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Brownfields board backs FY26 budget, recommends $1 million transfer to revolving fund
Summary
The Grand Rapids Brownfields Redevelopment Authority voted to advance its fiscal year 2026 priority plan to the City Commission, endorsing a budget that projects a roughly $4 million year-end operating fund balance and recommends transferring $1 million into the local Brownfield revolving fund to support grants and loans.
The Brownfields Redevelopment Authority voted to recommend its fiscal year 2026 priority plan and budget to the Grand Rapids City Commission, including a proposed $1,000,000 transfer from the operating fund to the local Brownfield revolving fund.
The recommendation came during the authority’s May meeting where staff presented operating and revolving-fund projections. Mackenzie Miller, staff member, said the operating fund is expected to end fiscal 2025 with a fund balance of about $4,000,000 and that the FY26 budget was prepared at appropriations equal to 85% of annual revenue to enable project approvals without returning to the board for each award.
The budget presentation said administrative costs ran below expectations, described as “under 5%” and “23% below budget” due to staff vacancies, and staff noted stronger program activity in 2024. The authority’s operating fund pays reimbursements to developers; staff reported 16 projects in calendar 2024 compared with six the prior year, and referenced two large transformational brownfield projects representing “almost 1,700,000,000.0 in private investment, 2,000 residential units and 2,300 anticipated new jobs.”
On the revolving fund, staff reported 11 projects in the most recent fiscal year and a projected $4,700,000 available for future grants and loans, primarily for emerging-developer grants and environmental site assessments. Staff again described the planned $1,000,000 transfer from the operating fund to the revolving fund to support those awards.
Board members asked about staffing and multi-year grant treatment. In response, Miller said an economic development coordinator position is posted through May 15 and an assistant director position was reposted; she said there was not a recommendation to add permanent staff in the FY26 request but that additional capacity is being considered. Christian, staff member, clarified the authority’s EPA grant awards are multi-year and that the budget shows full-year revenue and expenditures to allow flexibility if funds are spent in the coming fiscal year.
After discussion the board voted to move the FY26 operating and revolving fund plans forward to the City Commission for approval.
