Non-profits that provide human or social services to benefit Goodyear residents are eligible to apply for grants from the city. The Goodyear Community Funding Subcommittee has received and reviewed 30 applications and is recommending 18 to receive a total of $132,400 in funding from the $214,400 available for competitive award in FY2022-2023.

Approve the recommended allocations for FY2022-2023 Community Funding. (Christina Panaitescu, Grants & Neighborhood Services Supervisor)

The city’s Community Funding program was formalized by a 2001 council resolution. At that time, the following criteria was developed to guide the consideration of requests for community funding support:

• Benefit to the community (current and historic)
• Community need
• Whether the service is already provided (i.e. avoid duplication)
• Geographic service area
• Methods of documenting the benefits to be provided in the community
• Clarity of the projects stated goals and objectives
• Longevity and reputation of the organization’s service in the community
• Follow-up documentation provided for previous application
• Ability to obtain funding from other sources
• Evidence of organization’s tax-exempt status

At a December 13, 2021, work session, Council expressed an interest in supporting the priority areas identified in the Community & Neighborhood Services Master Plan, Phase I: Human Services.

Year One recommendations from the plan include:

• The establishment and/or expansion of:
  • childcare services during non-traditional hours,
  • mental health services that provide trauma-informed care,
  • peer support groups,
  • substance use and misuse education and services that provide trauma-informed care,
  • tele-services or mobile-service delivery models, and
  • transportation access during non-traditional transit hours.
• Nutritious and fresh food, clothing, shelter, and emergency financial assistance for Goodyear residents in crisis or facing instability.
• Container/Community gardens in low-to-moderate income areas.
• Transitional facilities for people fleeing or recovering from abuse.

City staff solicited proposals from non-profits, reviewed them for completeness and prepared them for review by the City Council subcommittee. The subcommittee met to discuss the applications on June 10 and their recommendations are being advanced for consideration and approval of the full City Council.

Applications were available on the city’s website, and emailed to past applicants, members of the Goodyear Faith & Community Roundtable and individuals who had contacted the city to request information about the grant opportunity, on April 15. Information was also shared with local media contacts. A pre-application webinar was hosted on April 19, and a recording of the webinar remained on the website throughout the application period.
 
The application deadline was May 15. On June 10, the Community Funding Subcommittee met to discuss the applications and established consensus on the following 18 funding recommendations totaling $132,400:
 

Applicant	Recommendation
A New Leaf to support Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program services for low/moderate income Goodyear residents in 2022-23.	$5,000
Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank to mitigate the increased costs of goods and services, including labor costs.	$15,000
All Faith Community Services to expand mobile service delivery in Goodyear.	$25,000
Angels on Patrol to stabilize Goodyear residents through requests from Goodyear Police Officers.	$4,500
Area Agency on Aging to buy meals for Goodyear residents with limited access to nutritious food.	$10,000
AZ Community Impact to support the general operations of service delivery in Goodyear.	$1,900
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona to pay for a portion of the salaries of staff members who provide direct services in the Goodyear Community-Based Mentoring Program (a Community Relations Specialist and Program Specialists).	$2,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) to support salaries and fringe benefit support for program staff who organize and conduct the various programs (youth direct care staff).	$8,000
Catitude Gallery & Studio, DBA CATITUDE ARTS for art supplies and/or stipends for art instructors and muralists.	$3,000
Central Arizona Shelter Services, Inc. (CASS) to support general operating costs for expanding emergency shelter programs.	$5,000
Helping Families In Need to support the workforce needed to provide services in Goodyear.	$10,000
Homeless Youth Connection to provide basic needs, case management, and housing to homeless youth who are attending high schools or residing in the city of Goodyear.	$1,500
Hope Community Services Inc to help cover the gap between AHCCCS insurance reimbursement and the true cost of care.	$7,500
Mission of Mercy to support the medical care expenses of Goodyear residents, which include medical staff, prescription medications, and medical supplies.	$2,000
Sounds of Autism to continue building strong community partnerships that support the Autism K-12 Schools along with the Goodyear Police Department SRO Team.	$7,500
Southwest Lending Closet to maintain operations, purchase equipment and repair parts, utilities, occupancy, and office supplies.	$15,000
St. Mary's Food Bank to procure food that will be distributed to hungry people in Goodyear through three different program activities.	$7,500
Valley of the Sun YMCA towards purchasing prepared meals and food supplies to provide meals and snacks to children within the childcare program.	$2,000
Total	$132,400

A summary of all applications received has been attached for reference.