The Champaign City Council voted to continue funding for the CommUnity Matters during its study session Tuesday night.

CommUnity Matters is a partnership between the city, Champaign Park District, Unit 4 School District, Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club and United Way to address youth issues identified by residents and police officers in the Garden Hills neighborhood. Since its creation in 2007, the program has expanded its activities and opportunities to other targeted neighborhoods.

Juvenile arrest rates are down 24 percent in the Garden Hills neighborhood. The GPA of high school students who have participated in the program since it started has also increased.

Students from different high schools in Champaign, including Champaign Central and Centennial, expressed their gratitude for the program. Students spoke about how the program has helped them get jobs, apply and get accepted to college and stay out of trouble.

“I’m just tickled to death over all of the ways everyone has worked together to make this successful,” said Karen Foster, council member at-large. “It’s a real joy to be on council and help provide some of this funding.”

Funding for CommUnity Matters is supported by a federal community development block grant, and the city budgeted about $300,000 for the program. Coordinators for the project expressed their concern of federal funding being cut. They have been looking for alternative services, such as grants from outside sources, to make up some of the lost funding.

However, the council expressed their support for the program and looked to continue its expansion into the future.

“This is a model that can be used in different neighborhoods throughout the city,” said Deborah Frank Feinen, council member at-large. “Continue to dream big and to start thinking about that next project.”

Mayor Jerry Schweighart said that it was refreshing to hear some of the positive things the city has done.