Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Council OKs $32,500 in Grants to 4 Groups : Palmdale: Nine nonprofit agencies had sought funds from the city, which has set up a formal process to deal with awarding money.

The Palmdale City Council has approved $32,500 in contributions to four local nonprofit organizations, the first funds awarded since the council adopted a formal process for dealing with donation requests.

The Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley, which provides assistance to youngsters who are victims of abuse, and the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council were each awarded $10,000 at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The Antelope Valley Committee on Aging was awarded $7,500 and the Friends of the Antelope Valley Indian Museum was given $5,000.

A spokeswoman for the museum made an unsuccessful plea for at least $4,000 more.

“We’re trying to get the most bang for the buck,” Mayor Jim Ledford said. “If we had an unlimited budget, we would try to throw money everywhere.”

Five other organizations submitted applications, including Partners for Infant Needs, Live Again Recovery Homes, Antelope Valley Boys and Girls Club, Palmdale High School Cheerleaders’ Booster Club and Palmdale Astronomical League.

The City Council earlier adopted a so-called “administrative instruction” regarding the donation of funds to nonprofit groups after having an increasing number of organizations ask for money. Requests came in throughout the year, long after the budget was adopted.

The city now accepts applications just once a year. A committee reviews them and decides how the funds the council has budgeted for donations should be divided among the qualifying applicants.