In a move that underscores the commitment of local government to supporting vital community services, the Pima County Board of Supervisors gave the green light to significant funding earmarked for nonprofits. Earlier this week, the Board approved a $3.5 million injection into the Community & Workforce Development Outside Agency Program for the fiscal year 2024-25. This unanimous decision secures the provision of public service assistance ranging from economic development to social services, targeting the economically disadvantaged and at-risk populations of the area, according to the official Pima County newsroom.
Broken down, the funding supports an array of sectors—with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona taking the lead—which will receive $462,395, with $326,032 designated for emergency food assistance. Acknowledging the current landscape, wherein many depend on the nurturing hand extended forth by the County's programs, Dan Sullivan, Pima County's Community & Workforce Development director, highlighted the importance of these nonprofit partnerships. "The Outside Agency Program shows Pima County’s ability to build capacity and strengthen nonprofit partners in order to provide essential community services," Sullivan told the Pima County newsroom.
Earmarking allocations by category, the approved funds will be disseminated as follows: Community Services ($342,638), Emergency Food and Clothing ($751,461), Senior Support Services ($283,604), Support Services, Shelter, and Domestic Violence ($416,563), Youth, Young Adult, and Family Support ($672,848), and General Services ($677,800). There's additionally a $365,760 reserve set for county departments managing Outside Agency Programs with other sources, which include contributions from the Pima Association of Governments, as per the report from the county's newsroom.
The Outside Agency Program is overseen by an advisory committee composed of members who are representatives appointed by the County Administrator and each Supervisor. The larger framework of support is constructed by the County’s Attractions & Tourism Department, which also helps manage the Outside Agency Program. The department had its contribution of $400,000 approved on June 18, 2024, for nonprofit agencies to foster tourism, a key aspect for the vitality of Pima County. This patchwork of funding coalesces into a support system for crucial community needs, embodying the strategic alliance between public governance and civic compassion in Pima County.
