COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Trinna Ware, Finance Division Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Award of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant Program Funds to Local Community Organizations to Support Social Service Community Needs (Trinna Ware)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
Grant
PURPOSE:
To award ARPA Grant Program funding.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of the ARPA Grant Program is to provide funds to local organizations to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its economic impacts, and to assist the community in responding and rebuilding a stronger, more equitable economy as the community recovers.
General
On April 26, 2022, the Lake Havasu City Council allocated $1.0 million of the City’s ARPA allocation be used to support local organizations in the areas of food, housing, medical services, agency services, childcare, senior adult care, senior services, or other social services needed. Awards under this Grant Funding Program are intended for projects benefiting the community that may involve single or multiple organizations. The projects must have a community impact and be self-sustaining.
The City established the Lake Havasu City Community Resource Coalition (Coalition) to develop a community resources request and evaluation process, to evaluate funding requests received, and to recommend beneficiaries of funding distributions to the City Council.
The Coalition members were comprised of Lake Havasu City community members and represented non-profit organizations, educational organizations, and members familiar with grants.
Application and Review Process
To evaluate grant applications in an equitable and community-driven manner, the Coalition established a grant application and review score sheet.
All requests from organizations that receive ARPA grant funds must specify actual program results. Results must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
The City received 19 applications, totaling $2.4 million in requested funds. Each application underwent a review process and scored on specific criteria.
Applications were reviewed based on these key investment criteria.
• The program addresses a significant community need related to COVID-19.
• The program demonstrates sustainability beyond the grant period.
• The organization has leaders and a solid business plan for success within the focus area.
• The organization and / or program has community collaboration.
Meetings/Timeline
• 9/6/22 Develop Program/Application Outline, Application, and Scoring Rubric
• 9/26/22 Develop Program/Application Outline, Application, and Scoring Rubric
• 11/7/22 Develop Program/Application Outline, Application, and Scoring Rubric
• 10/10/22 Program and Applications posted
• 10/21/22 Pre-application meeting
• 12/9/22 Applications due
• 1/12/23 Application Review
• 1/26/23 Application Review and Partial Award Recommendation
• 2/9/23 Application Review and Final Award Recommendation
Coalition Recommendation
On January 26, 2023, the Coalition recommended 5-0 to fund the following organizations at their revised budget amounts: Faith and Grace, Inc., The Clothes Closet, Inc., River Cities United Way, H.A.V.E.N. Family Resource Center, Inc., Open Table, Inc., Covenant Church Lake Havasu, Grace Episcopal Church, and Women With Willpower.
On February 9, 2023, the Coalition recommended 4-1 to fund the following organizations at their revised budget amounts: MIKID Mentally Ill Kids in Distress, Impact 928, Inc., and Child & Family Resources, Inc.
Staff recommends the City Council accept the recommendations of the Lake Havasu Community Resource Coalition.
Grant Agreement
Attached is a template Grant Beneficiary Agreement that each beneficiary awarded ARPA funding will be required to enter into with the City.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The local organizations receiving funding are community partners, serving our community in food, housing, senior services, mental health, childcare, and child development and helping make our community an incredible place to live, work, and raise a family.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$1,000,000 in ARPA funding
ATTACHMENTS:
Summary of Application Review - Recommendation
LHCARPA - Program Outline
Application
Rubric
Overall Scores & Budgets
Summary of Applicants’ Programs
Template Grant Agreement
SUGGESTED MOTION:
I move to award ARPA Grant Program funds to beneficiaries as follows:
Faith and Grace, Inc. $157,280
The Clothes Closet, Inc. $128,000
River Cities United Way $161,856
MIKID Mentally Ill Kids in Distress $130,168
HAVEN Family Resource Center, Inc. $ 40,000
Open Table, Inc. $ 50,000
Covenant Church Lake Havasu $ 39,216
Grace Episcopal Church $ 72,240
Women With Willpower, Inc. $ 40,000
Impact 928, Inc. $141,000
Child & Family Resources, Inc. $ 40,239;
and authorize the City Manager to execute a Grant Beneficiary Agreement with each of the above beneficiaries.