July 24, 2024: Both Albemarle and Charlottesville making changes to funding process for nonprofits that provide human services
Plus: The Scrappy Elephant joins the Southeast Creative Reuse Collective
We have now arrived on July 24, 2024 and there are absolutely no bonus points to be able to use the same number twice. Charlottesville Community Engagement is an American publication but if it were a British one, there would be some delight in being able to use 24-7-24 to describe the position on the calendar but the score would be no higher. I’m Sean Tubbs, and I’m in no rush to emigrate just for this purpose.
In today’s installment:
One of two men who plead guilty in a 2023 murder in Fifeville has been sentenced to 43 years in prison, 20 of them suspended
A pair of shootings in two separate incidents sent two people to the UVA Medical Center with injuries
The federal government reports the number of new home sales in June
A local store that specializes in the creative reuse of art supplies joins a regional collective to promote the practice
Elected bodies in both Albemarle and Charlottesville are briefed on changes to the budget process that funds nonprofit agencies who provide services to help humans in need
First-shout: Five Things ReLeaf Cville Has Done This Year
In today’s first subscriber-supported shout-out: ReLeaf Cville seeks to help restore the amount of the city that’s covered by trees. This year they’ve done five things they want people to know about:
The Virginia Department of Forestry awarded a $190K grant to preserve mature trees in neighborhoods with low tree cover, targeting Fifeville
Another grant helped with the planting of almost 130 trees in the Rose Hill neighborhood
This summer will be the third in a row they’ll partner with the Rivanna Conservation Alliance to train young people to help with outreach efforts to plant trees in the Woolen Mills neighborhood
They partnered with the Van Yahres Tree Company to provide volunteer work on Arbor Day to check in with recently planted trees in the 10th and Page neighborhood
They appeared on VPM in late June to discuss their work to date (read the report)
Man sentenced to 23 years in prison for 2023 murder at the Sunshine Market
A man convicted of murdering another person at a convenience store in the Fifeville has been sentenced to a total of 43 years in prison, with twenty of those suspended.
Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins issued the ruling today against Orlando Allen Jr. for the March 4, 2023 murder of Justice Kegan Kilel of Gordonsville at the Sunshine MiniMart.
“The level of brutality and violence exhibited by the Defendant in this case warranted the significant sentence imposed by the Court,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania in a press release sent out this morning. “The Commonwealth will continue to hold accountable those individuals who use firearms to perpetuate violence in our community.”
Both Allen and co-defendant Nasier Floyd McGhee pleaded guilty in late March.
For more on the case, take a look at several stories written by other area journalists.
2 plead guilty to 2023 Charlottesville convenience store killing, March 21, 2024
Teen tries to claw back guilty plea in Charlottesville minimart murder case, May 30, 2024
McGhee sentenced to prison for Sunshine Minimart shooting, June 6, 2024
Two people shot last night in separate Charlottesville incidents
Charlottesville police responded to two separate shootings last evening that sent two men to the UVA Medical Center within a three hour period.
The first happened just before 9 p.m. when officers responded to a shots fired call on Lankford Avenue.
“Upon arrival, a 23-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds was located,” the release reads. “Officers immediately provided life-saving measures to include applying a tourniquet to the victim.”
The man was listed as being in serious but stable condition and an initial investigation reveals that the shooter and victim may have known each other.
Just before 11:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shots fired call at 1221 East Market Street, the location of Holly’s Diner. They found a 30-year-old man who had been shot in the leg.
“The initial investigation indicates that a disorder inside of the establishment led to a shooting which occurred outside,” the release continues.
The investigations continue. Anyone with information is asked to call 434-977-4000 and anonymous tips are allowed.
Sales of new homes decrease nationwide in June
The number of new homes sold across the United States dropped slightly in June compared to May according to new data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
There is an estimated total of 617,000 new units sold in June compared to 621,000 in May. A deeper look reveals that 12,000 were in the northeast, 81,000 in the mid-west, 149,000 in the west and 375,000 in the south. Data is collected through sampling and you can take a look at all of the figures here.
“The median sales price of new houses sold in June 2024 was $417,300,” reads a press release sent out today. “The average sales price was $487,200.”
In the coming weeks, the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors will have information about this market. Soon I hope to have an anecdotal review of sales in the City of Charlottesville for June.
