Submitted by: Patrick Paschall
Submitting Department: Finance
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
title
Emergency Food Assistance Relief Programs - ARPA
end
Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council allocate $200,000 to establish a non-profit food assistance programs serving Hyattsville residents, and authorizing expenses in the form of grants up to $25,000 per food assistance provider for the purpose of providing free meal programs to Hyattsville residents in need.
end
Summary Background:
The City of Hyattsville has been awarded $17.9 million under the American Rescue Plan Act, which is intended to be used for reinvestment back into our community focusing both on immediate pandemic-related needs of our community and addressing structural barriers that were exacerbated during the pandemic.
The City has conducted an extensive outreach process to hear from the community about pandemic-related emergency relief needs, in an effort to tailor relief programs to the needs of our community. Through our public engagement process, we heard from over 400 unique individuals provide feedback via community listening sessions, an online feedback form, paper requests for feedback mailed to each home, and other outreach methods.
One of the most common concerns residents raised was access to food. This program will provide funding support to non-profit food assistance programs that provide free food to residents in the City of Hyattsville.
Eligibility:
• Eligible entities include nonprofits that are corporations, associations, agencies, or faith-based organizations with a 170 (c)(1),501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) nonprofit status under the Internal Revenue Service Code. For-profit entities are not eligible.
• Organization must be in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation
• Proof of General Liability Insurance
Award Limitations:
• Up to $25,000 per food assistance program
• Quarterly reporting on award uses and outcomes will be required, until the award is expended
• Programs must serve City of Hyattsville Residents - applicants must establish the extent their program serves Hyattsville residents through the food assistance program, and can only be funded for the costs of serving Hyattsville residents.
Next Steps:
The City will develop an application, selection criteria, and an internal staff committee to review proposals. The City will then publish a Notice of Funding Availability, inviting eligible providers to submit applications to support food assistance programs that serve City residents. Awards are expected in Summer 2022.
Fiscal Impact:
$200,000, paid for using American Rescue Plan Act funds
City Administrator Comments:
Recommends approval.
Community Engagement:
An extensive community engagement process has been undertaken to gather information about community needs.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 2 - Ensure the Long-Term Economic Viability of the City
Legal Review Required?
N/A