Garden City discusses Neighborhood Learning Center funding

During an update and check-in with the Garden City Commission at a monthly town hall Tuesday, the Cultural Relations Advisory Board’s Allie Medina asked the commission for direction, including whether the board should offer grant funding opportunities for organizations like the Neighborhood Learning Center or Ethnic Empowerment Network.

The Neighborhood Learning Center, a resource center in the Garden Spot Rentals apartments off Mary Street that has provided health screenings, basic English classes, citizenship prep, life skills and a wealth of other services for local refugees and immigrants for six years, will close at the end of June unless it secures new funding to cover the $128,000 to $130,000 it takes to operate per year.The LiveWell Finney County Health Coalition, which funds the center, is currently looking for grants and other sources to save the center, said LiveWell executive director Callie Dyer, but Medina asked the commission what the city or board’s role could be in the center’s continuation.