Major money is headed toward several local groups.

The Austin City Council accepted several Hormel Foundation grants for city projects to start next year totaling $221,432.

Though seven projects appear to go unfunded for 2013, the foundation set aside four of the projects for potential funding through the foundation’s Vision 2020 funds: a $25,000 request for enhancements to the Cedar River and Mill Pond, a $15,000 request for a redesign to the city’s website, a $7,500 request for a bike safety helmet program, and a $50,000 request for a commercial/retail economic development fund.

The foundation adopted a new policy after getting city requests to set aside projects involved with Vision 2020 committees as special requests instead of annual city requests, according to Laura Helle, director of vision creation for Vision 2020.

Three projects were denied: a one-card feasibility study, tables and chairs for the Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, and a $55,000 request for a pedestrian trail at the nature center. The pedestrian trail request was withdrawn after a private donor stepped forward to fund it.

Projects that will receive Hormel Foundation funds

—$15,000 for the 2013 Freedom Fest

—$5,000 AMCAT dialysis route

—$3,750 for fire prevention and education

—$1,000 for Leadership Austin

—$100,000 for the Main Street Project.

—$12,000 for the fountain at Mill Pond

—$33,182 for the nature center’s education program

—$15,000 for the city’s Parks and Recreation department to replant trees

—$3,500 for police medical bags

—$25,000 for a police security camera program for the downtown area

Truth in Taxation planned for Dec. 4

The city of Austin will hold its annual Truth in Taxation meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 inside City Council Chambers.

The Austin City Council voted in September to increase the city’s tax levy by 4.6 percent next year, though that number could go down when the council finalizes its budget at the Dec. 17 city council meeting.

—For more from the city council meeting, including city appointments, approval of labor agreements and permission to Austin Parks and Recreation for a new ballpark, see the Tuesday print edition of the Austin Daily Herald.