Two organizations that collectively received more than $850,000 in federal funding are protesting Hamilton County’s decision to divert those dollars for school athletic facilities, saying the move was “unwarranted, unfair and discriminatory.”
They’re demanding the county reverse its decision by Friday.
On Nov. 15, Hamilton County commissioners voted to pull funding from the Sankofa Civic Engagement Organization and the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga. The county awarded the money to the groups last year as part of a more than $71 million pot of pandemic relief funds it received through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Brought forward by Commissioner Lee Helton, R-East Brainerd, the resolution was a last-minute addition to the agenda at the end of commissioners’ official business Nov. 15.
Commissioners voted 9-1 to divert $400,000 from Sankofa and $450,000 from the Urban League — plus $200,000 reserved for parking lot paving in the parks and recreation budget — to the Hamilton County Schools Fund for Excellence.