The Olympia City Council approved $1.3 million in cultural grants, supporting 60 local arts and heritage organizations through the Inspire Olympia program.
At a presentation at the city council on Tuesday, June 3, Inspire Olympia Program Manager Marygrace Goddu detailed the funding breakdown, highlighting that 80% of the cultural access tax revenue will directly support local organizations.
The projected income for 2025 is $3.1 million, with funding divided into two pathways: a two-year comprehensive contract up to $75,000 and an annual impact funding pathway up to $30,000.
Melissa Meade, Chair of the Cultural Access Advisory Board (CAAB), explained the rigorous review process. Two six-person panels, including community volunteers, spent moe than 20 hours individually reviewing and scoring applications. Organizations were evaluated on programming merit, community engagement, equity, youth programming and organizational capacity.
Of the 60 applicants, 24 are new to the program, 28 provide youth programming, and at least four offer field trips.
"The 60 applicants represent an array of local organizations that celebrate minority groups, serve at-risk youth, engage senior citizens, and bring our community together in curiosity and exploration," Goddu told the council members.
The total combined request from the organizations was $1.6 million. To stay within the budget, the advisory board recommended not to spend more than $1.3 million in the 2025-26 program year.
The funding recommendation includes $375,000 specifically for school cultural programming. In its first year, the program made transportation reimbursements that supported 119 bus trips, taking more than 5,000 students from elementary and middle schools to activities and field trips.
"In addition to funding transportation, Inspire Olympia's cultural access programs for the schools provide an additional reimbursable amount to organizations hosting field trips," Goddu said. "Transportation and field trips are offered at a reduced cost or even free for Olympia School District students."
Meade presented the board's recommendation for awarding grants based on review panel scores:
"The CAAB believes that this outcome is fair and generous in the right places. It will fund half the applicant organizations at their full ask. It recognizes organizations that put in real effort into planning strong programs that engage the community, and still offer support to organizations who have room to improve their programs," Meade explained.
Council member Clark Gilman asked how the program supports groups that received partial or no funding.
Goddu said the impact funding pathway was designed with equity in mind, offering more flexibility for smaller or emerging organizations. She added that Inspire Olympia offers year-round training, workshops and mentoring to help build nonprofit capacity.
Editor's note: This story has been updated.
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Southsoundguy
Bad welfare.
Monday, June 9 Report this
HappyOlympian
This does sound like a very odd mix competing for the same funding. If the funds come from taxpayers on any level, every application should be posted somewhere for public inspection with very specific reasons listed as to why groups received funding while others did not.
Monday, June 9 Report this
MindyOrk
Clark Gilman, can you please assist us with initiating the resignation of INTERCITY TRANSIT CEO, Emily Bergkamp. She has long supported and encouraged extremely cruel, racist, gestapo tactics--weaponizing white supremacy-against black bus riders, black women commuters and black activist. Giving FAVORTISM and IMPUNITY to white homeless, drug addicted, mentally ill, sexual predators and career criminal riders (some straight out of prison in mason county) who are monopolizing the entire Thurston county bus system. Meanwhile, affluent and educated black people are stalked, harassed and banned by Intercity transit. I personally, have been brutally targeted and hasrassed by racist Intercity transit bus drivers and particularly- supervisor Susan for many years. Ruthlessly and relentlessly targeted by supervisor Susan and other INTERCITY TRANSIT-EMPLOYEES- doing racist retaliation tactics, JUST FOR EXISTING (after REPORTING HORRIFIC HUMILIATION, DISCRIMINATION AND RACIST TARGETED ABUSED TOWARD BLACK PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY). We are receiving false accusations in retaliation, for reporting discrimination. And escalated targeting of black people. Just in the community, as pedestrians, while not even taking the bus. We are OVERTLY tracked, monitored and followed in supervisor INTERCITY TRANSIT- supervisor vehicles to our home and slandered in our community. Slandered to Intercity transit bus drivers, to initiate illegal bans from the public bus. This has gone on for years. And both CEO, Emily Bergkamp and supervisor Susan have been hiding behind black female Intercity transit employees, who are acting as white supremacy-sympathizers and supporters. To invalidate our numerous complaints of horrific discrimination and overt racial targeting, monitoring and harassment of black people who ride the bus. I have not rode the bus due to their illegal bans simply for my free speech advocacy OUTSIDE OF THE BUS SYSTEM. Overtly targeted, monitored, harassed and banned for my civil liberties- free speech opinion, complaints and or activism in my own community. Yes, banned from the bus for civil liberties unrelated to even taking the bus. Every constitutionalist should be outraged. I live in a remote area of Hawks prairie- surrounded by police and agents in my community- We don't need Intercity transit WHITE SUPREMACY-GESTAPO acting like police troopers. As black a senior aged black woman, I have been followed around my neighborhood by Intercity transit- corporate supervisor vehicles, to prevent me from taking the bus. When I am just walking in my own neighborhood. Just walking for exercise or going to the store nearby. This has been deplorable and unacceptable that our public funding is supporting these klux klux clan member intimidation tactics. What does imitating police troopers- monitoring and harassing innocent black people, just walking down the street in their community, doing stake outs and persuits, HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR **PUBLIC**BUS SYSTEM. Acting as both agent PROVACATEUR, and racist, white supremacy- counter protester, ON THE CLOCK. Protesting Our mere Existence in our own community. Tax paid, TREASONOUS. white supremacy-gestapo. I want accountability for these racist- publicly funded, yet corporate managed and privately supported white supremacy criminal syndicates. Intercity transit receives funding to provide a service to the community- while giving FAVORTISM and IMPUNITY to white homeless transients that do not contribute to the community. As far as cultural events, such as JUNETEENTH, I will not be "allowed" to participate. I will be stranded, indefinitely, without transportation, as a physical disabled, sight impaired, black, senior aged, woman. Since Intercity transit CEO, Emily Bergkamp, feels black people who practice their constitutional right of Free speech- outside the bus system- don't have the right to ride the bus home after their activism.
Tuesday, June 10 Report this
JW
And I thought Boatyard was nuts....
Tuesday, June 10 Report this
wolfmanner
More money wasted for the demented left. Olympia is an embarrassment to everything American.
Tuesday, June 10 Report this
HotTractor
SSguy sounds like he's afraid of everything.
Thursday, June 12 Report this