Council pulls Paramount Pursuits funding from the agenda after refugee resettlement agencies raise transparency concerns

City Council removed a contract item from the agenda and delayed a vote after refugee resettlement agencies and community service providers said they were not consulted about a proposed reallocation of funds to Paramount Pursuits.

Katie Kretz, executive director of the Multicultural Community Resource Center (MCRC), told council the three locally designated refugee resettlement agencies (MCRC, USCRI and Catholic Charities) were not invited to discuss the proposal and that Paramount Pursuits's role had been described previously as supporting new American entrepreneurs. "Quietly expanding the scope into direct refugee services without consulting the 3 local agencies who've been doing the work for decades, that is not collaboration. That is true exclusion," Kretz said.

Council administration staff and Council President Witherspoon confirmed during the meeting that the contract and a related transfer item had been pulled at the administration's request. Council later explained the funds had been allocated previously for small-business development and for Kiva matching/loan programs; the administration said it pulled the agenda item to meet with local refugee resettlement agencies and ensure coordination.

Council said Paramount Pursuits has worked with the city since 2019 on small business cohorts and that the city had intended to reallocate existing funding to expand services. Council said it will meet with MCRC, USCRI and Catholic Charities to discuss roles and whether the refugee agencies should be involved in the expanded scope.

No contract or reallocation vote took place at the meeting; the item remains postponed pending the scheduled follow-up discussions.