TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Meg Ragan, Chief Technology Officer
REPORT BY: Mark Revis, Broadband Project Manager
SUBJECT: Accept a grant for $82,900 from the California Public Utilities Commission, approve and authorize Agreement No. 260218B with Napa Valley Unified School District / Napa Valley Adult Education, and authorize the related budget amendment.
RECOMMENDATION
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Accept a grant for $82,900 from the California Public Utilities Commission; approve and authorize Agreement No. 260218B with Napa Valley Unified School District/Napa Valley Adult Education; and approve the related Budget Amendment. (Fiscal Impact: $82,900 Revenue and Expense, Information Technology Services Fund, Not Budgeted, Discretionary).
[4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
Napa County’s commitment to Building Healthy, Connected Communities includes supporting the digital access and skill development residents need to fully participate in modern life. Despite significant progress in recent years, many community members are still unable to engage in the digital economy. However, access to high-speed internet is not the primary impediment for many residents. Instead, many lack the computer skills and confidence needed to use digital tools effectively. Digital literacy has become a basic requirement of modern life: most job opportunities are posted exclusively online, and schools rely on internet-based platforms to share student progress, report cards, and essential communications. Without these skills, residents risk being left behind in an increasingly connected world.
The California Public Utilities Commission has awarded a grant to Napa County in the amount of $82,900 for the provision of fifteen digital literacy classes to be conducted during the Spring semester of 2026 at multiple locations within Napa County. It is expected that approximately 133 students will complete these classes and will receive a take-home computing device (laptop computer) upon completion. The Napa Valley Unified School District / Napa Valley Adult Education (NVUSD / NVAE) will teach the classes, and the County will purchase and distribute the laptops to completers of the classes. The County and NVUSD / NVAE have written an Agreement that defines the roles and responsibilities of both parties in the performance of the grant obligations.
This Agreement authorizes the County to reimburse NVUSD / NVAE for fifteen digital computer skills classes for parents, seniors, and/or low-income or disadvantaged families. The classes will be held once per week over twelve weeks, and total instruction time will be approximately 25 hours per class. The classes will be held at schools and other locations across Napa County. Certified instructors from Napa Valley Unified School District will teach the classes and instructor’s staff time in the amount of $29,700 will be reimbursed by the grant.
Low-income or disadvantaged individuals that complete a course will receive a Chromebook laptop to keep. The devices will come with anti-virus software and accessories. 133 Chromebooks will be funded by the grant in the amount of $53,200.
The total amount of grant funding that has been awarded is $82,900. Napa County will administer the grant and provide reimbursement to NVUSD / NVAE.
The terms of the grant require a 15% local match. This requirement will be fulfilled through staff time spent by the County and NVUSD / NVAE to administer the grant, not to be reimbursed by the grant, such as procurement of the Chromebooks, tracking inventory, and maintenance of project records. The estimated cost of staff time is $11,454 for the County, which has already been budgeted in the FY 2025-26 Information Technology Services, Fund 4200, Subdivision 4200000 and $3,960 for NVUSD / NVAE which will be paid directly from their budget. The total cost for the project, inclusive of estimated grant administration costs, is $98,314.
The CPUC has approved the County’s grant application and stands ready to award the funding upon receipt of the signed Grant Letter, a copy of which is attached.
Requested Action:
1. Accept the grant from the California Public Utilities Commission in the amount of $82,900; and
2. Approve and authorize Agreement No. 260218B to authorize a partnership between Napa County and NVUSD / NVAE for the delivery of the digital literacy classes and provision of computing devices to qualifying completers of the classes.
3. Approve a Budget Amendment for the following (4/5 vote required):
a. Increase appropriations within Information Technology Services, Fund 4200, ITS Admin, Subdivision 4200000, Account 53410 Computer Equipment and Accessories in the amount of $53,200 for the purchase of Chromebooks, software and accessories; and increase Account 54800 Contributions in the amount of $29,700 for NVUSD / NVAE instructor and staff time, offset by an increase in revenue of $82,900 in Account 43790 State-Other Funding from the CPUC grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Approval will improve digital literacy among low-income residents which will allow them greater access to jobs, tools to monitor their children’s academic progress, and County services. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
No future fiscal impact. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Digital literacy efforts within Napa County will not advance, leaving community members without the skills needed to fully participate in the digital economy and access essential online services. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.