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Council advances community-development grants and raises Kroger closures concern
Summary
Council adopted a Community and Economic Development Committee report authorizing CDBG reprogramming, HOME-ARP affordable housing allocations, resilience grants and several BID appointments; Alderman Brower flagged Kroger store closures and urged exploring municipal or cooperative alternatives for underserved neighborhoods.
The Milwaukee Common Council adopted the Community & Economic Development Committee's recommendations, which included reprogramming Community Development Block Grant funds, allocating HOME-ARP funds for affordable housing, and accepting a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant. The committee also recommended several appointments and reappointments to business improvement districts and approved funding for neighborhood events.
During the discussion, Alderman Brower noted that Kroger had not responded to a committee communication about store closures and expressed concern about supermarket access in underserved neighborhoods. He urged the council to explore models used in other cities — including municipal operations or cooperatives — to sustain grocery access in neighborhoods affected by corporate closures.
The committee report was adopted on a roll call (14 ayes, 1 excused). Council members encouraged continued monitoring of reprogrammed block grant funds and noted the importance of directing community development dollars toward affordable housing and neighborhood supports.
