There are grants and then there are grants. Many of the grants you hear about in the news aren’t grants at all. If the funding comes from government, it’s not a grant. It’s simply a means by which a decision regarding the spending of government funds, your tax dollars, was made. But if the source for the funding is from a non government source then it truly is a grant.
Such is the case with John M. Scott Health Care Trust Grants. The Bloomington City Council approved funding for fiscal year 2024 in the amount of $712,000 on Monday night.
The council approves the grants in its role as trustee for the trust. The funding goes to organizations providing health care related services to McLean County residents at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Line.
According to William Bessler, Grants Coordinator for the City of Bloomington, “The Trust is money left from Judge John Scott from the late 1800’s and the estate was put in control of the county court system and the city is the trustee.”
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Bessler continued, “So there are no general fund dollars. There’s no tax payer dollars associated with this. So it is just trust funds that goes to these non profits and any administrative costs are reimbursed by the trust too.”
Karen Stipp, John M. Scott Health Care Commission Chairperson talked with us about where some of this funding goes.
The largest amount, $428,000, goes to agencies for programs. Some of the big winners this year in that category were Project Oz, $42,000; ABC Counseling in conjunction with Boys and Girls Clubs, $40,000; and Youthbuild McLean County, $40,000.
Project Oz provides transitional housing for homeless youth. Boys and Girls Clubs are bringing in ABC counseling to provide mental health services to children. Youthbuild McLean County provides mental health services and interventions for youth.
The second largest amount goes to agencies for operations. That amount is $250,000 and was split evenly this year at $125,000 each for Community Health Care Clinic and Center for Human Services.
The final amount, $34,000 was awarded for capital projects.
