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1 RiversideCA.gov
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH
COMMUNITY CONNECT TO ADMINISTER
A SMALL AND MICRO-BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM
City Council
September 05, 2023
Community & Economic Development
RiversideCA.gov
2 • March 11, 2021: President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act to facilitate COVID 19 Recovery.
• November 9, 2021: City Council approved the first allocation of ARPA funding in the amount of $36,767,594 including
$6,000,000.00 for a small and micro-business grant.
• April 1, 2022: ARPA Final Rule released.
• October 3, 2022: RFP released for an organization to develop and administer the local small and micro-business grant.
BACKGROUND
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3 • Task 1: Program Development (4-6 weeks)
– Eligibility, approved uses, documentation, and deadlines. • Task 2: Marketing (Ongoing)
– Strategy, materials, outreach, and partnerships.
• Task 3: Administration (18-22 months)
– Business support, application processing, analysis and awards.
• Task 4: Reporting (Ongoing)
– Tracking, data collection, and ARPA compliance reporting.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
RiversideCA.gov
4 1. Firm Experience and Capacity: (25%)
2. Project Understanding, Appr oach and Methodology: (25%)
3. Cost: (20%)
4. Schedule: (10%)
RFP SCORING CRITERIA
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5 – Understanding, Approach and Methodology:
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Riverside business community • Offers a personalized, hands-on approach to customer service • Includes in-person support and virtual services
• Ensures equity and accessibility for underserved communities – Firm Experience and Capacity:
• Over 30 years of local and regional experience
• Qualified, capable staffing
• Multi-lingual abilities
RESULTS AND SCORING RATIONALE
RiversideCA.gov
6 – Schedule:
• Appropriate time allocation and availability
• Clear goals and deadlines
– Cost:
• Realistic costs for each specific tasks
• Reasonable expectation of the work required for the
project.
• A 10% ($95,000) price reduction.
RESULTS AND SCORING RATIONALE
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7 • Funding is intended to revitalize local communities and create long term business resilience:
– New hiring and employee training
– Façade improvements
– Business equipment and security
– Computer and software upgrades
– Marketing and branding campaigns for business attraction
THE PROGRAM
RiversideCA.gov
8 Strategic Priority No. 3—Economic Opportunity, and
Goal 3.4– Collaborate with key partners to implement policies and programs that promote local business growth and ensure equitable opportunities for all.
Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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9 1. Approve the proposed ARPA Subrecipient Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Community Connect for $779,948.05 of ARPA Funds to administer a City of Riverside small and micro-business COVID recovery grant program; and
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the American Rescue Plan Act Subrecipient Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Community Connect, including making minor and non-substantive changes to complete the transaction.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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