title
Receive a presentation of accomplishments from recipients of American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide and increase the capacity to provide emergency food services
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator’s Office recommends the Solano County Board of Supervisors receive a presentation of accomplishments from recipients of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide and increase the capacity to provide emergency food services.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On June 7, 2022, the Board of Supervisors allocated $2 million in ARPA funds to non-profit agencies for the provision of emergency food services to Solano County residents who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and $3 million to enable agencies to build their capacity to provide emergency food services. Notices of Funding Availability were issued on June 29, 2022 and September 29, 2022, respectively, and as a result, the following grants were awarded:
Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano, Inc. (CCYS) - CCYS received $100,000 for the provision of emergency food at 22 pop-up events and direct distribution of 150 bags of groceries per month during street outreach activities. These were estimated to provide emergency food consisting of a minimum of 80% fresh produce and culturally relevant food to approximately 1,000 unduplicated households. With $250,000 in capacity building funding, CCYS committed to purchasing and installing a commercial refrigerator and freezer as well as storage racks and additional storage equipment and hiring additional staff to assist in providing two new pop-up events and one additional street outreach event per month. This is estimated to increase storage capacity by 50% and serve an additional 50 households with food distribution and provide an additional 600 meals per month through the street outreach events.
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano - The Food Bank received $500,000 for the provision of emergency food to establish partnerships with at least three new vendors who are local, women, or minority, or other socially disadvantaged owned businesses to provide emergency food to almost 100,000 individuals in Solano County with 50% of the food consisting of fresh produce. With $515,000 to build capacity, the Food Bank committed to acquiring a refrigerated truck and hiring a licensed driver and supervisor to plan and launch deliveries rather than requiring food be picked up by partnering agencies. This would result in increasing the amount of food provided to partnering agencies for distribution by 25% or 65,000 pounds per year.
Food is Free Solano (FIFS) (now known as Food is Free Bay Area) - FIFS received $347,000 for the provision of emergency food through twice-weekly direct distribution and 44 Park-It Market events reaching approximately 13,000 individuals, enabling them to receive 164,000 pounds of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables. With $359,370 in funding to build capacity, FIFS committed to acquiring a refrigerated van and truck with liftgate, as well as acquiring and installing two refrigerated storage containers and training staff. This would result in approximately two additional Park-It Market events per month, serving approximately 1,200 additional unduplicated households per year and decreasing food insecurity.
Meals on Wheels (MOW) - MOW received $1,053,000 for the provision of emergency food consisting of nutritious snacks for seniors as part of their weekly food delivery. Approximately 1,400 unduplicated seniors would receive four snacks per week, reducing their food insecurity. With $1,835,000 to build capacity, MOW would acquire the building located at 1000 Union Avenue in Fairfield to support agency growth. This would enable them to assist 15% more older adults and/or increase the number of meals provided each week.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Manna Food Pantry - St. Mark’s was awarded $40,000 in capacity building funds to install ADA accessible sidewalks and ramps and a restroom for clients to facilitate access to their food pantry.
Contracts for the provision of emergency food services began on September 1, 2022 and are due to expire on June 30, 2024. Contracts for capacity building began on February 1, 2023 and are due to expire on July 31, 2024. Most, but not all, funds have been spent; staff will continue to work with the agencies that still have funding available to extend their contracts so they may continue to provide emergency food services until the funds are exhausted while still ensuring compliance with the final federal expenditure date of December 31, 2026.
During the presentation, the agencies will provide details on what they have achieved with the grant funds thus far, and plans to ensure the remaining funds are exhausted, if applicable.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost to receive the presentation. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive the presentation; however, this is not recommended as it gives the Board the opportunity to hear firsthand from the recipients of ARPA funds about how effective the funding was in providing emergency food services to Solano County residents who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano, the Food Bank of Contra Costa-Solano, Food is Free Solano (Bay Area), and Meals on Wheels all assisted in preparing the presentation.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION