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 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 for to proposed project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
2. Approve an agreement with Helping Others Pursue Excellence (HOPE) allocating $500,000 in ARPA funding for small business assistance and to construct a commercial kitchen at an existing space on the Vision View campus.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve an agreement with HOPE allocating $500,000 in ARPA funding to construct a commercial kitchen for small businesses to use at an existing space on the Vision View campus and provide small business assistance for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends Council approve an agreement with HOPE allocating $500,000 in ARPA funding to provide small business assistance and the construction of a commercial kitchen on the Vision View campus. This allocation of ARPA funding was approved in part by Council on June 23, 2022, however the adoption of a categorical exemption for construction now is required.
In 2021, the City of Fresno was awarded American Rescue Plan Act funding in the amount of $170,808,029. Of this funding approximately $10,000,000 was identified as a resource to provide grant funding to local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for projects that aid in the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a formal request for proposals (RFP) process and subsequent Council approval, HOPE was allocated $500,000 in ARPA funding for the construction of a commercial kitchen and small business assistance. Due to CEQA requirements, this project requires the adoption of categorical exemption at the...
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