Local business part of new adaptive reuse group for Southeastern United States
Across the world, there are groups who are seeking to increase the practice of upcycling, or taking discarded items and turning them into something new. One such business is the Scrappy Elephant in McIntire Plaza which for four years has helped area residents take part in “creative reuse.”
“Since opening in 2020, Scrappy Elephant has diverted more than 110,000 pounds of material from the landfill,” reads an information release sent out over the weekend by founder Sarah Sweet.
Scrappy Elephant takes in unwanted art supplies and other items that could be used to create something new. They hold workshops and classes on how to work with the items. Now the company has joined forces with similar groups across the south.
“We're excited to announce we're a founding member of the Southeast Creative Reuse Collective,” Sweet writes. “The collaboration among these organizations means more waste will be diverted from landfills while supporting accessible, affordable arts for all.”
Virginia groups participating include Scrap RVA in Richmond, the Dabble Creative Reuse Center in Manassas, and Valley Creative Reuse in Harrisonburg.
In addition to having environmental benefits and stimulating creativity, proponents argue this style of reuse has economic benefits as well.
“Creative Reuse centers create green-collar jobs, volunteer opportunities, accessible communities and grassroots economic development,” reads a press release announcing the formation of the collective. “They also allow teachers, artists and community members to stretch their budgets by having access to affordable, gently used materials and supplies.”
For more information on the Scrappy Elephant, visit their website.
Second shout-out: Camp Albemarle
Today’s second subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for over sixty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”
Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman’s River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Are you looking to escape and reconnect with nature? Consider holding an event where the natural beauty of the grounds will provide a venue to suit your needs. Visit their website to view the gallery and learn more!
Albemarle and Charlottesville discuss funding for outside agencies
We’re less than a month into the fiscal year for local government, but planning is already underway for the one that will begin on July 1, 2025. Elected bodies in both Albemarle and Charlottesville recently provided direction on one of the processes for funding nonprofits to do some of the work of government.
“The Agency Budget Review Team process serves as a method of evaluating requests for county funding from outside agencies, primarily nonprofits,” said Kaki Dimock, chief of human services in Albemarle County. “Teams of community volunteers and staff, review and score applications against a prescribed rubric.”
Dimock said the number of applications has been increasing each year with 70 in the current fiscal year with 49 organizations seeking a total of $4.7 million. Supervisors ended up awarding just over $2 million in funding. These range from $445,619 for the Albemarle Home Improvement Program to $15,000 for the Women’s Initiative. You can review the full list beginning on page 78 of the budget. (review Albemarle’s presentation)
In this fiscal year, Albemarle created a new category of “emerging needs human services funding” that allowed new areas to get local support. For instance, Dimock said the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless received funding to hire a contractor to serve as a coordinator.
Dimock said her department wants to make some changes to the process over a two-year period. The first is to change the name to Albemarle County Human Services Funding Process.
“Agency Budget Review Team only refers to something insiders know,” Dimock said. “Even if you were on the website and you saw something that was called Agency Budget Review Team you would not assume that was about nonprofit funding and click on it to learn more.”
Dimock said another change will be to prioritize funding for groups that provide basic needs like food and shelter as well as protecting demographics identified as vulnerable. They also want to shorten the process in FY26 and plan to make further revisions in FY27.
Supervisors endorsed the changes and we’ll hear more about that as the process gets underway. Albemarle’s proposed changes would not apply to the process for cultural agencies or ones created by major agreements such as the Rivanna authorities.
Two days before, Charlottesville City Council was briefed on potential changes to its process which is known as the Vibrant Communities Fund.
Human Services Planner Hunter Smith said orientation will take place in August for both applicants and those who will be reviewing the applications.
“We actually do a [question and answer] prior to that for people who are just curious about it so I’ll do a Q&A session,” Smith said. “People just come down and learn what it is.”
The application window will open in September for about 30 days before teams will get work evaluating proposals, a process that can involve site visits if the request is above a certain level.
“Funding recommendations come out between January and February and then in March we come back and start meeting [with Council],” Smith said.
For the upcoming cycle, staff are recommending putting a cap of $150,000 per organization. Last year, several organizations asked for more with the BUCK Squad initially recommended for funding at $465,000 for their work to reduce gun violence in the community. That amount was later reduced.
