Title
Institute for Workforce Innovation Donation for Banks-Cosby Building Renovation (B)
Acceptance of a donation valued in an amount up to $120,000 from the Institute for Workforce Innovation (IWI) to be used toward the cost of renovations of the Banks-Cosby Building located at 635 NW 6th Street, Gainesville, FL.
Explanation
This item requests that the City Commission accept a donation valued in an amount up to $120,000 from the Institute for Workforce Innovation (IWI) to be used toward the cost of renovations of the City-owned Banks-Cosby Building located at 635 NW 6th Street, Gainesville, FL.
The City purchased and owns the Banks-Cosby Building located at 635 NW 6th Street, Gainesville, FL, which was purchased with funds from the United States Department of Justice, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering, Equitable Share Program (Federal Forfeiture) funds in July 2007.
Pursuant to the Federal Forfeiture Program and the United States Department of Justice policies, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) must utilize the Banks-Cosby building for law enforcement purposes and community based programs, including, drug crime prevention, gang education and awareness, housing and job skills programs; and may not lease the building.
As outlined in the July 19, 2016 agreement between the IWI and the City of Gainesville, IWI has pledged to make contributions valued up to $120,000 for the cost of construction/renovation work of the Banks-Cosby Youth Empowerment Center. The $120,000 pledge will be comprised of labor provided by Project Youth Build students, donated materials, and in-kind services provided by trade professionals, along with cash payments.
IWI's Project Youth Build is an intensive 7-month academic, occupational, and leadership skills program that serves young people ages 16 -24 with low incomes who have dropped out of school. While in Project Youth Build, students participate in an innovative alternative education program that provides individu...
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