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Newport council votes to apply for ICMA economic mobility special-assistant grant
Summary
Council authorized staff, in partnership with the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County, to apply for an ICMA grant that would fund a two‑year senior-level special assistant position whose salary would be covered by the grant; city would likely cover benefits if awarded.
The Newport City Council voted to authorize city staff, in partnership with the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County, to apply for the International City/County Management Association Economic Mobility and Opportunity (EMO) Special Assistance Program.
The application would seek funding for a two‑year, senior‑level “special assistant” position whose salary would be fully covered by the ICMA grant; the city would likely be asked to cover employee benefits if awarded. The motion to apply was moved by Councilor Rumigo and seconded by Councilor Hall, and council members voted in favor.
Why it matters: Grant funding would bring dedicated staff capacity to coordinate cross‑departmental work on economic mobility — including housing, transportation, childcare access and workforce development — areas city and county leaders said are key barriers for residents earning around the ALICE level (asset‑limited, income‑constrained, employed).
Paul Skydama, executive director of the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County, told the council the role is intended to “un‑tease that Gordian knot of stackable challenges,” citing barriers such as lack of childcare, transportation and training that often overlap for households. Skydama said Newport’s median household income (about $57,000) and local job mix — concentrated in food service, accommodation, government, education and retail — make the city a strong fit for the program’s aims.
City staff said ICMA’s grant would fund the special assistant’s salary but not benefits. Staff estimated the city’s share for benefits at roughly $45,000 and proposed splitting that cost among the room tax, general fund and urban renewal fund if the grant is awarded. The council heard questions about recruiting locally versus hiring an external candidate and about how the city would sustain the work after the grant term; staff said the grant application requires a sustainability plan and that sustaining the work (not necessarily the position) must be addressed in that plan.
Councilors asked about the program timeline and budget impacts. Staff said the ICMA grant cycle would occur over the next few months and, if awarded, benefits would be included in a supplemental budget package in the next fiscal year. The council voted to proceed with the application.
Provenance: The discussion and motion appear in the meeting transcript beginning with the staff introduction of the ICMA program and public comments on the item, and concluding when the council voted to authorize the application.
