City acccepting applications for youth program funding

The city is currently accepting applications to fund programs serving children and youth in the San Marcos area during the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year.

 Applications must be turned in to the Grant Harris, Jr. Building, 401 E. Hopkins, by noon on Feb. 18. Applications can be downloaded from the city's website.

To qualify for funds, agencies must:

• Establish that it is performing a needed service that meets the needs of one of the Priority Areas in the Youth Master Plan
• Execute an agency agreement with the San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth
• Have measurable goals and agree to undergo periodic program evaluations by the San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth or city staff

Money for these programs is allocated each year by the city council to the Youth Services Budget. The San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth will recommend which applicants will receive funding, with a maximum of $5,000 per program. Past Funding Recipients include: Texas State University, Community Action, Inc., Girls Empowerment Network, San Marcos Housing Authority, United Way of Hays County, and the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce.

The San Marcos City Council adopted the Youth Master Plan in 2013 as an action plan to bring vision, resources and community commitment to improve outcomes for children and youth.

The Youth Master Plan offers a long-term vision for how San Marcos can improve family, community and school support and build a stronger future for our youth. It focuses on ways we can help our children succeed in school, in their physical and social development, vocational preparations and becoming the new generation of leaders.

The city supports local agencies that provide valuable services to the community through multiple funding sources including Human Services Social Services funding, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Youth Initiatives funding.  It is the city’s policy that each program can be funded during any fiscal year from only one city funding source.  Agencies can submit only one application per program to the city funding source of their choice.  An agency can submit applications for multiple programs to the same funding source.

City funding may not exceed 50 percent of the funding sources for applicants. For additional information, contact Jessica Ramos, Youth Services manager, at 512-393-8283 or jramos@sanmarcostx.gov.