“It is important to hear Council’s reaction to the suggestion of a cap because now is the time that that information needs to be shared so individual groups can begin to make adjustments,” said City Manager Sam Sanders.
City Councilor Lloyd Snook said there should be a cap he was not certain what the number should be.
“There ought to be a number where if the organization is going to give that much money, we probably ought to be having a more detailed look at the governance structure of the organization,” Snook said.
Councilor Brian Pinkston said he would like to see more data on distributions through the fund to come up with a cap, but he suggested increasing the maximum amount to $200,000.
Councilor Natalie Oschrin said her review of previous budgets led her to believe $150,000 is appropriate but she suggested it could be adjusted over time due to inflation. An exact number was not determined at the meeting and staff said they would come up with a new figure.
Another adjustment will be to the list of agencies considered to be fundamental, which means they are guaranteed funding. The Office of Community Solutions will provide an initial review of applicants.
“Are they eligible? Do they align with priority areas?” Smith asked. “And then the community member teams will focus on the impact.”
Smith said the goal will be to get information about the recommendations to Council sooner so there is more time to review the documents before the budget process gets too far in the cycle. He added that staff will also present recommendations for both the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund (CAHF) and the Housing Operations Programming Support (HOPS) fund at the same time as Vibrant Communities.
Toward the end of discussion, City Councilor Michael Payne said the entire process is inherently subjective.
“I say it every year but I’ll state it again,” Payne said. “We are a public body. There is no way to separate politics from a public body’s budget and I don’t mean that in a negative way. As elected officials, we hear from citizens. I mean, [staff does] too, but in a different way. If there’s a process, and not just this but [Community Development Block Grant], HOPS, CAHF, where 90 percent of the recommendations in the process are followed but ten percent of that total process is adjusted? To me that’s about as good a process that a public body could get to.”
Both Albemarle and Charlottesville also work with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to coordinate on information. Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade said he would like to get an update on the nonprofit community as a whole.
This story will appear in audio form on WTJU on Saturday morning and in a future podcast.
Reading material for #708:
One of Charlottesville's last trailer parks could sell, displacing all of its residents, Jason Armesto, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), July 19, 2024
John Kluge Jr. is the man with the mead touch, Emily Hemphill, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), July 20, 2024
Albemarle land data lags behind development, Jacob Phillips, 29NBC WVIR, July 20, 2024
Mel's Cafe, a Charlottesville icon, closes for good, Emily Hemphill, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), July 21, 2024
Virginia's 5th District to hold recount on July 31st, Smith Mountain Eagle, July 22, 2024
Virginia militias continue to organize locally as experts worry over elections, Isabela Lisco & Sophia Didinova, VPM, July 22, 2024
Turnover audit to close Nelson Treasurer's Office, Sharra Klug, CBS19, July 22, 2024
Swimming advisory extended for part of Lake Anna, other sections added, Katelyn Harlow, WRIC, July 22, 2024
VDH expands swimming advisory at Lake Anna, Sharra Klug, CBS19, July 22, 2024
#708 is now complete, even without a podcast
There is a gap in newsletters because I reserved several days to work on a cover story for next week’s C-Ville Weekly. I spent hours doing research into the development of the Belmont Bridge and that will come out a week from today. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with other information outlets.
This one is also not a podcast, breaking a recent tradition. The only segment with sound is the final one, and I’ll include the audio of that in the next podcast. Being able to be flexible with the format assists me in getting out the information in as timely a manner as possible.
The number of new subscribers continues to grow and I’m well over 3,000 now. About a quarter of that number pay through either Substack or Patreon. Four years in and the direction seems to be heading in a good one. I have thanked most of the new paid subscribers and hope to get to the rest of you soon enough.
If you’d like to join them, Ting will match your first subscription whether it be at the $5 a month level, $50 a year level or $200 a year level. The latter will get you two shout-outs a month. It’s a bit of an innovative way to fund my work and I’m grateful to Ting for the opportunity which has been underway since sometime in 2021.
In return, I tell you that Ting can help you with your high speed Internet needs. If service is available in your area and you sign up for service, enter the promo code COMMUNITY and you will get:
Free installation
A second month for free
A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall
