Baltimore City Council approves $500K for youth sports and $6M for summer jobs

The City Council of Baltimore convened on March 27, 2025, for a hearing focused on the Education, Youth, and Older Adults Committee. The meeting highlighted significant discussions regarding funding and support for youth programs in the city, particularly in light of ongoing fiscal challenges.

The session began with an announcement of an infusion of resources into the youth fund, which was met with enthusiasm from council members. The council president emphasized the importance of supporting Baltimore's youth, especially during these unprecedented times marked by political and economic instability. Concerns were raised about the fiscal stability of smaller nonprofit organizations serving youth, with specific reference to the challenges faced by groups like Fusion Partnership and Strong City.

Interim Deputy Mayor JD Merrill provided updates on new investments aimed at bolstering youth programs. He announced a $500,000 contribution from the Baltimore City Youth Fund (BCYF) towards a youth sports initiative, which aims to expand access to sports for students in City Schools. Additionally, Merrill confirmed a $6 million investment in the YouthWorks program, which provides summer jobs for young people, maintaining last year's employment levels of nearly 9,000 positions. Another $1.5 million was allocated to the mayor's summer youth engagement initiative, designed to reduce youth violence through outreach and support.

Councilman Torrance raised concerns about the accessibility of funding for small, grassroots organizations, particularly those led by community members who often struggle to meet the funding requirements set by City Schools. He urged for a commitment from City Schools to invest in these organizations, highlighting the need for a more inclusive funding ecosystem.

In response, Merrill assured that BCYF would establish a youth-serving athletics fund to facilitate grant applications for athletic organizations, which would also receive technical assistance. However, the ongoing challenges regarding funding eligibility and requirements for grassroots organizations were acknowledged as needing further discussion.

The meeting concluded with a recognition of the critical role that BCYF plays in the youth grant-making ecosystem and a commitment to continue addressing the concerns raised by council members. The council plans to follow up on these discussions as they prepare for the upcoming budget hearings.