By David Heiller

Argus News Editor

Semcac executive director, Terry Erickson, asked Houston County commissioners on February 8 to support a resolution to increase state funding to Minnesotaís Community Action Agencies.

State cuts to the Community Action Grant are hurting Semcacís ability to deliver service to Houston County, Erickson said.

The decrease in funds, which is coming despite a need for more funding, is putting a severe financial stress on households and communities, he said.

ìThe chances of those cuts being restored are not very good,î Erickson admitted. But he added that more cuts probably wonít be made, which he said is good news.

The board passed the motion. Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher said that lawmakers are promoting the JOBZ program but are cutting funding to agencies like Semcac that are working and helping people.

ìItís just political chicanery,î he said. ìI think we need to support those things that work for us.î

Erickson also introduced Semcacís new community development director, Wayne Stenberg.

Stenberg is working on things like subsidies to make homes more affordable to first-time buyers. Money is also available for home rehabilitation and new construction, he said. He hopes to get more money to Semcac from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

Bluff Country Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, which Fillmore and Houston Counties belong to, will help with that, he said.

Semcac, which is based in Rushford, is a Community Action Agency serving Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower, Winona, Houston and Steele Counties, with additional programs available in Goodhue, Rice, Wabasha and Olmsted.

It has an office in Caledonia which houses a food shelf and the Head Start program.

A lot of information on Semcac can be found on their website, www.semcac.org. Stenberg can be reached by phone at 507-864-2440.

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