ACCESS and Nevada Food at First shared an overview of how they’re serving vulnerable parts of Story County communities. The two nonprofit organizations gave reports to the Story County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning, explaining how they spent federal grant funds awarded through Story County.

The nonprofits were operating partially through federal grants provided to the county by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was passed in 2021. The act provided local governments with grant funding in two installments, one in 2021 and the other in 2022, with Story County receiving a total of $18.9 million.

ACCESS assists victims of crime

Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support (ACCESS) received $552,900 total in ARPA funding. Lisa Diggs, co-executive director and finance director of ACCESS, told the board that as of June, the organization had spent nearly $427,000 and will be spending the rest of the funds during the upcoming fiscal year.

“These funds have enabled us to provide direct financial assistance to victims of crime,” Diggs said. “Any type of violent crime that occurs within Story County, we are able to financially assist victims to relocate to a safe location or to provide utility assistance.”

She said funds allow the organization to provide shelter locations throughout the county. Currently, ACCESS has a duplex and two apartments that it provides to individuals and families in need of security. The organization also provides hotel stays when shelter locations are full, with stays lasting between a couple of days to two months.

“We just give them the opportunity, if they’re wanting to get out of an unsafe situation, that we give them the means to be able to do so,” Diggs said.

Diggs said ARPA funds also pay for staffers who run the shelter locations and work with those receiving assistance. ACCESS also has on-call responders who operate crisis lines and staff who remain prepared to go out and assist with a crisis anytime.

In the last year, ACCESS has:

• Provided $161,976 of direct financial assistance to victims of crime, including rent or utility assistance, $98,638 directly to Story County residents
• Provided $24,526 for hotel stays to crime victims in Story County for both short- and long-term stays
• Provided 3,444 sheltered bed-nights for individuals or families within the county

Food at First targets food access

Nevada Food at First, a nonprofit focused on improving food access, received $45,650 to promote nutritional security in eastern Story County.

Barbara Mittman, community meal coordinator for Food at First, said the organization has seen a 49% increase in the number of meals it serves since 2022. Meals are received by at least 394 households in eastern Story County.

Mittman said the increase could be attributed to reductions in other resources due to recent state legislation restricting eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other reductions in support.

In 2025, there were 351 to 383 meals served per night. Food at First operates primarily with rescued food donated by businesses and individuals in the community and relies on volunteers to operate.

Also noteworthy

• A declaration was made for June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. “I just want to express support for our neighbors, our community members, our family members and our loved ones, that Story County is and will continue to be a safe place for everyone,” said Supervisor Latifah Faisal.
• The board accepted a plan for a recovery and management site near Nevada that would serve a variety of purposes in the event of a disaster such as a destructive tornado.