Fort Smith staff presents draft grants policy; board directs further drafting and asks for public-facing transparency tools

Chris Hoover, the city—s grants and government relations coordinator, presented a draft grants policy intended to give city departments procedures and board oversight for pursuing and managing federal and private grants.

Hoover told the board the draft is meant to be a foundation for a grants-management framework, noting the city previously lacked a comprehensive policy. He said the draft draws on the OMB Uniform Guidance and practices he observed as a congressional staffer and that it should cover most funding opportunities while acknowledging some grants require case-by-case handling because of federal program rules.

Key elements in the presentation included a proposed threshold that would require explicit board approval for grants that exceed $75,000, grants that…