Oxford City Council approves 2027 Community Assistance Program funding

The city council also adopted multiple resolutions

The Oxford City Council allocated $161,000 in funds from the city’s Community Assistance Program and approved several other projects and resolutions during a regular meeting on Oct. 6.

Community Assistance Program

The Oxford City Council adopted a resolution that disburses community assistance funding to different groups around Oxford. The Community Assistance Program, which serves 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations in Oxford, has budgeted roughly $160,000 over the past few years to award to community nonprofits, according to the city staff report.

This year, requests for funding totaled $788,893, including:

• $65,000 from The Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services (TOPSS), which received $64,500 last round.
• $5,000 from the Oxford Free Clinic, which received $5,000 last round.
• $5,000 from the Knolls of Oxford, which did not receive funding last round.
• $15,000 from O.N.E. UNITED and the Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice (OCPJ), which did not receive funding last round.
• $10,000 from the Coalition for a Healthy Community, which received $10,000 last round.
• $29,300 from the Greater Oxford Community Foundation, which received $29,300 last round.
• $510,000 from the Oxford Community Arts Center, which received $10,000 last round. 
• $38,000 from Oxford Seniors, which received $29,100 last round.
• $86,593 from Thread Up Oxford, which did not receive funding last round.
• $10,000 from the Oxford Catty Shack, which did not receive funding last round.
• $15,000 from the McCullough-Hyde Foundation, which received $11,100 last round.

The Oxford City Council had $161,000 to award this year. The city council voted to disburse the allotted community assistance funds to the following groups:

• $5,000 to the Oxford Free Clinic 
• $25,000 to the Greater Oxford Community Foundation
• $10,000 to the Oxford Community Arts Foundation
• $55,000 to TOPSS
• $25,000 to Oxford Seniors
• $12,000 to the McCullough-Hyde Foundation
• $4,000 to the Oxford Caddy Shack
• $8,000 to the Coalition for a Healthy Community
• $11,000 to Thread Up
• $3,000 to O.N.E. UNITED and OCPJ
• $3,000 to the Knolls of Oxford

Members of the public spoke during the meeting about the importance of Thread Up in town. 

“Thread Up Oxford is a great big idea, and it’s trying to fill a great need in our community,” Genevieve O'Malley-Knight, an Oxford resident and board member for Thread Up, said. “But we are only a few humans, operating outside of our areas of expertise on a purely volunteer basis and with only ever-shrinking monetary resources.”

O’Malley-Knight added that Thread Up’s dedication is “big enough for the big idea and for the need.”

Shana Rosenberg, founder of Thread Up, spoke to the city council about where the organization is today.

“We now have a committed board, effective infrastructure and partnerships … and a much more focused mission,” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg said in the past year, Thread Up has more than doubled the assistance it provides through its voucher and community programs.

“People do believe in this work and want to keep us going on,” Rosenberg added. 

City Councilor Bill Snavely thanked the public for their comments while acknowledging the challenges the grant subcommittee had when choosing funding recipients and splitting funds.

“Our problem in this case is that we just didn’t have enough money in that fund to distribute,” Snavely said. 

Snavely recommended the city increase the amount of funding given to Thread Up.

The city council decided to discuss additional funding for the group during its operating budget work session on Monday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oxford Courthouse, 118 W. High St. 

Other news

The Oxford City Council also adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Verdantas, LLC, a consulting firm based in Dublin, Ohio. The firm will work with the city to create the Safe Streets for All Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. The contract will cost the city $250,000.

Michael Dreisbach, service director for the City of Oxford, said the group will go “far beyond” the standard, and the group will rely heavily on public input.

The city council adopted a resolution to apply for and accept a $250,000 grant through the Ohio Department of Public Safety for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). These funds will be used to “engage in and coordinate as (the) lead agency for the county-wide OVI taskforce,” according to the city staff report. 

Eleven other agencies in Butler County participate in this program, according to Oxford Police Chief John Jones.

Additionally, the city council adopted a resolution allowing the city manager to enter into an agreement with the American Ramp Company to construct a new skate park at the TRI Community Center. The project will cost $216,960.47, with a contingency of $8,084.00, totalling $225,000.

Chad Smith, parks and recreation director for the City of Oxford, spoke about the project.

“(It’s) a long time coming,” Smith said. “This project will be for a concrete skatepark … in the northwest corner of the property.”

The Oxford City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Oxford Courthouse, 118 W. High St.