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Tuscaloosa finance committee approves four grant authorizations, including $40,000 arts award
Summary
The finance committee approved four grant-related measures: a $40,000 Alabama State Council on the Arts award for the Chief Tuscaloosa Project, authorization to apply for a JAG grant for a police vehicle and mobile data units (city share $63,610; county share $17,463), a $15,000 Safety First hazmat equipment grant, and a $2,500 America250 AL grant for a river celebration. All were approved by voice vote.
The Tuscaloosa City finance committee approved four grant-related items in a short session, authorizing budget or application steps for arts programming, public-safety equipment and a community celebration.
Miss McIntyre, a city staff member, told the committee the city had received a $40,000 award from the Alabama State Council on the Arts for the Chief Tuscaloosa Project and that staff would create a $40,000 revenue line and add $40,000 to the project’s expense line. "We have received a grant award from the Alabama State Council on the Arts for the Chief Tuscaloosa Project. It's in the amount of $40,000," she said. Committee members confirmed the award is separate from a recent fundraiser.
The committee also authorized staff to apply for the annual JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) program to fund an outfitted vehicle and mobile data units for the police. "This is authorization to apply for the JAG program. This is an annual grant we apply for," Miss McIntyre said. The transcript records the city portion as $63,610 and the county portion as $17,463; the total award figure is truncated in the record (recorded as "$81,73") and is therefore not specified in the minutes. Chief Sanders clarified that the grant would cover an outfitted Tuscaloosa Police Department (TPD) vehicle and mobile data units (MDUs).
For emergency equipment, the committee approved applying for the Safety First grant to purchase hazmat equipment. Miss McIntyre said the requested amount is $15,000 and that the grant requires no city match. Chief Delt joined the presentation; speakers noted the city has received similar grants previously but the transcript contains inconsistent statements about whether this is a first-time application.
On community events, the committee authorized staff to apply for a $2,500 America250 AL semiquincentennial community grant to support the Celebration on the River. Miss McIntyre and Dr. Day (participating remotely) said the grant could help with items such as fireworks. A committee speaker estimated the overall annual event cost—factoring fireworks, symphony, security and venue costs—at roughly $125,000, and the discussion noted that neighboring Northport has expressed interest in hosting a separate event.
All four items were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records "All in favor say I," with committee members responding, but it does not include a roll-call tally of individual votes. With no other business, members moved to adjourn.
The approvals authorize staff to add the arts grant to the budget and to submit applications for the JAG, Safety First and America250 AL grants. Staff will carry out application steps and follow up with the committee as required by the city’s grant-application process.
