Submitted by the Town of Friday Harbor.

Town of Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan has sent a financial assistance package in support of the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center to the Town Council for their consideration at the Aug. 5 council meeting.

The Town recently received $357,589 as a first distribution from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The monies allocated from Congress can be used to reimburse the Town for lost revenues during the pandemic, to support economic stabilization for households and businesses, and to solve public health and economic challenges that impact certain populations.

“I believe that the highest priority for use of these monies should be to assist the Family Resource Center and their programs,” said Ghatan. “There are other important projects to consider, but none more urgent than the needs the FRC has currently.”

The proposal being forwarded includes $20,000 for Access to Behavioral Health Counseling, $35,000 to help fund a Peer Support Counseling employee for the next 18 months and $5,000 for the Island Neighbors Support for Vulnerable Islanders. Each of these programs has the support of FRC Director Jennifer Armstrong.

The Town Council will take up the Mayor’s proposal at noon on Thursday, Aug. 5. The agenda and related materials will be posted on the Town website at www.fridayharbor.org.