(MANHATTAN, Kan. – July 10, 2023) — The City of Manhattan’s new Community Support Funds Advisory Board (CSFAB) is accepting online applications through Sunday, August 6 to request social services funding for the 2024 calendar year.

All information related to the application can be found on the CSFAB webpage.

At its June 27 meeting, the City Commission gave direction to allocate the following CSFAB funding for the 2024 budget:

• $557,500 in Social Services Funds from the City’s General Fund; and
• $515,500 in Special Alcohol Funds from the City’s Special Alcohol Funds.

Following the application deadline and an initial review of funding requests by the CSFAB, the board may schedule a brief opportunity for each applicant to present their application and answer any questions board members may have during the following CSFAB meetings:

• Wednesday, September 6: Special Alcohol Funds
• Wednesday, September 20: Social Services Funds

The CSFAB anticipates approval and a final recommendation of funding at its October 4 meeting, with City Commission consideration and approval following during its October 17 legislative meeting. Grant agreements would be executed in December for those agencies that are awarded funding.

In December 2022, the City Commission dissolved two previously established boards that made recommendations for use of these funds: the Social Services Advisory Board (SSAB) and the Special Alcohol Funds Advisory Committee (SAFAC). The governing body then created the CSFAB at the beginning of 2023 to oversee annual funding recommendations for both funding sources.

For 2024, applicants can choose to request either Social Services Funds or Special Alcohol Funds. “Social Services Funds” are what were previously allocated by the SSAB. “Special Alcohol Funds” are what were previously allocated by the SAFAC.

While Social Services Funds can be used broadly for general social services in the community, Special Alcohol Funds — which are derived from State of Kansas liquor taxes — must be used for the “purchase, establishment, maintenance or expansion of services or programs whose principal purpose is alcoholism and drug abuse prevention and education, alcohol and drug detoxification, intervention in alcohol and drug abuse, or treatment of persons who are alcoholics or drug abusers or are in danger of becoming alcoholics or drug abusers.”

Any questions regarding the application form and budget attachment, or other general questions, may be directed to the CSFAB staff liaison, Assistant City Manager Jared Wasinger.