Felix E. Martin, Jr. Foundation Appoints Local Task Force to Explore Economic Development & Youth Services
In addition to the Community Grants being awarded each summer, each year the Felix E. Martin, Jr. Foundation plans to award approximately $1 million in grants for the areas of Economic Development and Youth Services, the top two priority areas of community need identified by the 2008 Muhlenberg County Needs Assessment Study.

To accomplish this goal, the Foundation’s Board of Directors called together a Task Force of local representatives. The individuals selected to serve on the Task Force are Gary Carver, Lanie Gardner, Elizabeth “E.A.” Gentry, Mike Mercer and Peggy Williams

The function of the Task Force is to provide guidance to the Foundation’s Board of Directors for its major grantmaking. The Task Force will develop a plan to address these needs by exploring local resources and opportunities, then deciding which projects could be most effective. The Task Force will make its final recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors after looking at the overall needs and priorities of the County as they pertain to Economic Development and Youth Services. The Task Force plans to develop a five-year road map of how best to address the areas of Economic Development and Youth Services in Muhlenberg County.

To assist them in their efforts, the Task Force has appointed two sub-committees, one to focus on economic development and one to focus on youth services. The economic development committee includes health care administrator Roger Arbuckle, educator Randy McCarty, businessmen Clarence Brewer, Jr., Lee Fauntleroy, and Kevin Scully, as well as Muhlenberg County Industrial Recruiter Kim Logsdon, and Muhlenberg County Judge Executive Rick Newman. The Youth Services committee includes representatives from Muhlenberg County Schools: Sandy Alward, Kara Bletzinger, Rick Carver and Gail Johnson, in addition to community representatives Alexis Albach, Chris Dennis and Pastor Kevin Brown. The committee is also proud to have the County’s youth represented by Muhlenberg County High School seniors and STAND members Jessica Anderson, Johnny Bilbro, Lauren Sparks, and Elizabeth Tarter.


2009 Task Force Grants
In May 2009, upon the recommendation of its local Task Force of advisors, the Board of Directors of the Felix E. Martin, Jr. Foundation announced the first of the Foundation’s major transformational change grants. The first grant from this million-dollar pool was a $500,000 grant to the Muhlenberg County School Board to expand the new auditorium planned for the Muhlenberg County High School, West Campus from 500 to 800 seats so it will be large enough to host community events and programs. The new facility will be named the “Felix E. Martin, Jr. Hall.”

If you would like to propose specific ideas or projects for the Task Force to consider, please download this form and answer the questions.  Once completed, you may mail your form and responses to the Foundation or e-mail it to info@felixmartinfoundation.org.