Committee approves $2.05 million in CDBG reprogramming; youth council and community organizations receive awards

The Community Economic Development Committee approved allocations of $2,050,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) reprogramming funds and related awards, moving multiple community‑based programs and housing support activities forward.

Director Mario Higgins of the Community Development Grants Administration (CDGA) briefed the committee on the reprogramming process. Higgins said reprogramming reconciles prior awards and project closeouts to determine available funds; staffing shortages and pandemic‑era funds had previously increased carryover levels. For 2025, CDGA reported $2,050,000 available for reprogramming and recommended targeted allocations across housing, economic development and public services.

Major allocations included: a youth council reserve (the transcript shows an $80,000 ordinance reserve for the youth council), and the youth council’s broader allocation (the youth council reported $160,000 available overall, partly from prior allocations and reprogramming). The youth council elected to support suicide prevention (Pathfinders and Silver Spring Neighborhood Association) and homelessness intervention (Hmong American Friendship Association and Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center). The youth council also set aside approximately $30,000 for two Washington, D.C. trips (about $15,000 per trip) and used the remainder for awards to local organizations addressing youth mental health and homelessness.

Housing and repair allocations recommended by CDGA included a $100,000 recommendation to Milwaukee Christian Center for YouthBuild (the applicant requested $200,000), funding to supplement the city's owner‑occupied rehab program (NIP) to cover rising construction costs, and smaller awards to neighborhood repair programs (Bridal Builders, Westside partners). Economic development and public service recommendations included Bayview Community Center (kitchen/business capacity work), Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (business assistance), CampRise (job training/City youth program), Riverworks Financial Empowerment Center, and WestCare programs for youth violence prevention and job placement. The transcript records some applicants and neighborhood partners speaking in favor of awards.

Committee members raised questions about communication and timing: several aldermen said an updated packet posted Friday included a late addition (Havenwoods/Street Keepers) that they had not initially seen; staff acknowledged a missed email and committed to improved advance outreach. Alderman Chambers moved adoption; the committee approved the reprogramming resolution by voice and a roll call showed four aye and one no (the transcript records the motion passing with 4 yes, 1 no). Members asked staff to provide clearer documentation on why prior allocations were underspent and which groups had unspent balances so the council can diagnose trends.

The reprogramming resolution will fund neighborhood housing repairs, youth and workforce programs, and community public‑service initiatives; staff will begin procurement and coordination with awardees and return with required reports.