Third Ward Equity Fund

At a glance

What: A $1 million annual City fund directed to third ward priorities (infrastructure, youth, arts, community support and economic development).
Where it stands: FY2027 buckets were outlined on September 8, 2026: $200,000 infrastructure, $300,000 youth, $50,000 Southtown cultural arts, $250,000 community support and $200,000 economic development.
Next: Budget amendments to move the money, expected at the September 22 fiscal committee; details of the community support connector pilot at the same meeting.

Infrastructure money goes to signals and smaller safety projects from the Kalamazoo corridor traffic safety audit, with construction possibly into 2028.
Youth money includes a three-year $50,000-a-year match for the state RX for Kids program; in FY2026 it supported Grow 1000 (53 participants at nine third ward worksites, averaging 105 hours).
The community support connector pilot would combine this fund with expected state public safety trust fund dollars; the mayor was reluctant to mix mediation and trauma response in one ward-funded pilot.

Staff outlined the FY2027 allocation by bucket; the mayor questioned the combined mediation and trauma pilot, and staff said mediation would not be limited to the third ward.