Pittsburgh looks to allocate $400K to award grants directly to community groups

Pittsburgh City Council members are considering a measure that would give them over $400,000 that could be sent directly to athletic associations and community groups in their respective districts.

Sponsored by Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, the legislation would reallocate $410,000 from the Office of Management & Budget and Parks & Recreation to the City Clerk’s office. From there, council members could use the money to provide grants.

“This is money that was always budgeted for the purpose of City Council to be able to give out grants,” said City Council Budget Director Peter McDevitt said, explaining that the measure would simply move the money to create an easier path for council members to award the grants.

Moving the money to the clerk’s office, he said, would give “council members more discretion” in how the funding is used and increase transparency in how it is spent.

Nonprofits would be able to apply for up to $4,999 in grant money, McDevitt said.

Before the money can be sent to the organizations, it would need City Council approval, he said.

“I like having a direct impact, because I feel we know best as council people,” Councilman Anthony Coghill said, explaining they often know best which organizations are most active in their communities and which are in most need of financial help.

Councilman Bruce Kraus said he couldn’t support the measure without clear criteria in place to govern how and where the money was spent.

He abstained from a preliminary vote Wednesday. All other council members voted in favor of advancing the legislation, which will be ready for a final vote as early as next week.

Kail-Smith said the council budget office, which includes a forensic auditor, would ensure money was spent appropriately.

She said it’s important that council members are able to support the nonprofits that do important work in their communities, including athletic associations that provide healthy outlets for the city’s youth.

“This is a minor cost for the work they do,” she said.

Councilwoman Deb Gross said the city has not been funding local athletic associations at all — though she said she would like to see additional city funding beyond these grants to support their efforts in the future.

“There’s a price tag,” she said, explaining that families are left paying for equipment and uniforms for their kids, while volunteer coaches often chip in to pay for everything from equipment to baseball bases.