Editorials from The Roanoke Times -Behold the power of listening

Editorials from The Roanoke Times -Behold the power of listening: "Behold the power of listening

Roanoke City Council heeded the concerns of nonprofit groups and revised grant guidelines.


The Roanoke Times

Accountability is a fine tool. That's just what Roanoke was seeking last fall when it adopted stringent rules for agencies seeking city grants.

The city did not expect the backlash from 70 or so nonprofit groups justifiably angry that Roanoke didn't bother to ask for their suggestions in designing the rules.

The city's one-size-fits-all approach was tailor-made for the largest nonprofit groups. But the regulations swaddled smaller, neighborhood groups in so much red tape that qualifying for a few hundred dollars wouldn't be worth the effort."