Lexington HIV prevention group AVOL Kentucky not included in mayor-backed ESR grants list, citing funding gap

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, acting through Mayor Linda Gorton’s office, released a recommended list of Extended Social Resource (ESR) grant recipients last week, but a longtime HIV and STI prevention provider says it was left off the funding slate that totals just over $5 million. The list covers 34 recipients and is pending approval by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, according to WKYT.

WKYT reported that AVOL Kentucky, which leaders said has received ESR funding for at least 10 years, was not included in the recommended grants. The station asked Mayor Gorton’s office why AVOL Kentucky did not appear on the list, and reported that Craig Cammack, a representative with the mayor’s office, said he did not have the details but confirmed the organization was not included in the committee’s recommended funding.

AVOL Kentucky’s leadership described ESR money as a substantial part of its prevention operations. Chief Development Officer Andrew Shayde told WKYT that for nearly 38 years, the nonprofit has provided free HIV and STI testing, education, and services aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness. He said the organization uses ESR grants to support core prevention work including staff and supplies, as well as testing kits.

Shayde said the loss of ESR funding would leave the nonprofit with a $96,000 budget gap. He told WKYT that the grant money in question made up about 18% of AVOL Kentucky’s prevention budget. Without that revenue, he said the organization is reducing its hours and had to let go of one employee.

The nonprofit said it is still carrying out testing and prevention services this year, even as funding uncertainty persists. Shayde told WKYT that AVOL Kentucky has provided more than 2,500 HIV and STI tests so far in 2026, and he described that figure as a marked increase compared with the same point last year, though WKYT did not complete the year-over-year comparison in the published report segment.

Under the reported process, the ESR grant list released by the mayor’s office moves forward toward a vote by the Urban County Council. WKYT’s reporting also indicated that the committee’s recommendations do not include AVOL Kentucky, leaving the organization to pursue other funding sources as it adjusts operations.

For residents who rely on local prevention and testing services, the dispute centers on the timing and mechanics of municipal grant distribution. If council approval follows the mayor’s recommendation as presented, AVOL Kentucky’s reduction plan could take effect alongside the council’s action, while the nonprofit seeks replacement donors to close the reported $96,000 gap.

In the immediate next steps, AVOL Kentucky’s ability to maintain full operating hours appears tied to whether additional funding can be secured beyond ESR grants before the reductions take hold, while the Urban County Council’s vote will determine whether the remaining grant awards proceed as recommended. WKYT did not report any specific appeals timeline for AVOL Kentucky or any alternate funding channel from the county within the ESR process.