Milwaukee committee accepts state library grants, approves event grant applications and confirms several BID appointments

The Milwaukee Community and Economic Development Committee on Thursday approved two state-funded library grants, agreed to apply for Walmart-sponsored grants for neighborhood events and confirmed several appointees to business improvement district (BID) boards.

The committee voted, without recorded objection, to accept a $1.2 million State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction grant to continue the Talking Book and Braille Library program beginning July 1 and to accept a $263,000 state- and county-funded grant to continue interlibrary loan services for the coming year.

The library presentation came from Sarah Oshinsky, identified as the library's business finance manager, and Beth Book, identified as the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library manager. Oshinsky told the committee the talking book and braille program will continue under a state grant starting July 1; Beth Book said the program served almost 5,000 active patrons across Wisconsin in 2024, added 934 new patrons last year and serves about 445 institutional accounts including schools, senior centers and correctional facilities.

Committee members moved for adoption of both resolutions and, when no members objected, the chair ordered them adopted. The resolutions were introduced as items numbered 7250241 (talking book and braille library grant) and 8250242 (interlibrary loan service grant).

The committee also approved two substitute resolutions authorizing the city to apply for Walmart Cybergrants to support neighborhood events: a $10,000 application for the 2025 Back-to-School Festival sponsored by Alderman Mark Chambers and an application for Bronzeville Week 2025 sponsored by Alderwoman…