Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

JACKSON – A few local nonprofit organizations will be getting a boost thanks to the Northampton County Board of Commissioners.

Since 2019, the board has approved including $20,000 in the annual budget to be distributed each year to nonprofits which serve Northampton County citizens.

Derrick Bennett, the county’s Economic Development Director, presented recommendations to the board at their regular meeting on Feb. 5 for which organizations should receive the funding.

“The [Economic Development] department took quite a bit of time to review each application in detail,” Bennett said.

He explained that they received several applications for consideration, which then underwent extensive analysis to ensure the organizations met the criteria for the grant award. That consideration included various factors such as social, cultural, and economic impacts.

This year’s recommended recipients were Garysburg Volunteer Fire Department ($6,000), Lake Gaston Community Center ($3,000), Concerned Citizens of Rich Square ($6,000), and Severn Ruritan Club ($5,000).

Bennett also explained what each organization planned to do with the funding.

The fire department will use funds for purchasing fire-related equipment such as helmets and hoses.

The community center will replace furniture, including folding chairs and tables, to improve their meeting space.

The Concerned Citizens group plans to use funds for stipends when they offer community classes in the future such as homebuyer’s programs, financial literacy, business development, and grant writing.

The Ruritan Club members will use their funds to purchase an emergency generator, since their building can be used as a shelter during natural disasters.

Commissioner Kelvin Edwards motioned to approve the grant recommendations, and Commissioner Geneva Faulkner seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor among those in attendance. Commissioner Melvetta Broadnax Taylor was unable to attend Monday’s meeting.

Board Chair Charles Tyner thanked Bennett for handling the applications, and noted that these funds are included in the budget every year. He also stated that each nonprofit is held accountable for the funding they receive.