REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager
Office of Mayor & City Manager
BY: COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Business Manager
Office of Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding:
1. Approve the recommendation of fifteen service proposals allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $10,000,000 (Bid File 10083) to the following organizations: (1) Arte Americas $413,175; (2) Asian Business Institute & Resource Center $1,000,000; (3) Bitwise $1,000,000; (4) Boys & Girls Club $160,000; (5) Breaking the Chains $104,443; (6) Central Valley Children’s Services Network $1,000,000; (7) Centro La Familia Advocacy Services $873,840; (8) Exceptional Parents Unlimited $158,785 (9) Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation $1,000,000; (10) Fresno Metro Black Chamber Foundation $715,000; (11) Fresno Metro Ministry $429,420; (12) Helping Others Pursue Excellence $500,000; (13) Marjaree Mason Center $1,067,297; (14) Neighborhood Industries $1,000,000; and (15) San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance $578,040.
2. RESOLUTION Granting Authority to the City Manager or his or her designee to enter into agreements with Community Based Organizations to provide programs and services funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to aid in the COVID-19 Recovery Effort.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve the recommendation of fifteen service proposals to the following organizations allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $10,000,000 (Bid File 10083):
Arte Americas $413,175; Asian Business Institute & Resource Center $1,000,000; Bitwise $1,000,000; Boys & Girls Club $160,000; Breaking the Chains $104,443; Central Valley Children’s Services Network $1,000,000; Centro La Familia Advocacy Services $873,840; Exceptional Parents Unlimited $158,785 Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation $1,000,000; Fresno Metro Black Chamber Foundation $715,000; Fresno Metro Ministry $429,420; Helping Others Pursue Excellence $500,000; Marjaree Mason Center $1,067,297; Neighborhood Industries $1,000,000; and San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance $578,040.
Staff also recommends that Council authorize and approve the City Manager or designee to execute contracts with each Community Based Organizations (CBOs) as approved to provide a variety of programs and services that will ultimately serve to continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends Council approve the recommendation of fifteen service proposals, to the following organizations allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $10,000,000 (Bid File 10083) as follows:
Arte Americas $413,175; Asian Business Institute & Resource Center $1,000,000; Bitwise $1,000,000; Boys & Girls Club $160,000; Breaking the Chains $104,443; Central Valley Children’s Services Network $1,000,000; Centro La Familia Advocacy Services $873,840; Exceptional Parents Unlimited $158,785 Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation $1,000,000; Fresno Metro Black Chamber Foundation $715,000; Fresno Metro Ministry $429,420; Helping Others Pursue Excellence $500,000; Marjaree Mason Center $1,067,297; Neighborhood Industries $1,000,000; and San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance $578,040.
Staff also recommends that Council authorize and approve the City Manager or designee to execute contracts with each Community Based Organizations (CBOs) as approved to provide a variety of programs and services that will ultimately serve to continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 46 proposals were submitted totaling $77,779,315 through the City’s Planet Bids portal. All proposals were vetted for eligibility based on each agency’s self-identified APRA category determination. Of eligible ARPA categories, priorities were identified by City Council via an anonymous survey. A review committee was formed consisting of representatives from PARCS, City Manager’s Office, Office of Community Affairs, Economic Development, and the County of Fresno.
The committee reviewed 28 ARPA eligible proposals that advanced to the final round and met for a robust discussion and forwarded 12 proposals to the City Manager. The City Manager received input from the COVID Subcommittee and is now recommending that fifteen different Community Based Organizations be recommended for ARPA funding at a total amount of $10,000,000
BACKGROUND
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 46 proposals were submitted totaling $77,779,315 through the City’s Planet Bids portal. All proposals were vetted for eligibility based on each agency’s self-identified APRA category determination. Of eligible ARPA categories, priorities were identified by City Council via an anonymous survey. A review committee was formed consisting of representatives from PARCS, City Manager’s Office, Office of Community Affairs, Economic Development, and the County of Fresno.
On December 24, 2021, a Notice of Funding Availability for COVID-19 recovery related services in the City of Fresno was published through our purchasing department via the City’s Planet Bids portal with a due date of January 31, 2022. Forty-six proposals were submitted prior to the deadline and were determined ready for the review process. In March 2022, project cover page summaries and program/project categories to determine eligibility requirements were reviewed for alignment with the U.S. Treasury ARPA eligible categories.
