Brownfield Authority approves $10,000 to sponsor 2026 Michigan Black Summit in Benton Harbor

The Benton Harbor Brownfield Redevelopment Authority voted on Jan. 8 to support the Benton Harbor Michigan 2026 Black Summit with $10,000 for a staffed table and marketing materials, board members recorded.

Tracy Ann Bullock, representing Neighbors Organizing Against Racism and the summit organizing team, told the board the two-day event brings state leaders, policy makers and businesses to Benton Harbor for sessions on economic development and capacity building. She said the summit “directly aligns” with the Brownfield Authority’s mission of correcting past harms and promoting sustainable economic growth.

Members asked for evidence of prior return on the Authority’s past contributions and for clear deliverables tied to any sponsorship. Teresa Searls, the board’s contracted Brownfield consultant with Fishback, and other presenters described prior outreach and promotional activities and said the summit creates opportunities to educate residents and raise visibility for local projects.

After discussion about statutory eligibility and budget constraints — staff confirmed a $10,000 marketing line in the Authority’s budget — a motion to fund the summit passed on a roll-call vote. The board’s motion included providing a table for attending members and marketing materials explaining what the Brownfield Authority does.

The board did not attach other programmatic commitments to the sponsorship. Staff agreed to use existing Brownfield marketing materials at the event and to prepare a one-page handout explaining the types of projects the Authority can support so residents are not misled about likely eligibility.

Next steps: staff will coordinate logistics with summit organizers and prepare the marketing materials described in the motion. The meeting record shows the motion carried after roll call (final announcement recorded as “motion passes”).