TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Minh C. Tran, County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Becky Craig, Assistant County Executive Officer
SUBJECT: American Rescue Plan Act Community Investment Grants
RECOMMENDATION
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County Executive Officer recommends the following actions regarding the American Rescue Plan Act:
1. Approve a Budget Transfer increasing appropriations in General Fund-County Executive Officer, Community Grants (Fund 1000, Org 1020000) totaling $100,000 with offsetting transfer from American Rescue Plan Act revenue (Fund 2460, Org 1020050) (4/5 Vote Required); and
2. Authorize the Chair to execute the first ARPA Community Investment Grant Agreement with Napa Valley Community Foundation for Emergency Rental Assistance Program navigation services totaling $100,000.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The County received $13.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and the Board indicated an interest in partnering with community based organizations to address gaps. Staff will schedule education workshops for the community grants this month and return to the Board in October to discuss the proposed ARPA Community Grant Program’s parameters and funding. The first grant request to NVCF totaling $100,000 is time-dependent on residents’ accessing the state’s ERAP monies.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
American Rescue Plan Act Fund |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Utilize grant funds |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
None, one time monies. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
None, monies will be appropriated for other eligible uses. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Livable Economy for All |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The American Rescue Plan Act provides funding for public health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for local economic recovery. The Board of Supervisors received public input on July 20, 2021, for community investment program consideration. The verbal and written requests ranged from older adult transportation to childcare facilities to rental assistance advocacy and more. The Board supported soliciting for transformative, one-time projects through the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) process currently utilized annually for allocation of Tobacco Settlement monies to local community services providers.
Staff will conduct community engagement workshops to provide ARPA eligibility and compliance education and to develop a robust pool of applicants. Staff will then return to the Board to discuss the grant application process and funding.
An immediate grant award is recommended. The State of California allocated $16 million to assist qualifying residents and landlords who qualify in Napa County with late rent and utilities payments resulting from the impacts of COVID-19. The Napa Valley Community Foundation has allocated $500,000 for four local community service organizations to provide navigation services. A County grant contribution totaling $100,000 from the Community Improvement Grants allocation would supplement NVCF’s funding. The proposed agreement is attached.
A budget adjustment is necessary to appropriate monies from the ARPA non-operating special revenue fund to the operating funds that will administer the public health response and community grants. The form is attached.