Transcription
[Music] You are watching Access Leaport County Channel 97. Coming up next is the May 27th special meeting for the Michigan City Urban Enterprise Association. You can find more information for this meeting by visiting www.acesslaport county. [Music]
All right, I call the Tuesday, May 27, 2025, special meeting of the board of directors for the Michigan City Urban Enterprise Association. I start with the roll call. Dakota present. Nick present. Jim here. Bruce here. Antonio here. Miss Willis here. Councilman Nelson present.
Our one and only item on the agenda is a neighborhood beautification partnership with the Michigan City Economic Development Corporation. So, essentially, they have the same style grant that we ran, except the city has allocated funds to them to the tune of $50,000, and they are asking us to partner with them on the projects being completed in the urban enterprise in Michigan City. So, they had reached out regarding the partnership and that aspect. Aaron had originally asked her if she'd come present, but she never got back to me on that. And they want to release the grant on Friday; that is when they want to release the application for the grant. So, I called the meeting to see if we were interested in partnering with them via the project.
So, just one applicant for the whole grant? Uh, no, no, no. They opened up the applications. Okay. The essentially the way it works would be a three-body committee, and then Aaron as the administrator; they were looking to have one Michigan City resident, one—I believe the Michigan City res—I think I believe it was Danny Hogan, and they said Keela Ward from workforce development up here in the city, and then they suggested one person from the urban enterprise. I was going to suggest Dakota Uler on the project—I mean, on the committee—staff work with them. They require applicants to apply and come in and present like we had here, except the only thing that's different is they are asking the applicants that apply for these projects to have 50% of the funds that they're asking for for their projects. That was the one thing that was different than what we had, and they will be using the scoring rubric sheet as another part of the process that we didn't have that they were using for their project.
So, what part were we playing in just giving somebody—just giving them somebody to be on the committee? They want—we were giving them one person from the committee, and we were paying half towards the projects that were being completed in the urban enterprise. Whatever set amount we decided—we decide we want to do it. Let's say we decide we want to do $3,000 towards the project; that's split it. We split the project cost that they're using—that the projects for that operating urban enterprise. That's the only—only way our funds can be spent. We would pay half the cost towards those projects.
Now, how much money was they given through the AR? They got 50 through the AR fund. From my understanding, it was 50,000. So, they give them 50, but—and they want us to collaborate with them and uh cut the cost and give them whatever halfway. Correct. Does that mean we're also coming up with 50? No, no, no. 50 was what they were giving overall total for the project throughout the city. They were asking us to partner with them on the projects that are being completed in the urban enterprise—inside the urban enterprise—inside the urban project. That's so basically it's going to extend the amount that the urban enterprise association can give towards projects, and essentially it's also extending what the city would essentially have to give towards projects elsewhere. It's like matching funds. Yes.
So, we agree to do 50/50, and then—but like, not to exceed, kind of thing. Yeah. Because—because what if they—what if they spent 40 of the 50 in the urban enterprise? Now we're on 40 grand like—so you have to have like a not to exceed, just because we don't know who's applying and who's not. I guess how much do we want to participate? That's the question. That's the question I was kind of laying out on the outstanding balance, and I think he gave it to everybody. It shows what we have outstanding still. We have the contract with Dan Boage that it was do not exceed $10,000 contract that we have not—we haven't been billed for yet. In our contract—I mean, in the office rental space with uh LA Investment for the remainder of the year comes about $2,640. CL, who we use for our tax returns and our QuickBooks, we have an outstanding bill of $200 with them. And then our executive assistant contract, the total out the rest of the year will be $21,000. And today, as of today, I believe the count stands at about $218,000. And then I think she sent out the funded projects. We have about $26,000 that we have allocated from the $100,000 that we allocated. And then you're set to start receiving the participation fees for this year, which I think everybody should have a copy from the last meeting, which—about 60 things like $16,000 that'll be coming in.
So, I mean, those are the numbers that where we currently stand. And I believe on the funded projects was everything that we had—everything that was—everything from the last meeting included in everything that had been approved, just not yet paid out correctly. Um, not everything from the—the last meeting. No, like everything up until—Yeah, everything from the previous two. So, not—not from—I haven't added anything from the last meeting because nobody's um project has been completed yet. Yeah, because we approved quite a bit last meeting. Well, I thought that had the total—I was going to say 40ish something thousand. So, the 26,000 remaining wasn't—wasn't the aggregate of how much we have left that we initially allocated for $100,000 for this current cycle. So, that—yes, that is what is going to be left for to give away for our next meeting. Yeah, I think I remember the email you sent. Yeah, it looked like that was including everything that we allocated from last meeting. So, I think the aggregate is 26 if I remember. Yeah. Yeah. So, we got 26 for the rest of the cycle. Yeah. Yes. But that—that 218 isn't reflective of what we did. No, everything has come out of um the 6860 account, and I believe mo—we moved most of that money to market—money market. Yeah. So, it—it's not including that.
