City Council Approves Allocation of Community Initiative Funds

Published on September 12, 2023

City Council recently approved a resolution authorizing a $311,500 allocation of Council Community Initiative Funds, which are comprised of marijuana tax revenue the City receives for local and state marijuana taxes. The City Council allocates the monies for projects and programs that support our local community and meet the Council Biennial Goals.

The following are the items that the funds will be used for:

$50,000 for after school and child enrichment programs at Santo after Rogue X opens - this funding will help with the furniture, improvements, supplies, and possible program funding for the Santo Center youth programs. As Rogue X opens in January 2024, it is anticipated there will be more room at the Santo Center which will allow for more early childhood education programs.
$50,000 for preschool program scholarships for the Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon - this funding will provide assistance to families in financial need by providing scholarships for the preschool program at the Children’s Museum.
$80,000 for an art project for the front of Rogue X - this funding will support a one-of-a-kind art piece at the front entrance of Rogue X. The process will involve the Public Art Selection Committee.
$4,000 for a high school art contest for Medford schools - this funding will support marketing materials, prizes, and the printing and framing of the top ten pieces of art. The top ten winners of the contest will have their art displayed in City Hall.
$50,000 for Rogue X swimming scholarships - all fourth graders in Medford will receive free swim lessons at Rogue X, and this funding will allow older children who missed the fourth-grade window to also enjoy swimming lessons at no cost. Funding will be provided to the Medford Parks & Recreation Foundation (MPRF), which will assist in leveraging additional donations for swim scholarships.
$17,500 for YMCA improvements - a fire alarm notification system for the YMCA Youth Center on Roberts Rd. This facility will provide childcare and pre-school programs for an area of Medford that lacks such facilities and will operate Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$25,000 for the expansion of events in downtown Medford - the goal is that when event coordinators request funding from the City, they will be referred to Travel Medford to apply for event assistance.
$35,000 to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern Oregon (CCCS) to assist people who are at risk of financial distress that leads to homelessness - the $35,000 would be combined with other funds to provide financial education and credit counseling programs at no cost to those who are at risk.