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 Connors. Chambers told the committee Walmart has been a strong partner for the Back-to-School Festival and that the program is an opportunity for the city to receive a $10,000 grant through Walmart’s application process. Bronzeville Week organizer remarks indicated the event runs August 2–9 and that the Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District is marking its 20th anniversary this year. Both substitute resolutions were moved and approved with no objections; they appeared as items 9250322 (Back-to-School Festival) and 10250323 (Bronzeville Week).

As part of the Bronzeville Week agenda the committee approved a resolution to include the Harambee 5K Walk/Run for Healthy Birth Outcomes as an official Bronzeville Week event. Organizer Tonda Thompson described the 5K’s origins and partners and said this is the 10th year of the Harambee 5K; she provided a registration link (nchbfinc.org/harambe5k) and said teams receive discounted registration. The Harambee resolution was introduced as item 11250324 and was adopted without objection.

The committee also considered multiple mayoral appointments to local business improvement district boards. The body confirmed Timothy Baldwin to Business Improvement District No. 8 and Carrie Janovich to Business Improvement District No. 26 after each applicant described their neighborhood ties and interest in serving. Several other appointments were held at the request of committee members or the chair for future consideration; those items were not acted on at this meeting. Appointment items referenced in the meeting included 1250185 (Michael Wesley, BID 39) — held; 2250303 (Shane McAdams, BID 4) — held; 3250304 (Timothy Baldwin, BID 8) — confirmed; 4250305 (Clarice Allen, BID 16) — held at the call of the chair; 5250306 / 5250307 variations for Garvin/Gavin (BID 26) — moved and confirmed or held depending on the applicant’s ability to participate; 6250307 / other entries for Carrie Janovich (BID 26) — confirmed. Committee actions on appointments were recorded as motions for confirmation and, when there was no objection, the chair ordered them confirmed.

Committee members and staff emphasized outreach and promotion for the approved events. Alderman Chambers noted the Back-to-School Festival will be held Aug. 24 at Indigenous Peoples Park, 7401 W. Cortland Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. Bronzeville Week sponsors reminded the public that the city provides a GiveMKE donations portal on the milwaukee.gov website for official city events.

The meeting concluded after committee members moved multiple items to be held at the call of the chair and after the chair adjourned the session.

Votes at a glance - Item 7250241 — Resolution to accept State of Wisconsin DPI grant to continue the Talking Book and Braille Library program (approx. $1,200,000): adopted, no objections recorded. - Item 8250242 — Resolution to accept state and Milwaukee County Federated Library System funding for interlibrary loan services (approx. $263,000): adopted, no objections recorded. - Item 9250322 — Substitute resolution authorizing application for Walmart Cybergrant for 2025 Back-to-School Festival (application for $10,000): adopted, no objections recorded. - Item 10250323 — Substitute resolution authorizing application for Walmart Cybergrant for Bronzeville Week 2025 (amount not specified): adopted, no objections recorded. - Item 11250324 — Resolution approving the Harambee 5K Walk/Run as part of Bronzeville Week 2025: adopted, no objections recorded. - Item 3250304 (and related) — Appointment of Timothy Baldwin, Business Improvement District No. 8: confirmed; mover stated; ordered by chair with no objection. - Item 6250307 (and related) — Appointment of Carrie Janovich, Business Improvement District No. 26: confirmed; mover stated; ordered by chair with no objection. - Several other BID appointment items (1250185 Michael Wesley; 2250303 Shane McAdams; 4250305 Clarice Allen; 5250306 Garvin/Gavin variants) were held at the call of the chair or returned to a future cycle.

Key quotes "We've been awarded a grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to continue the talking book and braille library program for the next year beginning on July 1," said Sarah Oshinsky, business finance manager for the library.

"We had almost 5,000 active patrons throughout the entire state of Wisconsin in 2024," said Beth Book, Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library manager.

"Walmart for the year has been a strong supporter of the district Back-to-School Festival," Alderman Mark Chambers said, describing the $10,000 Cybergrant application.

What’s next - Library grant funds begin July 1 under the state awards; the library will continue program operations and reporting per grant requirements. - If awarded, Walmart Cybergrant funds would be used to support the Back-to-School Festival and Bronzeville Week events; the city will complete the Walmart online application process. - Held BID appointments will return to a future committee meeting or be rescheduled at the chair’s discretion.