See, personally, they got 50 from the city. Why do they want something from us? Don't ask. You don't get it. You don't ask. I'm just—I mean, that's why I—cuz I—I work with the offer money and I see distribute. Like nobody has reached out to us and say, "Hey, what do we need?" Like, are y'all running out of funds? Y'all need a little extra or whatnot? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong. We're trying to start to kind of build a little bit better relationship with Clarence and the EDC. So, this could be, you know, a nice little branch. Like I said, we don't have to go crazy doing—not to exceed, kind of, you know, what's their grant like? How much can someone give? I think the maximum is 3,000. Yeah, that's the max one. So, if—if five people—or say four people—15—there's only 1,500 they can receive because they have to have 50% matching funds—for so three. So, that's 16—17 people that they can give it to. So, is the match only for their applicants? What about the UEA applicants? Our funds can only go towards the UEA application group—still give us 50% towards their project. No, they got only towards EDC's project. It's only for—it's only towards their project that they have—that they're asking. So, I think we should ask—see if they would be open to giving us funds to extend our—to—to continue our—like you said, the olive branch—like next year—what can y'all do for us if it's like we both helping each other—our applicants—we get 50/50 on both sides—I think they help both of us—like applic—3750—we do 3750—right, that's fair—and when they're applicant comes in—we—that's fair, but just to do it once on their side. And our beautification grants are max 500, right? I was just going to ask like why wouldn't somebody just apply through us, but it's obviously—Yeah. Why wouldn't they applicant just apply through us and they fund it for them? There you go. I wish they were here to answer—as in we could run the whole thing, and then they could fund it, right? Because I feel like that's probably how Leaport—go—like runs their—Yeah. You know, their—I don't think you want to give up that part of what we're doing. But we definitely want to establish a relationship, but it's like what do we get out of it? That's what I would like to know. But if we run through ours, ours is only 500 bucks. True. I feel like—add—like partnering with them should be able to make ours bigger—like—and then we could expand the—trying to keep up with them. They should be—I feel like they should be helping us out—like—instead of us trying to—like keep up with them—in—in a way. I feel like Leaport would be like—here to their little—their UEA. You know what I'm saying? I feel like the economic development is like the big brother, and they should kind of give us—what you said. Why didn't we get some AR funds? Yeah. Can they do that?
It's a lot of different moving parts with either you in or you not—like I'm just being honest with all—for the—for the sake of moving on—a lot of committee—politically connected—just say for the sake of just moving on, cuz it sounds like the uh grant cycle is going to start soon for—I mean, do—do we want to just, like I said, just approve this and—and, you know, with it not to exceed like 5,000 bucks, but then kind of sidebar with them, be like, "Listen, you know, if we had more time for discussion, continue this, but we want to maybe see it kind of get changed up later where maybe we get the money or—or whatever." But I said, "Just for the sake of timeliness." Right now, seems redundant right now. Friday is the day to them. And Friday is the day they want to release for the same. So, with far as um—um—making their bad time in our emergency, yeah, way to put that—um—I think we should do it at a minimum until they bring somebody on the forefront and answer some of these questions that we got. Mhm. Do we know when their grant cycle closes? I think the opposite. You know, while you're doing that, I—I—I—I like to see their temperature on it because, you know, the meeting we had with Clarence, he—he was not warm and fuzzy. He wasn't giving us a hug. So—So that's a—that's a maybe kind of a peculiar way to be coming and asking us. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Don't make your emergency—don't make your bad plan right now. Accepted through Friday, August 29th, 2025, onto all funds. Projects are completed by December 1st, and grant application releases Friday, May 30th, 2025. So, we have a three-month grant cycle. They know about this for how long, but she—I ain't trying to put you on. I mean, she sent me the email. Yeah, they remember. I mean, I gave y'all information. This got brought to me.
