City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: September 5, 2023
From: Scott Williams, Director of Finance
Department: Finance
Submitted by: Jessica Alcaraz, Financial Services Administrator Subject
Community Development Block Grant Program Closeout for Coronavirus Response Rounds 2 and 3
Recommendation
Receive and file the report summarizing the accomplishments performed under the Community Development Block Grant Agreement 20-CDBG-CV-2-3-00153 and authorize staff to proceed with submitting required documents for closeout to the State.
Background
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) published a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Community Development Block Grant Program – Coronavirus Response Round 2 and 3 (CDBG-CV 2 and 3). As a local non-entitlement jurisdiction, the City was allocated $247,979 based on the formula provided HCD to aid in offsetting costs for activities related to COVID-19.
On September 21, 2021, Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-31 approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement 20-CDBG-CV-2-3-00153 with HCD.
The full $247,979 awarded was expended for the operations of the AltaMed services for COVID19 screening and testing. Early in the pandemic, the City partnered with AltaMed to promptly mobilize and effectively respond to Coronavirus. Grants totaling $250,000 were given to AltaMed to aid with operational costs incurred in setting up outdoor evaluation and testing centers to meet the need of underserved, high-risk communities across Los Angeles and Orange County. Three of the nine centers were located in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) region. From March 15, 2020 to July 20, 2020, the evaluation centers in SELA completed 20,798 medical assessments serving City of Vernon residents, businesses, and neighboring community members. AltaMed’s main focus was to leverage testing to identify the sick and to provide targeted care to the most vulnerable populations offering an invaluable service during the peak of the pandemic.
The program under agreement 20-CBG-CV-2-3-00153 has been completed. Staff has submitted final funds requests for all eligible expenses and will submit the required closeout documents to initiate the closeout process after Council approval.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. AltaMed COVID-19 Response Efforts Report