REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SANTINO DANISI, MBA, City Controller/Finance Director
BY: COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Business Manager
Finance Department, Grants Management Unit
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to an agreement with the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation for the Small Business Façade Program for $1,000,000:
1. Affirm the City Manager’s determination that Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation is uniquely qualified to administer the Small Business Façade Program on behalf of the City of Fresno.
2. Approve an agreement with Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation allocating $1,000,000 for the Small Business Façade Program providing grants to underserved and minority small businesses located in Council Districts 1 and 4 in an effort to improve the façade of their brick-and-mortar business.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council affirm the City Manager’s determination that Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation (FAHF) is uniquely qualified to administer the Small Business Façade Program and approve an agreement with FAHF allocating $1,000,000 to provide grants to underserved and minority small businesses in city council districts one and four for the improvement of the business’s façade.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 9, 2023 Council approved an agreement with the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation (FAHF) to provide grants to small businesses in specific transit corridors within disadvantaged communities based on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant guidance. These grants provide funding for façade improvements to small businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. In an effort to augment the current program and target small businesses in council districts one and four that are outside of the existing transit corridors, the City Manager has determined that FAHF is uniquely qualified to administer additional funding as a part of this program. The additional funding is not a part of the ARPA grant and therefore has different reporting requirements and a modified scope of work. It has been determined by the City Attorney’s Office that a new agreement is needed for this program.
On July 20, 2023, Council approved a resolution to create a façade program to assist small businesses in Council Districts 1 and 4. In order to move forward with the program, an agreement with Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation has been negotiated and now requires Council approval.
BACKGROUND
Through a formal request for proposals (RFP) process and subsequent Council approval, Fresno Area Hispanic foundation was allocated $1,500,000 in ARPA funding to provide façade grants to small businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic on February 9, 2023.
Due to the preliminary successes of the current Façade Program administered by FAHF, the City Manager has determined that they are uniquely qualified to administer additional funding for façade improvements to small businesses specifically in city council districts one and four. A modified scope of work has been agreed upon specific to this new agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, these recommendations do not qualify as a “project” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The organization have been previously approved by Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
This amendment was allocated through the FY 2024 budget in the Finance Department’s general fund.
Attachments:
Agreement with Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation
Uniquely Qualified Memo