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Grants office keeps contract writing funds, warns of federal freezes and delays
Summary
The county grants office asked commissioners to retain a $25,000 grant-writing contract line, said indirect-cost recoveries should bring $70,000 in revenue, and warned that federal grant solicitations remain delayed after a DOJ freeze.
Bailey, who manages county grant programs, presented her office budget and told commissioners she had trimmed the grant-writing contract but recommended keeping $25,000 so the county can sustain competitive grant applications. Bailey said state-required travel and a subscription to the National Grants Management Association are included in her budget.
She reported estimated indirect-cost recoveries of about $70,000 from a range of existing grants, including CSBG, DOJ CIT training, SAMHSA, mosquito grants, SOR, TANF CPI and WIC. Bailey said the county has a policy to take 10% indirect cost on grants where allowed and that she expected that revenue to grow.
Bailey warned commissioners that some federal agencies had not released grant opportunities since a freeze in January; she said the Department of Justice had not posted solicitations and that several applications had been delayed. She asked for flexibility on some grant matches and for time to confirm awards before finalizing all budget lines.
On the Safe Streets planning grant, Bailey said the county partnered with the city on a countywide street-audit planning grant intended as a prerequisite for future DOT applications; the project totals $2 million and includes a city match. She said contracting for engineering and planning services is already budgeted in a separate line for consultant engineer Jake.
Bailey and commissioners discussed the Blue Sky and other matching commitments and asked staff to return with contract updates if DOT delays continue. No formal action was taken; Bailey asked commissioners to keep the grant-writing contract and match lines intact pending further notice from state and federal funders.
