Approve American Rescue Plan Community Benefit Grant proposals for NAMI Yolo County for $5,000, Davis Media Access for $5,000, and Meals on Wheels for $7,000, totaling $17,000; delegate authority to staff to enter into the necessary agreements, and delegate authority to the Manager of Procurement to sign the agreements. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/Espitia)

Background
On July 25, 2023, the Board of Supervisors received an update on the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and a set of recommendations from staff for the use of remaining funding. At that time, staff recommended setting aside $500,000 for the Community Benefit Equal Allocation Plan. The Plan equally allocated a portion of that funding to each of the five supervisorial districts, allowing each Supervisor to provide grants to local Community-Based Organizations (CBO) operating within their districts. The Board approved the plan at that meeting, further augmenting the funding to $750,000. On June 4, 2024, the Board approved an additional $25,000 per supervisorial district and increased the total amount to $875,000. 

A brief description of the funding proposal follows: 

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Yolo County
This agreement would provide $5,000 from District 4 for the NAMI Yolo County. NAMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The NAMIWalk event is scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Woodland Community College. This $5,000 grant for NAMI Yolo County will provide for their annual NAMIWalks Yolo County program which seeks to achieve 3 objectives to support the work of NAMI Yolo. NAMIWalks aims to 1) promote awareness of mental health and reduce stigma around it, 2) raise funds so that NAMI can provide their top-rated mental health programs for free, 3) build a community in the mental health space (both providers and receivers of services) and let those struggling with mental health know that they are not alone.

Davis Media Access
This agreement would provide $5,000 from District 4 for Davis Media Access to fund a deep community needs information assessment. Davis Media Access, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Davis Media Access’s work towards launching a Civic Information Hub in Davis and Yolo County. The commitment of $5,000 is in support of the planning grant for this project. While DMA will seek funding from the $500 million allocated nationally to fund projects that reimagine local news, they are seeking funding for an initial planning grant of $50,000 that will fund a deep community information needs assessment. That assessment will let DMA approach major project funders armed with rich data and a very clear idea of what is needed and could work here in Davis and Yolo County, and would make DMA an even more competitive applicant. On April 9, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved a $5,000 ARP Community Benefit Grant allocation from District 2. 

Meals on Wheels
This agreement would provide $4,500 from District 4 for Meals on Wheels. This $4,500 grant will provide funding for the meal delivery programs of the Yolo County branch of Meals on Wheels America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation by delivering meals to their homes multiple times a week. As the nation’s senior population grows rapidly, it is important to support services that are dedicated to assisting their lives in any way possible and especially with basic needs such as their next meal. This grant will also contribute towards Meals pm Wheels Yolo County’s progress in their 2023-2026 strategic plan which aims to increase the nonprofit’s client base to 2,000 individuals by 2026. Similarly, the Meals on Wheels strategic plan seeks to double total funds available to the organization by 2026, including through obtaining an increase in governmental support by $2 million.

Additionally, Supervisor Barajas (District 5) would like to provide Meals on Wheels Yolo County with $2,500 from the ARP Community Fund for the much-needed programs and services. Meals on Wheels Yolo County does critical work to support our community's food-insecure seniors. By delivering nutritious meals directly to their homes, MOW Yolo ensures that our senior neighbors not only receive essential nourishment but also experience meaningful social connections. This program significantly enhances their quality of life and helps them maintain independence.

Recommended Action
Staff is requesting authority to complete and sign the agreements with the named organizations in the amount described above. The agreement will utilize the language shown in Att. A. Agreement Template.

Grant recipients are selected by the Supervisor's Districts and reviewed by the County Administrator's Office. County Counsel and the Department of Financial Services reviewed and approved the benefit agreement language in Att. A. Agreement Template.

The respective Supervisors' District staff review potential beneficiaries of the available ARP funding, and the Supervisor selects beneficiaries and funding amounts. District Staff then begin preparation of the agreements. The County Administrator's Office reviews the spending proposals and verifies that the proposed beneficiary meets any necessary requirements under federal and state laws. The proposal is then brought to the Board for delegation of authority to complete and sign the agreement in advance of any funding disbursement.