Advisory committee backs pause on 2027 grant round, proposes one-year food funding while program is redesigned

At a July 8 meeting of the Healthy Neighborhood Advisory Committee, staff presented a proposed redesign of the neighborhood grant program and the group signaled support for an interim plan to preserve basic services while the redesign proceeds.

Staff member Jessica told the committee the redesign process would run through the end of the year, with document creation (application, award guidelines and reporting tools) starting early next year and approvals targeted so a newly structured program could be ready by 2028. She described two short-term options under consideration: roll 2027 funds forward while redesigning the program, or keep some funding flowing in 2027 by designating money solely for food purchases to neighborhood pantries so services continue without requiring grantees to reapply.

"We would just say we're funding food pantries ... for this year, here's the plan," Jessica said, urging that pantries be allowed to budget only for food and report only on food distribution so staff and the committee can focus on the larger redesign. Her presentation included a timeline for stakeholder engagement with residents, departments and other funders and said final proposals would need council approval.

Committee members pressed for clear criteria that would make the redesign fair to both small, grassroots organizations and larger providers with multiple funding streams. Several members noted the difficulty of deciding who to fund when some organizations already have large annual budgets and others rely on smaller, local support. One member recommended a "single source of truth" document that would collect metrics such as prior-year donations, percent of program participants who are Fitchburg residents and how many times the city has funded an organization.

After discussion the committee coalesced around a compromise: rather than leave 2027 funding completely unallocated while the redesign occurs, it would direct staff to prepare materials to fund four food providers that together cover the program's four priority neighborhoods (staff identified Badger Prairie, Allied Food Pantry and River Food Pantry as examples during the discussion) for one year with funds restricted to food purchases and without requiring reapplication. Staff said the plan would be taken to the council for formal approval, and the committee would schedule a short meeting (including a possible Zoom option) to record an official vote.

The committee emphasized that the redesign itself would include neighborhood outreach sessions, coordination with other funders and department input to avoid duplication. Staff said the mayor is supportive of redesign work but that council buy-in will be necessary before any structural changes take effect.

Next steps: staff will draft the one-year food funding plan and a FAQ describing the redesign rationale and timeline, circulate those materials to committee members, and set a date for a brief meeting to take a formal vote to forward the plan to council.