A group aiming to mentor and safeguard Hamilton County’s youth and steer them away from violence will receive a scaled-back grant after a contentious debate and vote by members of the Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday.
The commission voted 8-1 to offer the Light House Collective $100,000 in a one-year grant.
The resolution initially would have given the group $300,000 over a three-year period, but it was amended because some commissioners believed it would be better to scale back the commitment so they could monitor the collective’s work before deciding on any sort of extension.
Commissioner Greg Martin, R-Hixson, was the lone dissenting vote.
“I think the message [we’re sending] to nonprofits is to come down, the county commission’s got an open checkbook, and if you can present a case, they very well may approve it,” Martin said.