As is being reported here in the Twin Lakes area, many nonprofits across the state are facing uncertainty regarding the Trump administration’s recent freeze on federal funding. Among those are the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC), a Benton-based nonprofit alleviating the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential, and to build strong communities in Arkansas.
In an interview with KARK, CADC Chief Executive Officer Randy Morris detailed the confusing moments upon hearing the news. “Well, initially, when you hear about it, of course, any kind of freeze or anything like that. You are wondering, ‘Okay, what is it going to do to my agency? How is it going to affect my agency? How is it going to affect us being able to move forward with our mission?'”
According to the White House, there is not a pause on programs like social security, Medicare, food stamps, or student loans and scholarships, but the freeze sparked panic in many of the groups that depend on those funds to continue operations.
According to Morris, the CADC receives both state and federal funding to support its wide variety of programs that span 19 counties.
“I have reached out to our state funders just to get information about it; of course, they haven’t gotten all the guidance around it either,” Morris said.
Morris the importance of carrying on with business amid all the confusion.
“I know people are scared right now, they are worried right now, how is it going to affect the assistance that CADC does,” Morris said. “Right now we are going to continue to operate as normal, continue to move forward as normal until we find out.”
On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the move from the Trump administration minutes before it was scheduled to go into effect. For Morris, right now he plans for the CADC to proceed with operations and say only time will tell the extent this will affect nonprofits.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI