Delaware County authority approves $162,500 in one-time special grants, rescinds $12,500 PAIFUP award; approves two vendor invoices

The Delaware County Authority voted during its July meeting to approve six one-time special grants totaling $162,500 and to rescind a previously proposed $12,500 award to the Pennsylvania Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP). The authority also approved two vendor invoices related to public announcements.

At the meeting, the presiding officer moved to rescind the onetime $12,500 grant to PAIFUP for Delaware County residents; the motion carried after the presiding officer said the item had been placed on a prior agenda in error and had not been presented to County Council. The authority then approved a package of special grants that the presiding officer said are subject to County Council approval.

Grants approved (one-time special grants, subject to County Council approval): - $50,000 to Share Food Program for Delaware County operations. - $25,000 to Chester Eastside. - $25,000 to Murphy's Giving Market. - $25,000 to Chester Upland youth soccer. - $25,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Chester. - $12,500 to Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, for an American Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible path and ongoing maintenance enhancements at the children's garden in Smedley Park.

The authority also approved two invoices to Spirit Media Group: Desigra-11 for $192.70 (arts and cultural grant announcement) and cigarette-12 for $215.90 (municipal security camera grant announcement). The treasurer reported that both payments were approved and that motions to pay were carried.

Other routine business approved during the meeting included acceptance of the July 2025 minutes and the treasurer's report for the period ending July 31, 2025. The treasurer reported a beginning balance of $477,101.08, checks/payments cleared of $96,145.42 and interest/deposits of $668.17, resulting in a statement ending balance of $381,623.83. The authority also acknowledged a 2025 quarterly share deposit of $328,668.37.

Discussion and context: The presiding officer acknowledged putting the PAIFUP item on a prior agenda in error and said the authority did not have sufficient information to make that grant decision without County Council review. Several grant approvals were framed by the presiding officer as responsive to local needs such as food security and youth services; in some cases the authority had provided prior, smaller awards to the same organizations earlier in the year. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners grant was described as intended to improve accessibility at Smedley Park's children's garden.

Votes at a glance: All motions described above were reported as carried during the meeting. The transcript records aye votes and repeated procedural confirmations but does not provide a roll-call tally with individual named votes for each motion; the minutes should be consulted for detailed vote counts.

Next steps: All approved grants were noted as subject to County Council approval where required. The rescinded PAIFUP item may be considered again if and when full documentation and County Council presentation occur.