The Cole County Commission has approved agreements to provide funds to several nonprofit agencies.
The county provides the money not as a donation, which is prohibited, but through a contract.
For the past several years, the commission has used a provision in state law that allows the county to contract for services that benefit the general welfare of the public.
Any agency may ask to make a presentation to the three-member commission, which then reviews the contracts during budget time.
With some exceptions, most agreements do not require additional or specific services beyond what the agency routinely provides.
Past commissions have said doing this helps finance worthwhile services for county residents.
Those agencies the commission has approved funds for are:
• Homemaker Services, $7,500;
• ABLE Learning Center, $3,500;
• Senior Nutrition Center, $10,000;
• Habitat for Humanity, $10,000;
• CrimeStoppers, $2,000;
• Cole County Historical Society, $7,000;
• Central Missouri Foster Care, $5,000.