Twenty-eight proposals were advanced to the next round of the review process. An ARPA funding for CBOs review committee was formed and proposals were sent to the committee for their individual review and recommendation. The committee reviewed 28 ARPA eligible proposals that advanced to the final round and met for a robust discussion and forwarded 12 proposals to the City Manager. The City Manager received input from the COVID Subcommittee and is now recommending the following CBOs receive funding:
Arte Americas - This proposal will complete a series of capital improvements for The Mexican Arts Center building and grounds for the purpose of expanding cultural arts programming for community residents.
Asian Business Institute & Resource Center - This proposal will provide small business residents access to culturally competent technical assistance to apply for other grants, loans or relief programs. Funding will also purchase produce from small BIPOC farmers and distribute it to City of Fresno residents at no cost.
Bitwise Industries - This proposal will initiate a small business digital empowerment program to boost local businesses' profitability and creative capacity by connecting them to broadband internet and Information Technology resources, building custom technology for them, and growing their digital literacy.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County - This proposal will provide afterschool education and recreation programs to 565 youth at four Boys & Girls Clubs in the City of Fresno. This program will reinforce knowledge and skills by integrating fun with educational activities, combatting learning loss due to COVID-19 and support social and emotional development recovery for youth.
Breaking the Chains - This proposal will enhance services for human trafficking survivors trying to overcome housing obstacles caused or aggravated by the pandemic. To aid a growing demand for emergency housing and other restorative services for Human Trafficking victims, temporary and permanent housing expenses, transportation and childcare will also be provided.
Central Valley Children’s Services Network - This proposal will provide childcare vouchers to families with the greatest need and develop a parent portal identifying subsidized childcare to help simplify a family’s enrollment into a childcare voucher program.
Centro La Familia Advocacy Services - This proposal will implement the ‘COVID-19 Debt Relief Assistance Program’ targeting low-income populations, providing financial relief assistance including mortgage, credit card payments, car payments, and medical costs, etc. targeting low-income residents that have not benefited from any COVID-19 relief assistance programs.
Exceptional Parents Unlimited - This proposal will restore project revenue loss levels for the Engage. Play. Inspire. Connect (EPIC) program allowing the program to ramp up operations and continue to serve their clients and families.
Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation - This proposal will provide financial assistance to under-served; minority small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Funding will be used to retain or create jobs, marketing, financial management, or import/export products. One-on-one technical assistance will be provided to each business to help with exposure, building capacity, and growing sales.
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation - This proposal will augment the Betting Big Program to provide support to small businesses and enhance job retention within the City of Fresno. The program will target minority-owned and women-owned small businesses by providing direct grants to support their recovery from the pandemic. Targeted outreach will be for small businesses that did not receive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) support or other COVID-19 related grants from the City or County of Fresno.
Fresno Metro Ministry - This proposal will fund a portion of the community building that is set to be constructed on the St. Rest + Food to Share Site located on Elm Avenue. This 2-story building will provide on-site complementary spaces consisting of a USDA certified commercial kitchen, community classrooms, offices and other community spaces. In addition, it will complement the in-progress renovation of a 6,000 sq ft. warehouse into a metropolitan scale and community level healthy food rescue, storage, and redistribution site.
Helping Others Pursue Excellence - This proposal will strengthen the capacity of 34 agencies encircling youth and grassroots program, providing youth training and placement in advanced careers. Operational support for low-income businesses will also be funded through this proposal.
Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. - This proposal will support safe shelter and support services for adults and their children affected by domestic violence in Fresno County. The objective of this program is to increase the safety and well-being of individuals and families experiencing domestic violence by providing safe confidential shelter and comprehensive support services such as case management,
safety planning, counseling, legal advocacy, children's programs and linkages to community services while they work toward recovering from the traumatic effects of abuse.
Neighborhood Industries - This proposal will target people experiencing unemployment due to the pandemic by providing workforce development training and employment opportunities in four distinct industries: retail, logistics, sanitation, and food service. Participants will be trained and transitioned to gainful employment at Neighborhood Industries or a Neighborhood Industries employment partner.
San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance - This proposal will create more resources to encourage growth of manufacturing, increase research and development activities, capacity to develop new products and services, provide workforce training via hands-on internships, and professional development for K-12 teachers.
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
All of the organizations recommended are located in the City of Fresno and services proposed will assist City of Fresno residents.
FISCAL IMPACT
Proposals will be funded through American Rescue Plan Act funding and will not impact the general fund.
Attachments:
Sample Grant Agreement
Resolution
APRA Proposals Spreadsheet