Oversight committee finalizes ARP obligations, extends nonprofit contracts and funds mayoral grant team pilot

The COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee met Sept. 12 and moved to obligate the remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds while approving a series of contract extensions and reallocations intended to keep existing projects on track.

Committee Chair (Speaker 1) opened the session saying, "This has been a very long road, and we are getting really close to the end," and noted that most ARP dollars were already allocated but that several partners requested time or intra-program shifts so they can use previously assigned funds.

The committee approved an internal request from the Office of Family Safety to transfer $99,930 from its emergency fund (originally set at $200,000; $157,000 remained as of Aug. 8) and $32,480 from a nonprofit contract fund to continue case managers and extend three nonprofit contracts (Agape, NCA and an assault services provider) beyond their Sept. 30 expiration so the organizations can spend funds already on contract. The motion to approve that transfer and extension passed by voice vote, recorded as 6 in favor, 0 against.

Another small-dollar extension approved would allow an affordable-housing partner to retain $60,000 for furniture for a delayed house without incurring storage or delivery fees; that motion passed by voice vote. The committee also extended the Big Brothers Big Sisters contract through June 30, 2025 so stipends tied to the academic semester can be spent.

On larger reallocations, the committee returned $500,000 that had been held back from the Strobel Center (originally reserved pending a request from a new immigrant services effort) after the potential recipient declined the funds. "The need is still there," Speaker 1 said, and the committee voted to restore the Strobel allocation.

The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) asked to shift $5.6 million within a Casey neighborhood project. The original $13.3 million for Casey had been split into a $7.5 million sewer-separation line and a $5.8 million water/sewer/roads/sidewalks line; MDHA has spent roughly $1,987,000 on construction documents and says actual construction costs exceeded early projections. The request moves $5.6 million from the sewer-separation bucket to the water/sewer/roads/sidewalks work so the second project can proceed sooner; the committee approved the internal reallocation, 7-0.

Transit funds for HBCUs were also adjusted. The committee had previously allocated about $400,125 to Meharry, TSU, Fisk and American Baptist College for free WeGo rides, with fixed amounts assigned per school. Because Meharry approached exhaustion of its allotment, the committee voted to remove fixed per-school dollar caps and allow the remaining balance (approximately $159,000 as of June 30) to be accessible by any of the four schools through 2026. The change will be implemented as an amendment to the original resolution.

Marjorie (Speaker 6) presented a separate proposal to seed an Office of Advancement and Strategic Partnership inside the mayor's office to centralize grant writing, philanthropic outreach and grant-application coordination across departments. Marjorie cited Detroit and New York examples and told the committee the office could generate revenue to cover administrative costs. She said Detroit’s team "has touched over $1,500,000,000 on behalf of the city," a figure she used to illustrate scale and potential. Committee members asked about placement (mayor's office vs. finance), hiring deadlines (the committee must obligate the hires by Dec. 31, 2026 deadline for obligations tied to ARP), and whether the pilot could become a standalone department if it sustains itself. The committee approved the one-time funding to pilot the office.

Finally, the committee identified roughly $39,708 in unallocated dollars and moved to obligate them to expand the REACH crisis-response pilot (a mental-health-focused response run through fire/OEM) and, if REACH objectives are met and additional funds remain, to cover public health and safety salaries or help procure an ambulance with wheelchair capability. The motion to obligate the final balance passed by voice vote (7 in favor, 0 against). Speaker 1 explained that after the Nov. 5 council resolution consolidates these changes, the finance department would retain authority to shift funds among already-obligated items without further committee votes, provided the changes remain within previously obligated scopes.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to transfer $99,930 (emergency fund) + $32,480 (nonprofit contract fund) and extend three Office of Family Safety contracts — Outcome: approved (6–0). - Extension to allow $60,000 for furniture for a delayed house (Our Place) — Outcome: approved (voice). - Big Brothers Big Sisters contract extension through 06/30/2025 — Outcome: approved (voice). - Return $500,000 to Strobel Center (reallocation) — Outcome: approved (6–0). - MDHA internal shift of $5.6M within Casey projects — Outcome: approved (7–0). - Amendment to lift per-school caps on HBCU WeGo funding (allow shared access to remaining ~$159,000) — Outcome: approved (voice). - One-time funding to pilot Office of Advancement and Strategic Partnership — Outcome: approved (voice). - Obligate final $39,708 to REACH and public health/public-safety salaries/ambulance needs — Outcome: approved (7–0).

What’s next

Committee staff will compile 09:30 balances for interagency agreements, draft a consolidated council resolution for the Nov. 5 meeting, and post quarterly and annual recovery reports to the public website. The U.S. Treasury accepts nonprofit contracts as proof of obligation but not council resolutions; the interagency agreements will serve as obligation documentation for departmental funds that lack standalone contracts.

(Reporting note: article uses direct quotes and motions recorded in the committee transcript. Dollar amounts and dates are drawn from committee materials presented and discussed during the Sept. 12 meeting.)