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Council approves splitting remaining $15,000 CDBG allocation between two chambers for small‑business training, amid invoice confusion
Summary
Council approved staff's recommendation to split the remaining $15,000 in CDBG funds for small-business education between the Southern Georgia Black Chamber and the Valdosta‑Lowndes County Chamber, while noting unresolved prior invoices and directing staff to reconcile past payments before future disbursements.
Council considered two draft memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to provide small‑business education and technical assistance under the city’s CDBG action plan. Staff recommended splitting the remaining $15,000 in the CDBG economic development allocation between the Southern Georgia Black Chamber (digital marketing, AI, outreach) and the Valdosta‑Lowndes County Chamber (bilingual services).
Celine Gladwin (chair, Valdosta‑Lowndes County Chamber representative in public comment) clarified the $15,000 originates from the city’s annual action plan and described a longer history of city‑chamber partnership. Several councilmembers raised concerns about unpaid invoices and inconsistent prior payments; staff and chamber representatives discussed whether $10,000 payments are issued semiannually and whether prior invoices from 2024 had been paid.
After extended debate about past invoices and internal accounting, council voted to approve staff’s recommendation to commit the remaining $15,000 and split it evenly between the two chambers for future services, while directing staff to reconcile outstanding invoices and report back. The action was recorded amid some procedural confusion and a tied vocal count during the meeting; council clarified that only the unallocated $15,000 was before them and that past payments would be separately reconciled.
