Title
FY 2014-2015 Funding Recommendations for the Community Grant Program (B)
The City Commission is requested to consider approval of the City's State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) funding recommendations for allocating the FY 2014-2015 Community Grant Program funds. **ESTIMATED STAFF PRESENTATION 15 MINUTES**
Explanation
The City Commission approved the Community Grant Program (CGP) in FY2010-2011. The purpose of the CGP is to provide small amounts of funding to non-profit organizations performing community services that advance City goals to support activities that serve a public purpose and improve the quality of life for Gainesville residents. The City Commission has indicated a desire to allocate $125,000 per year for the CGP, with 10% set aside for program administration. The maximum annual grant award is $3,000 per eligible non-profit organization. The City Commission developed and adopted guidelines describing eligible organizations, reimbursable activities, and program requirements and procedures. The Commission expressed a desire to keep the CGP application process simple for both the applicants and staff. The Commission also indicated that it would like to fund as many eligible programs as possible within the approved program budget.
Starting with the FY 2014-2015 CGP funding year, the City partnered with The United Way to offer organizations the opportunity to apply for CGP funding via an online application system. The City also invited all interested organizations to attend a training workshop to assist them with the new online application process. The City also received positive feedback from the organizations to continue the online application process in the future.
The City received forty (40) agency funding requests totaling $115,620. As required by the CGP guidelines, the AHAC reviewed all of the applications and made funding recommendations at its May 21, 2014 public meeting. The total allocation available to fund agency programs and services is $112,500. Based on the application information submitted, two organizations did not meet the CGP eligibility requirements. Because the AHAC determined that all the other applicant organizations were eligible and met the program's funding criteria, the AHAC recommended that each organization receive their funding amount requested. The total of all eligible organization's funding requests equaled $110,920, leaving a remaining balance of $1,580 CGP funding unallocated. The AHAC's FY 2014-2015 CGP funding recommendations for each agency are attached for reference (Attachment A).
Fiscal Note
The City Commission is expected to allocate $125,000 for the FY 2014-2015 Community Grant Program, with $112,500 available for program awards and a 10% set aside for program administration.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) consider approval of the AHAC's funding recommendations for the FY 2014-2015 Community Grant Program; and 2) authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the funding agreements and other related documents with the approved organizations to disburse the grant funds, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.