Look for Profiles 2011 in the Sunday, Feb. 27 edition of the Austin Daily Herald. Read about dozens of inspirational community members and standouts in the 84-page special section on Sunday.

ALBERT LEA — A budget proposal by President Barack Obama includes a 50 percent cut to a federal grant that provides senior services programs, homeless assistance programs and translation services in seven southeastern Minnesota counties, including Mower.

Semcac Executive Director Wayne Stenberg said the nonprofit typically receives a $651,000 Community Service Block Grant from the federal government; however, what the president has proposed would cut in half.

State grants for the programs also face potential cuts, Stenberg added.

He said the proposals come as there has been a 56 percent increase in the number of people in the area struggling from tough economic circumstances since 2000.

More than 24,200 people in Semcac’s service area are struggling to get by on incomes of less than $10,000 for an individual or $22,000 for a family of four, he said.

“All of those things are affected in some way or another,” Stenberg said. “We as an agency will have to look at the cuts to decide which programs have to go and which ones have to stay because something has to give at one point.”

There may even be a possibility of some of the organization’s contact centers closing. The contact centers are located in each of  the counties and provide information on the organization’s services.

“It would be harder to reach the community,” Stenberg said.

According to a news release, Semcac has operated in the area communities for 45 years.