- December 28, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
As the Volusia County Council was getting ready to approve over $2 million in ECHO grant award funding on Tuesday, March 19, one council member raised a question about a specific applicant: the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA.
Councilwoman Deb Denys pointed out that with this approval, the county will have funded over $1.4 million in ECHO funds benefiting just the Ormond Beach facility since 2013. In past years, the YMCA has applied for about $205,000 in ECHO funds for facilities in the west side of the county.
“I think the numbers speaks for themselves where the priority has been," Denys said.
The latest $400,000 ECHO grant will help the Ormond Beach YMCA facility build a fitness trail around its perimeter, as well as add a computerized gate, a security camera and lights for the dog park, according to the county's ECHO application review.
Denys said she plans to work to make sure the Southeast Volusia YMCA facility gets funding in the next ECHO cycle for a much-needed upgrade.
“This is an organization that’s supposed to represent the entire county," said Denys, later adding that she looks forward to working with the YMCA to ensure it does.
On behalf of the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA, Teresa Rand told the council that the reason they focused on the Ormond project was because they had enough private donations to have match money. This hasn't been the case in some of the other areas in the county. Denys said she would be willing to help with this.
“The Ormond project has been on the board’s radar for five years, and it’s been a massive project," Rand said.
