Community Foundation of Pulaski County Addresses Critical Local Needs with State Grants

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFoPC) is celebrating the successful completion of two state grants totaling just over $1 million. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration grants addressed two critical community needs identified in local planning efforts: reliable child care for working families and substance misuse recovery support. Initiatives stemming from these grants will benefit Pulaski County children and families through expanded child care options and help around 3,000 Pulaski County residents with enhanced substance misuse support programs.

Throughout the CFoPC's 28-year history as a trusted steward of charitable resources in the county, the organization has consistently demonstrated fiscal responsibility and transparent operations. CFoPC also maintains National Standards accreditation, a rigorous certification affirming financial security, transparency and accountability held by fewer than 200 community foundations nationwide. CFoPC Executive Director Leeann Wright says that when it comes to the two FSSA grants, the foundation's role is clear.

"After nearly three decades of managing charitable funds in this community, we've learned that the best grant programs aren't just about moving money from point A to point B," she explains. "They're about understanding what Pulaski County actually needs and making sure every dollar works as hard as possible toward that goal. When FSSA chose us to administer these grants, they weren't just trusting us with dollars – they were trusting us with our neighbors' futures, and that's a responsibility we take profoundly seriously."

Child Care that Works for Families and Employers

The FSSA Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grant, which concluded successfully on May 31, shows what can happen when state resources meet local commitment. The $750,000 in state funding was fully expended and leveraged an additional $92,000 in employer contributions, strengthening and expanding a support system of qualified, reliable child care providers serving working families across the county.

The grant dollars, which were specifically awarded to create new programs, addressed critical child care gaps in Pulaski County in several ways. Nearly $200,000 went directly to tuition subsidies for families using registered and licensed providers, making quality care more affordable for working parents.

The remaining $550,000 provided startup support for two new, critically-needed facilities in areas where options previously did not exist. The funds covered everything from rent and utilities to toys and curriculum materials for Francesville's Caterpillar Corner and the Winamac Early Learning Academy. This is opening the door to transformative improvements in access for Pulaski County families.

The $92,000 in local employer matching funds showed that Pulaski County businesses are ready to invest in solutions. Companies like BraunAbility, one of the county's largest employers, made financial commitments that were key to securing the FSSA grant. These local matching funds provided additional support for employees and day-to-day support for providers, strengthened the Pulaski County Early Learning Network's coordination efforts, and established CoShare, a collaborative program designed to help area businesses invest in their workforce by making child care more affordable for employees.

"As both an HR professional and a parent, I've seen how child care challenges affect our entire community, " said Kathy Ruff, human resources assistant at BraunAbility. "When we lost two major child care programs in our area, it impacted nearly 150 children and created real workforce challenges for employers like us. We had parents who couldn't return from leave because they had nowhere safe and reliable to take their kids. That's why BraunAbility was eager to be part of the solution by helping fund this grant. These new child care spots aren't just helping individual families. They're helping stabilize our local workforce and giving parents the peace of mind they need to focus on work."

Wright says the grant does more than just help the families seeking child care today. It creates an infrastructure that benefits the whole community well into the future. "What I love about this grant is that it wasn't just about throwing money at a problem," she explains. "It was about building something that would last after the grant ended. We're not talking about temporary fixes here. We're talking about a support structure that will serve families for years to come, helping more parents get to work and more kids get the early learning they deserve."

Addressing the Rural Realities of Substance Misuse

The FSSA Matching Opioid Grant, which concluded in late July, tackled the complex challenges of substance misuse in a rural community. Spending was restricted to initiatives included in the Community Action Plan, which was approved by FSSA and developed by the Drug-Free Council in partnership with CFoPC.

Grant spending focused on four key areas: support for a Community Navigator and School Liaison Officer responsible for collaboration with local schools and community stakeholders on prevention and intervention programming; the establishment of a Drug Treatment Court; technology infrastructure to help programming succeed; and the Intrepid Phoenix fitness-for-recovery program, which provides gym access to those seeking recovery as well as digital recovery support tools that help identify early warning signs of potential setbacks and allow for timely interventions by clinicians and support networks.

The programs established through the Community Action Plan operate entirely through volunteers and grant funding, meaning thoughtful contractor selection and thorough policy development were key to future success. CFoPC was able to spend about 72% of the roughly $400,000 awarded through the FSSA grant–the remainder was clawed back by the state of Indiana. The funds utilized went toward creating programs and initiatives to serve more than 3,000 members of the Pulaski County community.

"Rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to substance misuse programs," Wright says. "Sometimes the things that make our community so special–everyone knows everyone, the strong family ties, that small-town feel–can also make it harder for people to reach out for help."

The nuances of rural Hoosier culture are just one piece of the puzzle. "We can only move as fast as the community can move," Wright remarks. Setting up programs like the Drug Treatment Court takes time, and getting a wide range of stakeholders, including county officials, schools, the health department and the Drug-Free Council, to agree on program details and roles and responsibilities for positions like a School Liaison Officer is a careful process.

Wright explains, "We did our best to work within those realities. We made sure every dollar went where it could do the most good."

Accountability and Transparency Guide Grant Management

Both FSSA grants came with specific, state-mandated spending requirements, guiding how funds could be spent. This framework of accountability meant that grant dollars addressed the real, identified community needs. It also created visibility into that work for state funders and local residents alike.

"I want folks to understand that these aren't discretionary funds," Wright notes. "We can't spend this grant money however we choose. The state sets precise rules about what these grants can and can't do. Our job at the Community Foundation is to be a good steward within those guidelines, and frankly, that's exactly how it should be when we're talking about taxpayer money."

Building on Success

The Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grant and the Matching Opioid Grant laid the groundwork for long-term solutions instead of temporary fixes.

"These grants got us started, but the real work continues," Wright says. "With child care, there are access and affordability challenges still to solve, especially given current state and federal funding fluctuations. On the substance misuse side, the Drug-Free Council is continuing to update its Community Action Plan so we can sustain and expand effective programs into the future and county officials are working to distribute opioid settlement dollars thoughtfully."

The success of both FSSA grants reflects CFoPC's broader commitment to working with leaders and residents throughout the community to inspire generosity and improve the lives of all those who live in and visit Pulaski County. By addressing basic barriers to family stability like access to quality child care and substance misuse support that respects the realities of rural life, these programs directly advance the foundation's vision of a community where every resident can learn, create, contribute, prosper, and reach their full potential.

When reflecting on the work that has been done, Wright is optimistic. "We've made real progress on both fronts, but more than that, we've shown what our community can accomplish when we work together. That gives me a lot of hope for what comes next."