Refuge BG receives $75,000 from Warren County Fiscal Court

WARREN COUNTY, Ky. – Bowling Green has been home to thousands of refugees from all around the world, fleeing violence and persecution and making sure these new residents have the tools they need to succeed can be pricey.

Today at the Warren County Fiscal Court, the county provided refuge BG with $75,000 to help them continue their mission. This money, which helps them with the larger workforce development grant, is key to ensuring everybody has a shot at the American Dream.

“It is a reimbursable grant. It means that you have to have the money spending and then ask for reimbursement, but has a nonprofit, we didn’t have those funds. So we city and the county was kind enough to us to say, we support you, we like what you’re doing. And then this is what we’re going to contribute so that this project will be successful for our city” said Daniel Tarnagda, CEO of Refuge BG.

That money goes a long way to helping refugees overcome trauma, cultural differences, navigating a new country and many other obstacles can be difficult when trying to help families become self-sufficient.

“We’ll find a family. We’ll talk to them about the program and we say, look, this is what we want to provide for you, but you got to do the work because it is all about them taking the initiative. Being able to work, and be out of the government assistance, and be able to provide for themselves, be able to be self-sufficient. That’s what is the most important thing that we try to work with all those refugees that we work with” Tarnagda.

The Bowling Green community, though, has done an excellent job accepting these new members of the community making sure their experience is safe and friendly as they adjust to their new life.

“You know, I would never want to go nowhere anytime. Even when I drove. I’ll go to another state. I feel like I’m not comfortable because here I’m comfortable because I know I’m safe. I can leave my car unlocked. I can leave my door unlocked. Nobody’s going to touch it because people in Bowling Green that don’t see how someone from another country they see us as a person of Bowling Green, a citizen” Tarnagda said about the Bowling Green community.

Tarnagda said he would like to work with more manufacturing companies in the community as well. He says that many refugees coming into Bowling Green have skills that are compatible with manufacturing jobs in town. Skills like HVAC, welding, and many others are common among new Americans.

Recently Refuge BG has made plans to work with Graves Gilbert Clinic to help refugees who have medical training find jobs in the medical field here in south central Kentucky.

If you would like to learn more about Refuge BG you can click here.