In February, I sponsored and passed a Resolution recommending that the Kentucky General Assembly pass legislation to address treatment for heroin addiction and increase penalties for heroin trafficking, as heroin addiction knows no socioeconomic boundaries. I would like funding directed to rehabilitation programs in county jails, community mental health centers and non-profit agencies addressing heroin addiction.  I would also like to see increased penalties for heroin trafficking as heroin unlike other recreational drugs is different in that heroin kills.

Attending small city meetings and neighborhood association meetings, I have heard many concerns from residents regarding vandalism break-in thefts that are on the rise. Louisville Metro Police Department representatives at these meetings attest that the rise in heroin addiction is the biggest reason for the spike in these types of crimes.

According to the Kentucky Office for Drug Policy, overdose deaths from heroin increased from 105 deaths in 2012 to 191 deaths in 2013 in Jefferson County.  In addition to the human toll this is taking on our community, the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections has seen a 16.71% increase of the intake of detox patients.  The annual inmate healthcare budget for Metro Corrections is now in excess of $9 million of the total $54 million operating budget.  Twenty-one of my colleagues have signed on to co-sponsor the resolution.  As a Council, I feel it is important to encourage the General Assembly to pass meaningful legislation that will help our communities address heroin addiction. 

Louisville Metro Government is now accepting External Agency Fund applications for FY16 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016) from non-governmental, or "external” agencies, that contribute to the city's cultural, social and economic vitality. 

Louisville Metro Department of Community Services (LMCS) administers the Social Services funding program, and Louisville Metro Department of Economic Development, Louisville Forward, administers the Arts and Cultural Attractions funding program. The External Agency Funds are awarded annually to non-profit organizations offering programs or services in Louisville/Jefferson County that align with the departments’ missions and strategic goals.

Qualified non-profits committed to providing services that achieve meaningful outcomes for Louisville citizens in the following key areas are encouraged to apply:

• Decreasing homelessness;
• Increasing household financial stability;
• Increasing youth, teen, and/or young adult engagement
• Increasing access to services and resources for a targeted population.

An Arts and Culture agency is a non-profit committed to providing arts and cultural attractions to the Louisville community. Eligible arts and cultural agencies should ensure that they align with one of the primary focus areas:

• Providing quality arts and cultural attractions to all in our community;
• Increasing awareness and appreciation of various arts mediums; or
• Broaden and diversify the demographics of those who participate in arts and cultural attractions.

Louisville Metro Government employs a competitive granting strategy and strives to award funding to agencies that demonstrate measurable positive impact in the community and are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Successful grantees will be required to report on their success in meeting goals and outcomes.

The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 13, 2015 by 5 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by an External Agency Fund Panel and recommendations will be made for inclusion in the FY16 Metro budget. To gain access to the current applications, as well as a listing of previous recipients, visit http://louisvilleky.gov/government/external-agency-fund.

Please submit all questions to EAF@louisvilleky.gov. 

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and March 6 is Dress in Blue Day.  Join the statewide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screenings by wearing blue that day and encouraging those around you to get screened.  Other steps you can take to fight colon cancer include talking to your family about any history of polyps or colon cancer, asking your doctor about the right time for you to be screened, and volunteering for the cause.  You can contact the Colon Cancer Prevention Project at 290-0288 or info@c2p2ky.org to learn more.