Council advances "Morgantown Mosaic" neighborhood matching grant program to formal agenda

Councilors moved forward an ordinance to establish the Morgantown Mosaic Neighborhood Matching and Engagement Initiative after a presentation Sept. 30 describing program design and administration.

The ordinance would create a neighborhood matching‑grant program that provides a 50% city match for qualifying neighborhood projects and events. Councilor Mark (presenting the ordinance) said the program is modeled on similar programs in other U.S. cities and is intended to support grassroots neighborhood projects that build civic engagement and visible improvements in neighborhoods.

Staff explained the program guide drafted for the initiative will govern administration: proposals would be reviewed by the Neighborhood Coordinating Council, scored and ranked, then presented to staff and council as part of the municipal budget cycle. Because the Committee of the Whole meeting occurs late in the budget cycle, staff recommended establishing a pilot funding amount for the current year and incorporating the ranked list into future budgets once the process is fully established.

Councilors and staff discussed operational details including timelines, staff review for code or engineering constraints, and the potential for multiple funding cycles in the first year if money remains after initial awards. The program guide is an administrative document the city manager may update; the ordinance would establish the program framework in city code but would not appropriate funds. Council agreed to move the ordinance to the formal agenda for consideration.