OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, approved the first amendment to a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) agreement with the Marion County Sexual Assault Center, Inc., providing an additional $75,950 in funding to expand services to include domestic violence support.
According to supporting documents contained within the agenda packet, the amendment increases the total CDBG Public Services (CDBG-PS) funding for the center to $175,950 for the period ending Sept. 30, 2026. The original $100,000 agreement was approved by the Board on Oct. 7, 2025, to provide wrap-around services for victims of sexual assault, including a 24/7 crisis intervention hotline and trained advocates.
The new funding will specifically support the expansion of services to include domestic violence victims, aligning with the center’s ongoing transition toward becoming a dual-certified provider for both sexual assault and domestic violence services in Marion County. As part of this transition, the Marion County Sexual Assault Center has publicly rebranded as Lotus Marion.
The funding comes from the county’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Action Plan for CDBG, HOME and ESG programs, which the board approved in August 2025 as part of the broader FY 2024-28 Five-Year Consolidated Plan, according to the agenda item.
The budget impact is neutral, as the funding is grant-provided and does not exceed the additional $75,950 amount.
The Marion County Sexual Assault Center, located at 1121 SW 1st Ave. in Ocala, provides crisis intervention, advocacy and community education focused on sexual violence. The expansion comes as the organization works to broaden its trauma-informed services for survivors in Marion County.
For more information or to access services, visit the Marion County Sexual Assault Center/Lotus Marion at marionsexualassaultcenter.org or call its 24/7 hotline at 352-633-5563.