WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt County commissioners have released the last quarter grant funding in the amount of $12,500 to Sonoma Industries. The county committed the quarterly grants at budget time this year to keep Sonoma Industries financially solvent while the organization worked to return to self-sufficiency.
Sonoma Industries has been providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to gain work experience and contribute to their community since 1982.
Just before the last quarter of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, Sonoma Industries general manager Dawn West requested financial help from the Winnemucca City Council and Humboldt County Commission, saying that without that help the organization would have to close its doors.
Both local governments re-agendaed the request and asked for more information regarding the organization's financial situation. All recognized the need for the work done by organizations like Sonoma Industries to assist adults with disabilities; however, councilmen and commissioners questioned what had caused Sonoma Industries to go from financial solvency to being in need of a large infusion of local tax money.
Sonoma Industries has been able to meet the organization's stated goal of "Supporting individuals with disabilities to discover and achieve their dreams," in part through operation of their thrift shop on Bengochea Circle in Winnemucca, and through contracts with local business and individuals, which provide work experience to adults with disabilities.
The remainder of the income Sonoma Industries receives comes in the form of a state CTC allocation for Community Training Centers.
Dawn West, Sonoma Industries manager and Sherry Allen, who sits on Sonoma Industries Board of Directors, told the city council and county commission that the financial crisis had come about because donations and sales at the thrift shop had dropped (likely due to additional thrift shop competition), and local work contracts were also down. They said the state allocation was not sufficient to support Sonoma Industries' efforts.
Both local governments acknowledged the many years the organization has served in the community and responded to the request for taxpayer funding with immediate assistance for the last quarter last year ($5,000 from the city and $16,000 from the county).
The city and county also budgeted to assist Sonoma Industries for the 2012-2013 fiscal year ($5,000 from the city, $50,000 from the county) with the stipulation that it was a one-year commitment made with the expectation that Sonoma Industries would use that year to reorganize its business plan to increase revenue and cut expenses so that continued local tax funding would not be needed.
County Administrator Bill Deist clarified the county's position in February, saying, "Direction from the commission is there will be no more donation after this year."
Earlier this year, Commissioner Jim French reiterated the county's position saying, "We agreed to prop up Sonoma Industries this year." He added there were some "personal choices the organization has to make, but from our position, the assistance was for this year only."
Along with the year-long infusion of cash, commissioners asked Sonoma Industries representatives to come to the commission meetings quarterly to report on progress they were making. West and Allen gave their last report of the fiscal year to county commissioners at their July 1 meeting to secure the release of the final quarter funding from the commission.
West reported that she has requested a grant from a mining company but hasn't yet received an answer. She said efforts have been made to increase work contracts from local businesses and individuals (Sonoma clients wash windows, steam press tablecloths for restaurants, do yard work and other jobs). She also reported that donations and sales were up at the thrift store.
West said they are doing everything they can to cut expenses. Allen said they were disappointed to see that the governor's budget didn't include any increases in CTC funding for assistance to individuals with disabilities.
Both Allen and West told the commissioners they believed Sonoma Industries would be able to continue in operation for the coming fiscal year without local government tax funding.
French said there was no question as to the importance of the services the organization provides. Underscoring that, 12 of the individuals with disabilities who work with Sonoma Industries were at the commission meeting. Commission members said they were pleased that the financial situation is improving for Sonoma Industries.[[In-content Ad]]
