bringing the item back at next board meeting to approve.

She said the public notification expected to go out. If approved, will be advertised in the paper on November 10^th. The staff will be providing technical assistance. The due date will be advertised when the applications are advertised and all the applications will go through the same technical review process. Chair Green wants everyone to understand the process they are considering. Ms. Daniels said she could go through some information they are requesting for the agencies that are applying. This process will require each commissioner to appoint one person to the review committee. If they are going to be a part of the partnership review team, cannot be an applicant for funding. The partnership review team will review the application, complete agency and problematic assessment, and they will make the initial funding recommendation to the board. Award letters will be forwarded to the agencies. There will be appeals process and they will have a contract with them. It is for this fiscal year 10/01/2022-09/30/2023.

  Chair Green asked if the review team member need to be a representative or someone from your district? Or can they recommend anyone within the county? Ms. Daniels said it can be anyone within the county.

Commissioner Hinson entered at 4:45 pm.

   Chair Green asked what the review board will be looking for? Ms. Daniels said there is some specific line-item funding for specific agencies. This funding is open and available.

Commissioner Holt walked in at 4:47 pm.

The allocation for this year is $50,000. The review team will be looking at what’s available. Chair Green said he likes the concept of having a review team. He wants to make sure they can work on a more detail process of the qualifications.

  Commissioner Hinson said he went on conference and someone posed a great idea. He said they should find out what they need and build a social infrastructure. Sometimes they need more help other than just funding. Social infrastructure instead of social programs. He said it is to entertain the thought. They also had 5 commissioners and they divided the money. He said Quincy has 3 commissioners that touch on the City of Quincy, if they work together, the other cities would be left behind.

  Commissioner Holt said it is a great idea. They have done it before and it makes too much sense. Chair Green wants a simplified process to apply.

  Commissioner Holt said the reporting on those items. They need to consider a length of time. If they keep funding the same group, they will never get new groups coming through.

  Chair Green said the reporting should be a part of the application process. Ms. Daniels said it is a part of the application process.  

  Commissioner Hinson said they all serve different people. Some may have more than others. He thinks it will be best for the board to talk about this and give the direction to the County Administrator. If they start from scratch and see what they need. As a commissioner, they should know who is serving.

  Chair Green said to keep in mind that the team is making a recommendation to the board. He does like the concept. Commissioner Hinson said yes, that is what most counties are doing.

  Chair Green asked if there is a section for need assessment. Ms. Daniels said she misspoke. Based on the process, appointee needs to be from commissioner’s district.

  Chair Nesmith apologized for not being in person. He was able to work for the youth of Gadsden County with the Gadsden leadership academy. Part of that application, they were able to include the sustainability portion. They have a unique opportunity to assist them and help sustain themselves.

  Since it is in the initial narrative, they were able to request funding for the second year because they included how they expanded the program. Ms. Daniels said in the application, it has a section called Organizational Overview. It asks about the mission and goals of the organization. They can add the questions of sustainability. Chair Green said he wants to make sure they are supporting non-profits that will have longevity.  

  Chair Holt said if they are going to fund the non-profit at a certain amount, they need to gear down their commitment to fund them. If 20 applications, can only fund 10 this year. It’s a stair step. That allows other non-profit to have an opportunity. The complaints before that they always fund the same people. Some of the other commissioners that get funding, have offices for those districts. Sustainability is very important. TDC did grants and it’s a 3 year wait. If they could get packet 2 weeks ahead of time to sit with the administrator to get to work.

  Chair Green sees it on the agenda, is it something they can take off? Ms. Daniels said they can move it to the next agenda. They are trying to streamline the timeline so it doesn’t take so long. Everything depends on when its approved and when it’s advertised for agencies to fund. That gives time to incorporate issues. Chair Green said gives them time to meet.

  Commissioner Nesmith said the sustainability section needs to be a separate section and it needs to be clearly stated. They want every non-profit in Gadsden County to be successful. They are not ready to move on this at Tuesday’s meeting, he wants to sit down with administrator.

  Chair Green asked how many non-profits in the county? Ms. Daniels said she has an old list but it is several years old. Chair Green said he would like for them to send a literature to invite them to come out to a workshop.

  Commissioner Hinson said a private school can be a non-profit and churches. They need to be clear on what they’re doing because they can open pandoras box.

  Ms. Daniels said they must have a 501C3. Churches and schools have it different. The commissioners said it is the same. Chair Green said they will still have the process in place.

  Commissioner Holt said they can put whatever restrictions they want. Marketing has to be to everyone because its tax dollars. As long as they have a step-down process, they can keep rolling the same system and it will work.

  Commissioner Hinson asked if they can give churches money, not from CARES ACT but from regular funding? They also have daycare centers. From their reserves, he thought there would be some heartburns. Attorney Knowles said he could look into it. Chair Green said most churches that have daycares still have a different ID #. It’s more of a profit because they will receive funding from government or parents paying. Commissioner Hinson said even if they have a non-profit, they still can get money.

  Chair Green said they need to go through the package so that they can go through more appropriate questions.  

 
         a.   Gadsden County Non-Profit Partnership Procedures

         b.   Gadsden County Non-Profit Partnership Application

         c.   Gadsden County Non-Profit Partnership Agency Rating Form

Chair Green wished an early birthday to Commissioner Hinson.

  Mr. Butler asked about the $50,000.00 limit. He asked about other funds that comes to the County like CARES Act or American Rescue Plan, will they fall up under the same process? Chair Green said they will talk about it, but it will be the same process. They are expecting more funding to come any day now. They will come back as a board to decide how to disperse those funds. Mr. Butler asked if they are searching for grants made available to non-profits to help them because when money was given, funds were directed other places as opposed to those individuals or businesses. He asked when will the county understand that non-profits are very beneficial in helping them get things done that they can’t do on their own? Chair Green said that’s why he wants to do a workshop to bring in some experts so that non-profits can have other ways and other means to know how to get funding.

  Commissioner Holt said the money was divided up amongst small businesses, large businesses, towns, cities, non-profits, they had to look at several different categories. That’s how they divided up.

  Commissioner Hinson said they have $2.8 million dollars from CARES Act to go to non-profits and small businesses. The American rescue plan, have some million dollars. They have $4.5 million they have yet to apply for. This is the best time of the year to get small business working. If they have asked for funding before, they will keep coming back. Mr. Butler said they have worked really hard; they have asked for funding several times. Their facility is needed on that side of the County. It’s providing an avenue for events and putting people to work. They are asking to assist them to finish building. If they have funds, look for a way.

  Commissioner Hinson said it wasn’t for Demings, Al Lawson or Charlie Christ. it was for all parties. It was a non-partisan event.  

  Commissioner Holt said there are two things that happened. Some money is already assigned. It’s not money they can just give away. She loved the building and enjoyed the event. There were large constituent that said they shouldn’t give any dollars to non-profits. They have to report fundings. Not saying that she agrees with everything. Mr. Butler said the more people that come, the economic impact is great on the town. Commissioner Holt said she agrees with him. They have to consider both sides of everything they do. Chair Green said the purpose again is the process. Mr. Butler said he wants to move up the list.

Commissioner Holt left at 5:30pm.

Commissioner Hinson said he wants people to know that they give extended invitation to everyone. They have $2.8 million dollars and $1.7 million hasn’t been allocated to anybody.   

 3.   Questions/Comments    

 Motion to Adjourn

  Adjourned at 5:32 pm.