So, I got a question. Their beautification grant covers what though? It's essentially window siding and stuff like that, or what is it for? No, this neighborhood—it's just like our neighborhood beautification grant—like it had nothing to do with price—like neighborhood cleanups. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Dumpster program or something. Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah. I'm thinking we're—Okay, that's a little different then, cuz there's like a whole community type of thing. Yeah. I'm thinking we're talking about just single family—like individual projects, people signing up for projects, and we're trying to approve. Maybe it's community type of things. Yeah. So, it—the—the neighborhood associations or whatnot would have to come apply. Yep. Yeah. And then we have to put up half. Didn't you mention like two or three people that had applied? Didn't you say some names? Yes. No, I was saying the people that they had for the committee. Oh, they picked up people for the committee. Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Okay. Yeah. The sample project ideas are planning landscaping and public space, neighborhood/block gardening, graffiti abatement efforts, neighborhood cleanups and restoration efforts, and neighborhood-led activities and support—coordinated holiday decorations, displays, community engagement, public safety events and activities. Those are great things. Yes, that's different. That's totally different. We're just starting though. So, they got the big—they got the big—Yeah, that's totally different. I'd be curious to know, have they done this in the past? And what have they used it for and who's um been given the funds or the grants? I don't think I—I—I just—I don't—I mean, I don't know—person—I don't think—I mean, cuz essentially this is probably going to be the only year this project even has because it's the AR—performing the project, and so that's—that's kind of my idea, and I think I—I couldn't see them doing this before—not hearing about it. So, I think it's simply just based off the AR from the pal—tourism—tourism. So, my association wanted to do a project in Eastport. Okay. And we wanted to go for the max. We would have to come up with 15. How much we have to come up with? We'd have to come up with $1,500 or—in order to qualify for—qualify for it. In order to qualify for funding, applicants must provide a budget and match 50% of requested funding, monetary or in-kind donations, sweat equity, etc. So, sweat equity—very subjective—to do the 50% if it's an applicant to get approved in urban enterprise. Yeah. Our funds can only be used in urban enterprise. So, somebody outside urban enterprise has to give them 50%. No, we don't have anything to do with urban enterprise—and they kind of complying with what we're doing. They want to do—they want to do it for people within the urban enterprise. Yeah. Our funds can only go towards urban enterprise projects—000 the whole city—but our—our funds are only can be used for these projects that operate within our zones. So, the applicants they pick—they have to be within urban process to match their funds. Correct. Correct. Yeah. I agree. I don't want to—I don't like taking money away from Mr. Smith who comes in to get the windows fixed. That's what makes me nervous. That's true. But our beautification—we only got so much. Yeah. We had four burns. I mean, we—we had—Yeah, I know. We already allocated. I feel like they're doing the same thing we're doing. Why not just give us that 50? Well, so it's just this way. Some of it. What about something? Well, I don't—I don't know how the AR funds—the way they allocate. I don't know if you can allocate funds to them, and then—I don't think they can just—they can't redisperse them to us. I don't think it works. They have to stay with the ministry. But aren't we like—no entities because we have those are already in place. So that's my question. If we wanted to fund a project, then we just have to—the—the uh—the maximum is 3,000. So, if we wanted to fund a project, we had to come up with 1,500. That's the way it goes, right? As long as it's in the 2025. No, the UE—we would—if it was—if they were in urban enterprise. So, not the applicant—that would mean—No, the applicant has to come with 50%—50%. Yeah, the applicant has to come with—eventually if they got a $6,000 project, they could get three from this as long as they have 1,500 bucks. So, 750—750 for sure. And then—Yeah. But it's a combination of cash or sweat equity or—I mean, who's going to measure how you—how you—so are we going to go out and help at any of these? Well, I mean, if you—most of us are in—most of us here are all in neighborhood association stuff also. So, we are going to be working anyway. Well, it's only one member. It's—they—the way the way it was suggested for the committee is one member—one member from us—now suggested to the code from us representing UA on the board for that, and then from there, I'm sure they decide—approve who gets for the applicants for them. Yeah. Based off—well, yeah, they're using the scoring rubric is how—is how they got it formatted. I'm trying to figure out a justifiable way to figure out the funds up front before we make a commitment. And let's just say um that the UEE is 20% of the city, right? Can they allocate 20% of those funds or say like 10 grand allocated towards the UEE beautification to be used or not to be used? And we match that 10,000 to be used or not to be used. I—I don't know. I'm just trying to think of a justifiable way. I get what you're saying. That would be a good question. Yeah. If we have somebody that represents—Yeah, they could set that chunk aside. Then they—they know how much more they have to spend on the rest of the city. It starts writing as far as what we do—far as what we're doing today, cuz it don't seem like nobody's answering questions as far as—though we need to determine how much we are willing to participate initially. Yeah. Yeah. That was—that was the whole point. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, with that being said, I guess what do we have compared to what we're willing to give? Okay. Well, at 3,000, they could give up to roughly 16. How many projects are we willing to sponsor? I guess—and if the city's roughly 20%, we'll just call 25%—that would be four potential projects. So, that's 12,000 total dollars. So, we could be on the hook for 6,000 if we wanted to do like a not to exceed 6,000 roughly if we're just guessing numbers out there. Guess—I don't think 6,000 is down there. I was—I was thinking five. Well, I don't think this is playing out perfectly, right? This last minute or whatever, but I think at the end of the day, it gets us the end result we're all looking for. So, regardless of how it really happened, it could have been better, but at the end of the day, if neighborhoods are getting nicer and it's working, then it's working. Mhm. That's why we're here, right? Yeah. The money does no good sitting in the bank. I always—Jim volunteered to make a motion. I'll make a motion if we're ready for one. I mean, I'm going to do 6,000 bucks. Make a motion. We—we do the matching grants for UEE only loan applicants with a not to exceed 6,000 total dollars. Second. Second. I got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hear none. I'll call the vote. All in favor? Aye. Any oppose? Motion passes. Uh, next on agenda was a German. Do I have a motion to adjourn? I want to say all in favor. Thank you. [Music]