Consent 1.H.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/28/2011
- TITLE
- Application Submittal for Summer Associates Program, AmeriCorps*VISTA
- PRESENTED BY:
- Brenda Beckett, Community Development Manager
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
Information
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The Community Development Division has been approached by the Corporation for National and Community Services regarding sponsoring a Summer Associates program in 2011. The Billings Metro VISTA Project’s Summer Associates Program would place up to seven AmeriCorps VISTA members in service positions for a ten-week period beginning on June 5 and ending on August 13, 2011.
The VISTA program allows for existing project sponsors to supplement their anti-poverty activities with an infusion of "hands-on volunteers" during the summer months. Unlike year-round VISTAs, Summer Associates can perform direct service activities. VISTAs may also serve as mentors and coordinators for the Summer Associates. The summer program is a prime opportunity to introduce individuals, particularly college age students, to national service with the hope it will lead to their participation in full-time programs later on.
Community Development staff forwarded this opportunity to all members of the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness and the Billings Area Resource Network to garner interest, and received written responses from the Billings Public Schools (Summer Lunch-in-the-Park) and Montana Rescue Mission (Summer Program for children placed at the Women and Family Shelter).
The Community Development Board reviewed the proposed project on March 17, 2011 and recommended approval.
The VISTA program allows for existing project sponsors to supplement their anti-poverty activities with an infusion of "hands-on volunteers" during the summer months. Unlike year-round VISTAs, Summer Associates can perform direct service activities. VISTAs may also serve as mentors and coordinators for the Summer Associates. The summer program is a prime opportunity to introduce individuals, particularly college age students, to national service with the hope it will lead to their participation in full-time programs later on.
Community Development staff forwarded this opportunity to all members of the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness and the Billings Area Resource Network to garner interest, and received written responses from the Billings Public Schools (Summer Lunch-in-the-Park) and Montana Rescue Mission (Summer Program for children placed at the Women and Family Shelter).
The Community Development Board reviewed the proposed project on March 17, 2011 and recommended approval.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
1) To submit an application for the AmeriCorps*VISTA Summer Associates Project; 2) To not submit an application for the AmeriCorps*VISTA Summer Associates Project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The City is not required to commit funding to the project. Each VISTA placement’s personnel value is estimated at $5,000 and seven VISTA Summer Associates are being requested ($35,000 grant). The state projects have assessed a fee of $600 per successful recruit and both projects have committed to financially supporting the administration of this project. Project award is pending Congressional funding allocation for the program via the Corporation for National and Community Services.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council authorize submission of an application for a Summer Associates Program through the exisiting AmeriCorps*VISTA Project and authorize City staff to negotiate and finalize the project if awarded.