By Gazette Staff - Oct 18th 2024
JANESVILLE
Family Services of Southern Wisconsin was reacting Friday to the news that it has been awarded a $2 million state grant to build a new resource center for families in need.
“This grant is a significant step in expanding our housing and on-site supportive services,” Kelsey Hood-Christenson, president of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin, said in a release Friday. “It ensures that the Next Steps Family Resilience Center will meet the needs of even more families, providing hope, healing, and long-term stability.”
Family Services of Southern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families facing trauma, domestic abuse, poverty, and other challenges. It provides housing, counseling, and advocacy services in Rock and Green Counties.
The Next Steps Family Resilience Center is envisioned to offer early childhood development programs, mental health services, family literacy support, and housing stability.
“These services are critical for families facing challenges, helping them build resilience and thrive within their community,” the release said.
In addition to Family Services, three other Rock County projects received funding through the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Non-State Grant Program.
Those 3 programs were the Children’s Museum of Rock County which got $600,000 to help build a museum in downtown Janesville; $1.75 million to the Boys & girls Club of Janesville to help it build a new facility; and KANDU Industries which got $1.2 million to help fund its expansion in Milton.
In all, the Wisconsin State Building Commission approved $50 million for 50 projects in communities across Wisconsin funded through the new Non-State Grant Program, which was created in the 2023-25 biennial budget.
“These grants are targeted at bolstering critical infrastructure and services across key sectors such as health and wellness, economic and workforce development, arts and culture, and public services. By investing in projects that address pressing community needs—from expanding healthcare facilities to supporting workforce training and preserving cultural institutions—this funding will have a lasting, statewide impact, ensuring resources are distributed fairly across both urban and rural areas,” a release said.
“Family Services of Southern Wisconsin is deeply grateful to the Wisconsin Department of Administration, the State Building Commission, and all the supporters of this grant application. With this funding, we are one step closer to building a brighter, stronger future for families across Rock County,” its release on Friday said.
View Article Here.