The Lawrence City Council voted to transfer $300,000 in ARPA/free‑cash neighborhood safety funds to Lawrence Prospera on Feb. 4, 2025, authorizing the nonprofit to manage a community safety initiative in partnership with the Lawrence Police Department. The motion passed by voice vote; councilors answered “aye” and the chair declared the motion approved.

Council Vice President Infante introduced the motion to re‑submit the appropriation, saying the money had been earmarked earlier for Project Safe Neighborhoods and had been withdrawn in May 2024. Infante said the difference now is that the funds will be given directly to Lawrence Prospera rather than routed through the police department, and Prospera would submit invoices under a standard city contract for reimbursement.

Why it matters: the $300,000 is public ARPA/free‑cash money designated for neighborhood safety work. Councilors said they wanted assurances about the process, transparency and that the program and the recipient had been vetted by committee before the council voted to release funds.

Councilors reviewed the item’s history during a lengthy discussion. Kate King of Planning and Development told the council the neighborhood safety initiative and the proposal had been considered in committee multiple times between October 2023 and May 2024; the earlier presentation had been accepted but not funded. King said the funds have been sitting in the relevant account and the current action is to make Prospera the contracting party so that Prospera — rather than the police department — will manage reimbursements.

Dan Halloran, identified as executive director of Prospera, said Lawrence Prospera is the local doing‑business‑as name for Lawrence Family Development and that the organization is positioned to receive and manage the funds. Paul Hitehouse, deputy director of Prospera, told the council the rebranding avoided having to obtain a new EIN and that the organization’s board membership had changed over time but the organization traces to a 1992 founding.

Councilors pressed for procedural clarity before agreeing to the direct award. Councilor LaPlante said he supported the program and stressed the need for institutional continuity; he asked for confirmation of committee review. Councilor Espaceli Infante and others emphasized that the arrangement should reduce administrative burden on the police department and improve accountability by having Prospera invoice the city directly.

According to the presentation on Feb. 4, the Prospera proposal includes funding two positions to run program activities; the full hiring plan and budget detail were presented to committee and the council asked that contract terms include routine reporting and invoice review. The council said the award will follow the city’s standard contracting and reimbursement process.

The measure was approved by the council by voice vote. The mayor’s office and city staff will execute a contract with Lawrence Prospera and Prospera will begin submitting invoices under the agreed reporting terms.

Looking ahead: councilors requested follow‑up reporting on hires, expenditures, and program outcomes once the contract is active.