Council authorizes $50,000 for grant‑writing efforts to pursue federal and state funding

The Oroville City Council approved a $50,000 allocation intended to give staff the ability to pursue grant opportunities, including the option to contract outside grant‑writing firms as needed.

Council members emphasized that grants are competitive and often require specialized writing and administration. The council discussed the Ferguson Group—currently contracted for federal advocacy at about $5,000 per month—which also provides grant monitoring and can assist with identifying opportunities, and considered whether to expand that role to include grant writing.

Speakers noted that grant applications can be time‑consuming to prepare and, if successful, often require significant local matching or multi‑year administration. One councilor cited Oroville’s recent engagement with the Army Corps of Engineers and said professional support helped the city position for large levy and flood‑risk grants.

Vote and context: The motion to fund grant‑writing activity passed with one recorded 'no' and one absent. Council directed staff to use the funds judiciously for promising opportunities and to return with specific grant proposals before committing large consulting contracts.

Next steps: Staff said they would vet opportunities internally, consult with the Ferguson Group and other firms as appropriate, and bring recommended grant applications back to council for authorization and any required matching commitments.