Fiscal Note
This resolution allocates $50,000 in funds previously approved with the City's 2015 Operating Budget under Madison Food Policy Council grants. No additional funds are being requested, and there is no impact on the City levy.
Title
Approving the allocation of $50,000 in previously authorized funds from Miscellaneous Appropriations to fund nine proposals received during the 2015 Madison Food Policy Council "SEED" Grants funding process, and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into agreements with the associated agencies, organizations, groups, and individuals to implement the designated projects or programs.
Body
WHEREAS, in the adopted 2015 City of Madison Operating Budget there is $50,000 in Miscellaneous Appropriations designated to the Madison Food Policy Council to deliver as grant funds and authorizes a working group of the Food Policy Council to deliver said funds; and
WHEREAS, as part of the 2015 Madison Food Policy Council "SEED" Grant funding process, 13 proposals, which included $82,998.04 in total funding requests, were received by the Mayor's Office; and
WHEREAS, the overwhelming response demonstrates the need for food system-related grants now and in the future; and
WHEREAS, the nature of the responses also indicates a great need in collaborative funding efforts with other stakeholders within the city and county; and
WHEREAS, the applications were subsequently evaluated by the Funding Working Group of the Madison Food Policy Council, in order to recommend no more than the authorized amount of $50,000; and
WHEREAS, the work group placed priority on applications that were new projects/programs, targeted areas of need, were not currently funded by the City, and if staffing costs were requested, there was a clear demonstration of replacement for SEED funding in future years; and
WHEREAS, the work group held two meetings to evaluate the proposals, including one meeting in which finalists were invited to make presentations and to answer questions about their proposals; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2015, the Madison Food Policy Council approved the recommendations of the Funding Working Group; and
WHEREAS, a total of nine SEED proposals were funded (recommendations of the working group), totaling $50,000 (specific proposals and funding recommendations are shown below); and
WHEREAS, the availability of $50,000 in Miscellaneous Appropriations under the Madison Food Policy Council "SEED" Grants is sufficient to cover the Council's recommended program/project funding allocations for nine proposals, as specified below:
· Brentwood Gardens for Empowerment, Brentwood G4E Collaboration: up to $8,450 for staffing and supplies to support the work of a youth employment gardening program in the Brentwood neighborhood.
· Food Pantry Superfood Perennial Gardens, Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens, Inc: up to $2,500 for plants, materials, and fencing to grow and provide fruits and vegetables to food pantries across the city.
· Meet & Eat: Work Incubation Program, Let's Eat Out! Inc: up to $8,078 for staffing, meal subsidies, supplies, and other services to support the Meet and Eat program at four sites across the city; Meadowood, Allied Dr., Glendale, and Rimrock.
· PEAT Program Carrot-Pumpkin Protein Bars, Growing Power Madison: up to $8,500 for youth internship stipends, staffing, transportation, and supplies to establish an entrepreneurial summer internship program at Growing Power at Badger Rock Middle School.
· Access to Health Food and Meals Through LCEC, Lussier Community Education Center: up to $3,832 for program food, supplies, and staffing to expand the food pantry and community dinners and services to enroll in food access programs provided through the Lussier Community Education Center.
· Allied Co-op Buying Implementation Project, Allied Community Cooperative: up to $6,000 for staffing and transportation to coordinate the establishment of a buying club in the Allied Drive and Dunn's Marsh neighborhoods through the Allied Community Cooperative.
· Farm to School To Go Kits, REAP Food Group: up to $3,500 for farm supplies, printing materials, and staffing to create and coordinate a farm-to-school education kit program available at 13 Madison Metropolitan Schools through REAP Food Group.
· Free Vegetables for School Children, