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Shelby County committees recommend funding for local nonprofits, approve delinquent‑tax parcel sales
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Summary
Committees advanced several grant recommendations — $25,000 to Myat Mustard Seeds Foundation, $10,000 to Vitalant, an amended $31,000 committee total for Slave Haven — and approved the sale of 37 delinquent‑tax parcels collectively reported at $247,020; all items received favorable committee recommendations.
Shelby County committees advanced a package of small grants to local nonprofits and approved sales of county‑owned delinquent‑tax parcels during committee hearings.
Land Bank: Esther Sykeswood, Land Bank administrator, presented a report on the sale of 37 county‑owned delinquent‑tax parcels. The packet recorded total back taxes of just over $400,000, a collective asking price of about $189,706 and a collective sales figure reported as $247,020. Commissioners approved the item with a favorable recommendation.
Grant awards and presentations:
- Myat Mustard Seeds Foundation: Stanley Campbell, founder and director, outlined plans to expand museum and cultural programming and requested $25,000 from the Milton Community Enhancement Program. Commissioners approved a favorable recommendation.
- Vitalant (community blood bank): David Williams, Vitalant Memphis regional executive director, asked for support for a Mother’s‑Day campaign and requested $10,000 (Vitalant noted substantial in‑kind contributions). Commissioner Wright moved to add $3,000 to help reach that goal; after amendment the committee recorded a favorable recommendation for $10,000 in county funds.
- Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum: Elaine Lee Turner, executive director, described two years of closure after a fire and said the museum needs funds to replace damaged artifacts, upgrade exhibits and restore operations. Commissioners contributed amendments during the hearing (one $1,500 add, then a $2,000 amendment) that moved the committee recommendation above the original $27,500 request; clerks recorded the committee total as $31,000 and issued a favorable recommendation.
Two additional items were read into the record awarding $10,000 each to the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association and the Elite Performance Foundation; those items were reported with a favorable recommendation.
What to watch: commissioners encouraged remaining colleagues to add contributions on the consent agenda and asked staff to bring final budget amendments on Monday. Several presenters said they would welcome follow‑up and site visits after funds are finalized.
