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Date Adopted:
Date Approved:
Effective Date:
City Attorney Approval: TWR Resolution No.
RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, 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
WHEREAS, in 2021, the City of Fresno (City) 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; and
WHEREAS, through a formal req uest for proposals process, 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; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager is now recommending fifteen Community Based Organizations for an award of ARPA funding totaling $10,000,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Fresno as follows:
1. The Council of the City of Fresno authorizes the City Manager or his or her designee to enter into agreements in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”
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with the fifteen Community Based Organizations awarded ARPA funds for programs and services identified in the proposals as follows:
a. Arte Americas in the amount of $413,175. This agreement 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.
b. Asian Business Institute & Resource Center in the amount of $1,000,000. This agreement 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.
c. Bitwise in the amount of $1,000,000. This agreement 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;
d. Boys & Girls Club in the amount of $160,000. This agreement 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 f un with educational activities, combatting learning loss due to COVID-19 and support social and emotional development recovery for youth; e. Breaking the Chains in the amount of $104,443. This agreement will enhance services for human trafficking survivors t rying to overcome housing
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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;
f. Central Valley Children’s Services Network in the amount of $1,000,000. This agreement 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. g. Centro La Familia in the amount of $873,840. This agreement will implement the ‘COVID-19 Debt Relief Assistance Program’ targeting low -income populations, providing financial relief assistance including mortgage, car payments, and medical costs, etc. targeting low -income residents that have not benefited from any COVID-19 relief assistance programs; h. Exceptional Parents Unlimited in the amount of $158,785. This agreement 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.
i. Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation in the amount of $1,000,000. This agreement will provide financial as sistance 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.
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j. Fresno Metro Black Chamber Foundation in the amount of $715,000.
This agreement 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 f rom 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; k. Fresno Metro Ministry in the amount of $429,420. This agreement 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;
l. Helping Others Pursue Excellence in the amount of $500,000 . This agreement 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;
m. Marjaree Mason Center in the amount of $1,067,297. 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
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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;
n. Neighborhood Industries in the amount of $1,000,000. This agreement 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.
o. San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance in the amount of $578,040. This proposal will create more resourc es 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.
2. All agreements authorized hereunder shall be reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office prior to execution by the City Manager or his or her designee.
3. Any agreement which materially deviates from the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A” shall not be subject to the delegation hereby provided.
4. If any of the proposals set forth under Section 1 above require an environmental assessment or finding of exemption pursuant to the California
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Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City Manager or their designee shall complete the applicable review pursuant to CEQA and bring the agreement before Council for further review and adoption.
5. This resolution shall be effective upon final approval.
Attachment: Exhibit A – Sample ARPA Grant Agreement
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF FRESNO ) ss.
CITY OF FRESNO )
I, TODD STERMER, City Clerk of the City of Fresno, certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Council of the City of Fresno, at a regular meeting held on the day of 2022.
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
ABSTAIN :
TODD STERMER, CMC
City Clerk
By:
Date
Deputy
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
RINA M. GONZALES
Interim City Attorney
By:
Taylor W. Rhoan Date
Deputy City Attorney