Hammond City awards $438,250 in community grants to dozens of local organizations

Hammond City’s grants commission voted to award a total of $438,250 to more than 70 local organizations at its annual awards meeting, approving motions in alphabetical order and moving quickly through dozens of recommendations.

The presiding officer opened the meeting by noting the commission received a record 116 applications and explained the awards would be announced alphabetically; each award was moved, seconded and put to a voice vote. Approved awards ranged from $750 for a classroom library to $20,000 for school athletic and arts programs. Notable recipients included Hammond Central High School Athletics ($20,000), Morton High School athletics ($20,000), Hammond 71 robotics ($20,000), Toll Performing Arts Company ($20,000), and multiple $10,000 grants to organizations that serve youth and health needs in the community.

Commissioners recorded a small number of abstentions and at least one conflict-of-interest abstention. When the Hammond Development Corporation (HDC) grant was considered, a commissioner stated he was on the HDC board and would abstain; the chair later noted that Al Selenus and Miller also abstained on that vote. Other individual abstentions occurred during separate motions; the bulk of motions carried by voice vote.

Councilman Selenus praised committee staff and leadership for organizing the process, saying, “Over these past couple of years now, you've kept things really organized and kept us all on track. So, thank you very much.” Councilwoman Vaness urged groups that did not receive funding not to be discouraged: “To those who did not receive a grant this year, please don't be discouraged. The work that you do is wonderful work.”

The chair said checks are not available immediately; award recipients will be contacted about pickup and the commission typically makes checks available by late May. The meeting’s public‑comment period was opened and closed immediately, with the chair stating there were no attendees in the room or online.

After reading a long list of successful applicants, the commission took a single group motion to acknowledge applicants who would not receive funding this year; the chair emphasized the acknowledgement did not reflect a judgment on applicants’ missions. The meeting adjourned following final comments.

The transcript contains inconsistent numeric renderings of the budget figures (several segments show typographical variants). The commission announced on the record that it awarded $438,250; the transcript also contains other numeric forms that appear to be transcription errors.