The Charles County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 2 to allocate an additional $265,000 to the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) for fiscal year (FY) 2013.
In a memo this past spring sent to then-County Administrator Rebecca Bridgett, CSM President Bradley Gottfried outlined the three areas of the La Plata campus where the additional funding would be applied.
Part of the additional money would be used for operating a new and expanded business building, another portion would be used for the creation of a “diversity institute” and $40,000 would help establish and operate a facility to aid the county’s nonprofit organizations.
In his memo, Gottfried said the diversity institute was needed to address “pressing social issues that are facing Charles County.”
The nonprofit institute, stated Gottfried, was necessary “to address critical needs of nonprofits” and aid those entities so that they would “run more like businesses.” The college president said the institute would work with Charles County nonprofits “to develop management, leadership skills and fundraising skills.”
Gottfried indicated the nonprofit institute could serve as a prototype for other such facilities across the nation.
“We feel the need is here,” said CSM Board of Trustees President Austin J. “Joe” Slater.
“It’s important that we are helping move the college forward,” Commissioner Debra Davis [D-District 2] remarked.
Commissioners’ President Candace Quinn Kelly [D] noted that Charles County Government gives grant funding to several nonprofits.
On another matter, Commissioner Ken Robinson [D-District 1] asked Gottfried about CSM’s search for land to be used for an additional campus. Gottfried said that it is his goal to have a conversation with government officials in Charles and St. Mary’s counties about identifying a parcel for the additional site prior to Christmas. “It has to be a partnership,” said Gottfried.
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