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Council, applicants flag executive‑order concern: DEI language may need removal from grant applications
Summary
Multiple speakers said a recent directive requiring removal of “diversity, equity and inclusion” language from grants could force the city and committees to rewrite applications; staff and applicants said the issue is appearing at regional boards and may affect grant reimbursement review.
Multiple council members, committee participants and applicants raised concerns about a recent directive they said requires removing “diversity, equity and inclusion” language from grant applications, and they discussed potential impacts on local grant paperwork and reimbursement.
Speakers said a letter circulated to committees and state agencies indicates reviewers may deny reimbursement if grant applications or documentation use language referencing diversity, equity or inclusion. Council and applicants said the issue has come up at regional bodies such as the Transportation Policy and Regional Planning Commission (TRPC) and the Intercity Transit authority and that some local grant proposals may need redrafting to comply with the directive.
Applicants and council members said rewording grant documents is time‑consuming but may be necessary to secure funding; one applicant said she had not personally seen the directive in committee materials and advised staff to track the issue across applications. Staff said the city will need to review pending grants and may rework language to meet reviewers’ requirements where necessary.
No formal council action was taken; the topic was discussed as an emerging constraint on grant writing and a subject for staff follow up and committee review.
