W. Tampa nonprofit under investigation

Federal authorities have requested files.

By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published November 2, 2007

TAMPA - Federal authorities have launched an investigation into a West Tampa nonprofit group whose mission is to improve the neighborhood's social and economic conditions.

The Housing and Urban Development Department's inspector general this summer pulled files from Tampa's housing department that document spending of two federal grants by the nonprofit group, the West Tampa Community Development Corp.

In question are a $100,000 federal grant to improve storefronts and a $463,000 federal grant to build affordable houses, said Cyndy Miller, director of the city's department of growth management and development services.

HUD officials would not confirm or deny an investigation.

But Tampa Housing Authority director Jerome Ryans said HUD investigators also asked for files from his agency relating to four grants.

Officials with the nonprofit say they don't know anything about the investigation, and aren't concerned.

"I don't know what they're digging and looking for," said board member Joe Robinson. "Ain't nobody stealing no money. That's for sure."

Board member Phil Alessi said he welcomes the examination of the 8-year-old agency, run by a 12-member volunteer board.

The Tampa Police Department also is investigating the nonprofit as part of a larger inquiry into whether neighborhood groups are trading support of projects in exchange for money from developers.

Retired school principal Margaret Fisher helped found the West Tampa Community Development Corp. in 1999 and until recently volunteered as its executive director.

Consultant Michael Randolph earns $27,000 a year to run day-to-day operations and helps manage grants.

But management of that money has proved problematic.

The city awarded the group $100,000 in 2005 to improve storefronts. The group was entitled to keep $20,000 for administration. But city officials said record keeping was so shoddy, they paid out only $14,077. Outside auditors questioned even that payment, saying there wasn't adequate documentation to support it.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.

[Last modified November 2, 2007, 00:54:32]