by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Fourteen non-profit social service organizations will share nearly $4.4 million in county funds approved Monday by Hamilton County Commissioners. The annual allocations, payable after Jan. 1, are granted to agencies that perform services for the public.

The money supplements budgets of private groups whose work might otherwise have to be undertaken by local government. The County Council appropriated the funds to agencies that request assistance. Good Samaritan, which provides food and clothing to the needy, will receive $50,000. The Hope Family Care Center will get $15,000. Chauice’s Place, $30,000; Meals on Wheels, $10,000; Prevail, $180,000; Prime Life Enrichment, $240,000; The Shepherd Center, $40,000; Trinity Free Clinic, $74,000; and The Youth Mentoring Initiative, $10,000.

Organizations with county contractual agreements include Cherish Center getting $30,000 and Hamilton County Humane Society, granted $122,000.

Matching grants were approved for Janus Development’s Hamilton County Express public bus system operations fund for $386,095 and the Hamilton County Express capital fund for $33,720.

Aspire mental health service was allocated $2,284,432, which is mandated by state law, and Janus $775,000, also a statutory amount for handicapped development.

The Hamilton County Leadership Academy, Conner Prairie and Invest Hamilton County economic development project submitted applications but were not granted funds.

In other action Monday, Commissioners revealed they have received six responses to a Request for Proposals for a new parking garage in Noblesville planned along Clinton Street between 8th and 9th streets. The proposals will be reviewed with possible awarding at their next meeting.

The multi-level garage is part of a major city-county downtown redevelopment project announced earlier. It includes selling the county’s current parking lot south of Conner Street for a major mixed-use development. The deal includes the city paying the county $4.5 million for the Conner Street lot and giving the so-called Armory Lot on the north side of Logan Street to the county.