County awards TANF funds to Compass, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Following a public hearing during their meeting this week, Sheridan County commissioners voted to submit applications for $70,000 in grants for Compass Center for Families and Greater Wyoming Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sheridan County for 2022.

The fund awards were based on requests from the two organizations, with Compass receiving $55,000 and Big Brothers Big Sisters $15,000. Funds are awarded annually through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Community Partnership Initiative.

Renee Obermueller, the county’s administrative director, said availability of the program was advertised, and Compass and Big Brothers Big Sisters were the only two applicants.

Motions were made by Commissioner Tom Ringley.

After that motion was approved, Ringley then made a similar motion on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a federal program that provides money to states, tribes and territories for a range of benefits, services and activities that address both the effects and root causes of poverty. The program started on July 1, 1997.

Both Susan Carr, executive director of Compass Center for Families, and Sandy Thiel, director of community engagement for Greater Wyoming Big Brothers Big Sisters, talked about their organizations’ activities during the public hearing. Sheridan Media will have stories on those presentations.