The Haines Government Affairs and Services Committee (GASC) recommended the assembly approve four nonprofits’ applications for funding at its meeting on Tuesday.
The Haines Senior Center, Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL), KHNS, and Haines Friends of Recycling (HFR) requested $15,000, $8,000, $5,000, and $7,190 respectively. The money will come from $38,000 that this year’s budget set aside for general nonprofit applications, after the assembly had allocated other money to some specific nonprofits including the Haines Avalanche Center, the Southeast Alaska State Fair, and Becky’s Place.
Some of the applicant organizations described specific ways that they would use the funding: HFR, for example, said it would use its funds to ship two truckloads of community scrap metal away for recycling in summer 2023, and Haines Senior Center said it would use the grant to fund its lunch program, which has tripled in size since the start of the pandemic. Others, like SAIL, said they would use the money from the borough “general operating support.”
Committee members discussed the relative utility of the various applicant organizations. Debra Schnabel and Cheryl Stickler, the only assembly members at the meeting, agreed that although SAIL and the Senior Center don’t serve all community members, both organizations play important roles in Haines.
Fullerton also pointed out that while some municipalities provide social services, Haines doesn’t. “I think SAIL steps into that area a little bit,” Fullerton said, pointing out that the group helps people apply for social security and Medicare forms.
The applications, which were due on Sept. 1, required a statement of need, detailed plan for funds, a budget, proof of community support, and IRS forms, among other things.
Stickler said that the application process made the allocation feel less like “giving (money) away.”
If all four organizations receive the amount of funding they requested, a balance of $2,800 will remain in the designated $38,000 pool. Schnabel moved to recommend that the assembly consider giving the extra money to KHNS.
In other news, GASC recommended that the assembly consider a change to the wording of Mud Bay Rural Residential Zone code, removing the words “self-sufficient” and “self-determined” from the zone’s statement of intent. Schnabel said she had discussed the matter with some Mud Bay residents and was willing to leave in some of the original language. Stickler agreed that the question deserved “broad conversation” at the next assembly meeting.
They also reviewed reports from the Planning Commission and Ports and Harbor Action Committees, though they did not take action.