FOLEY, Ala. - As budget season begins, more and more groups are asking for financial contributions from the city of Foley.

The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation made a request for an increase in the city's annual contributions to help sustain current programs and potentially begin new ones.

Terry Burkle, foundation vice president, asked the city to double its funding from around $25,000 a year to $50,000. The city has contributed $25,000 to the foundation for the past five years.

The funding, Burkle said, would be used to secure grants and sustain current programs that strive to help education within the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce sector.

"We have several that we would love to sustain," Burkle said, noting for many of the grants, the foundation must show matching funds.

The foundation, which was established in Sept. 2003, serves 6,000 students within the South Baldwin area and has 30 programs along with a full-time staff.

"We have invested a little over $2 million in the programs and services that have gone directly back into our schools," Burkle said.

Councilman Wayne Trawick said many groups are requesting funds from the city and the foundation will be notified of how much the city contributes when the budget is finished.

"We've got you in for some, but nothing has been approved yet," Trawick said to the foundation during the work session.

Donna Watts, president of the South Baldwin Chamber, said finding a source to continue programs is a necessity for the foundation, but Trawick said it "boils down to budget restraints.

"Personally, I feel we will grant them something," he said.