In an effort to support filmmaking in the Ozarks and not be embarrassingly out of touch with pop culture after the film’s four Oscar nominations, I recently watched “Winter’s Bone.”
The movie has a compelling story, nationally acclaimed performances and recognizable Missouri scenes. But for those who have not yet seen it, know that it obviously wasn’t produced by Tracy Kimberlin or any of his Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau colleagues. It portrays a gritty life in these rocky Ozarks hills with families struggling to get by on their thrift, bare-bone self-sufficiency (including field-dressing deer and squirrels) and heartwarming kindness of neighbors. Its characters face disturbing choices for situations not of their own making.
There are regrettable similarities between this fictional story and the 2011 federal budget for Community Development Block Grants.
In fiscal 2010, the city of Springfield received approximately $1.46 million in CDBG funds. President Obama’s proposed cut would result in a loss of approximately $110,000.
However, the budget recently passed by the U.S. House would result in a loss of approximately $1 million.
What’s at stake? Here are examples of local programs supported by CDBG funding:
- Salvation Army’s emergency social services;
- Boys and Girls Clubs’ community education project at Campbell and McGregor schools;
- Ozark Food Harvest’s weekend backpacks of food for at-risk children;
- Boys and Girls Town of Missouri’s Empowering Youth;
- Springfield Community Center’s Youth Partnership;
- Ozarks Regional YMCA’s Prime Time after-school care for working parents;
- Council of Churches of the Ozarks’ Handyman Services for seniors and the handicapped;
- Child Advocacy Center’s forensic interviewer; and
- Community Partnership of the Ozarks’ financial management course.
After attending the public presentations at City Hall last month for each of this year’s 22 applicants, the consensus was the needs of children, families and seniors in poverty are alarmingly real. The agencies are providing important nutritional, educational and vocational services for those looking for a helping hand, not a handout.
The Citizen Advisory Committee for Community Development worked with city staff to thoughtfully and conservatively pare down the $500,000 in requests to $292,798 spread across 15 entities.
In addition to the programs listed above, the city invests CDBG funds in low-to-moderate areas of our community for neighborhood planning, small-business development and more accessible sidewalks. Such programs increase civic engagement in areas of the most disenfranchised.
More cuts will be required. Federal spending must be curtailed in a meaningful way to not saddle future generations with even more oppressive debt. But in the en vogue hubris to rein in the last two decades of spending, who will be affected most? Will we ask them to ratchet down a little bit more or completely yank the safety net away?
Like “Winter’s Bone,” there is no happy ending, only the unwavering commitment to our brothers and sisters to see each other through a troubling time. May that be how we are best remembered.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.[[In-content Ad]]
