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Approve the Farmbudsman Program operating agreement between the County of Solano and Workforce Development Board/Solano Small Business Development Center for an amount not to exceed $35,000 for the period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreement
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the Farmbudsman Program operating agreement between the County of Solano and Workforce Development Board/Solano Small Business Development Center (WDB/Solano SBDC) for an amount not to exceed $35,000 for the period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreement.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of the Solano County Farmbudsman Program is to provide consulting or training services to farmers, ranchers and agriculture-related businesses located in, or that will be located in Solano County, to facilitate and expedite the development of promising value-added agricultural projects, to provide regulatory support and advise in complying with the regulatory process, and includes activities related to preserving and enhancing agriculture as a viable industry for its cultural, environmental and economic benefit.
The County has contracted with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to administer the Farmbudsman Program since 2013. Solano SBDC’s mission is to provide assistance to entrepreneurs in order to enhance the entrepreneur’s business skills and to expand, enhance and/or maintain business operations. Since the Farmbudsman Program’s inception, this model has provided an economic benefit to Solano County.
WDB/Solano SBDC seeks to continue to work with Solano County and to continue to administer the Farmbudsman Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The proposed operating agreement, for an amount not to exceed $35,000, will be used to reimburse WDB/Solano SBDC for Farmbudsman services offered to clients to facilitate and expedite the development of promising value-added agricultural projects, to provide regulatory support and advise in complying with the regulatory process, and training programs in which clients are asked to participate. The agreement will fund a Farmbudsman position employed by WDB/Solano SBDC and allows for 16 hours of work per week at $30/hour, and includes employer share of payroll taxes, $780 for travel, and $2,260 for program outreach. The Farmbudsman Program is funded primarily with County General Fund. The cost of the operating agreement is included in the Promotion Department’s FY2019/20 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The County has contracted with the Small Business Development Center since 2013 to administer the Farmbudsman program. Solano Community College first hosted the SBDC in Solano County, but ceased in June 2017. The County then entered into an agreement in July 2017 with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation’s Northern California (Norcal) SBDC, as a lead SBDC center hosted by Humboldt State University, assumed the administration of the SBDC in Solano County until a new agency could be located as a host.
In August 2018, Norcal SBDC released a solicitation seeking an eligible organization to host the SBDC in Solano County, and in December 2018, the Workforce Development Board (WDB) was awarded the contract. Four cities provided cash matches to support the project. The Solano SBDC office relocated to the WDB location in the Cordelia area on January 1, 2019, and the Farmbudsman position transitioned to the WDB as the new host agency for the Solano SBDC on January 24, 2019.
The primary objective of the Farmbudsman program is to facilitate and expedite the development of promising value-added agricultural projects. The Farmbudsman will meet quarterly with the Chair of the Board of Supervisors or the Board’s designee, and with the Farmbudsman Program Committee. The Farmbudsman Program Committee, which provides oversight, will establish and evaluate annual target measures and standards to measure the success of the program. The Farmbudsman Program Committee includes the Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights and Measures, the Director of Resource Management, County Administrator’s Office and a representative from WDB/Solano SBDC. Measures of success include interactions with clients, the volume of agricultural businesses with which the Farmbudsman interacts and increases in investment in agricultural businesses.
The agreement, consistent with the prior agreement, allows for 16 hours of work per week with the Farmbudsman position employed by Solano SBDC, and provides the Farmbudsman with a dedicated office, which allows for storage of Farmbudsman materials, a facility to host meetings/workshops, a strong internet signal/connection for consistent communication and occasional remote counseling services, and a computer. WDB/Solano SBDC will continue to provide financial status reports and performance reports on a quarterly basis. Differences from the prior agreement include the Ag Department assuming administration of the Solano Grown website and recording of minutes for the Agricultural Advisory Committee, which will allow the Farmbudsman more hours to focus on client interactions.
As in the prior agreement, the Farmbudsman will continue to provide administration services for the Solano Grown Program, a non-profit organization that was developed through Solano County’s commitment to agricultural viability, and to assist with the content management of the Solano Grown website and to comply with the financial requirements to maintain the non-profit status.
Additionally, WDB/Solano SBDC uses state and federal funds, augmented by local match requirements, to assist entrepreneurs in enhancing/developing their business skills and to expand and/or maintain business operations. This agreement, to the extent permitted by state and federal guidelines, will enable the WDB/Solano SBDC to leverage funds provided by Solano for the Farmbudsman Program as local match requirements. With more match funding, the Solano SBDC can also provide Farmbudsman clients additional counseling expertise from 13 expert advisors who specialize in areas such as access to capital, tech commercialization, bookkeeping, human resources, financial management and marketing.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the operating agreement. This is not recommended as the agreement represents an opportunity to move forward on an initiative repeatedly identified as a strategy to enhance the agricultural industry in Solano County. The Board could suggest modifications to the agreement, which would require seeking the concurrence of WDB/Solano SBDC.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Farmbudsman Program Committee, consisting of the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner, the Director of Resource Management, the County Administrator’s Office and a representative from WDB/Solano SBDC have been consulted. On a quarterly basis, the Farmbudsman Program Committee meets with the Farmbudsman to review program activity and to assist the Farmbudsman in addressing client project objectives.
County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION