The Executive Director of West Central Community Action (WCCA), based in Harlan, appeared before the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wed.) morning, to present his annual report and request for continued funding. Joel Dirks asked the Supervisors for $4,000 funding in the upcoming Fiscal Year, which is the same amount he asked for last year. The Supervisors took Dirks funding request under advisement. Funds provided by the County provide a local match for some of WCCA’s federal programs and assist in supporting the organizations’ efforts to maintain safe and affordable office space for local outreach centers.

WCCA provides services for Cass and nine other western Iowa Counties. Dirks said in Fiscal Year 2015, WCCA provided more than $1.57-million worth of services to residents in Cass County. Dirks said the report, which covers a period from Oct. 1st, 2014 to Sept. 30th, 2015, shows 516 client households comprised of 1,149 individuals, received services over the past Fiscal Year.

$1.32-million was provided to Cass County by WCCA in the form of direct client program services. And, the organization incurred $250,902 in administrative and program delivery costs, for Cass County.

WCCA operates three Head Start classrooms in Cass County, located in Anita and Atlantic, serving 57 children. And, they coordinate with Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R), to help people who care for and about children, as well. Other services they provide include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 410 households in Cass County received LIHEAP assistance in FY2015, for a total of $184,100. Assistance was also provided in the form of the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low income households increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Eight households in Cass County received nearly $69,670 worth of help in that area from WCCA.