Submitted by: Candace Hollingsworth
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
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Hyattsville COVID-19 Pandemic Fund (Criteria)
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council authorize the City Administrator to execute such agreements and transfers necessary to provide for the following uses of funds appropriated for the Hyattsville COVID-19 Relief Fund-
• Provide a restricted donation of $300,000 to Hyattsville Community Development Corporation to support its Community Action Fund. Funds provided shall be used to provide cash assistance to (or on behalf of) individuals residing in the incorporated City of Hyattsville for rent/mortgage relief, utilities, and other demonstrable, emergent expenses. To the extent that Hyattsville Community Development Corporation can support a donor-directed fund, any donations made in support of residents in the City of Hyattsville shall increase the amount available to Hyattsville residents via the Community Action Fund for this purpose. The fund shall provide for an administrative fee of 2% to Hyattsville Community Development Corporation.
• Provide a restricted donation of $100,000.00 to Employ Prince George’s to support its Hourly Worker Relief Fund. Funds provided shall be used to provide cash assistance to individuals residing in the incorporated City of Hyattsville. Recipients may reapply monthly if funds are available. To the extent that Employ Prince George’s can support a donor-directed fund, any donations made in support of residents in the City of Hyattsville shall increase the amount available to Hyattsville residents via the Hourly Worker Relief Fund for this purpose. The City of Hyattsville’s donation shall provide for an administrative fee of 2% to Employ Prince George’s.
• Provide a restricted donation of $100,000.00 to CASA de Maryland (dba CASA) to support its Solidarity Fund. Funds provided shall be used to provide cash assistance to individuals residing in the incorporated City of Hyattsville. Recipients may reapply monthly if funds are available.
Recipients of restricted donations may be required to report on expenditures on a schedule to be determined by the City Administrator (or her designee).
I further move that the Mayor and Council authorize the City Administrator (or her designee) to develop an application and ancillary communications materials to support the administration of a grant program for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs must begin accepting applications no later than June 1, 2020.
Eligible entities must have a current and valid permit in the City of Hyattsville or have filings (prior to March 13, 2020) indicating a location in the incorporated City of Hyattsville as the principal place of business. The program shall provide grants of up to $2,500 ($1,000 for artist grants) for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of operations. Applicants may apply once per quarter and receive up to $10,000 in total funding, based on funding availability. Businesses may apply to multiple programs but may only receive support from one program per cycle.
Funds shall be specifically designated to support businesses as follows-
• $175,000 for businesses with fewer than 100 employees at a single (Hyattsville) location;
• $175,000 for minority-, women-, veteran-owned, and single-employee businesses;
• $100,000 allocated for childcare centers (including family childcare centers); and
• $50,000 allocated for working artists. A working artist is one who receives more than 50% of their income from their artistic enterprise. This includes, but is not limited to, film and theater professionals whose work supports production, independent artists for hire, curators whose practice is contractual and not supported by a full-time employment affiliation, and artists-in-residence working on freelance/contractual basis.
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Summary Background:
The Hyattsville City Council authorized the Hyattsville COVID-19 Pandemic Fund and indicated a deadline of May 4th to determine the priorities for use of the fund.
Next Steps:
Staff will proceed with setting up the fund while Council establishes the priorities and criteria.
Fiscal Impact:
$1M
City Administrator Comments:
The City is able to financially support this request by using funds from the general fund reserves.
Community Engagement:
TBD
Strategic Goals:
Goal 2 - Ensure the Long-Term Economic Viability of the City
Legal Review Required?
Complete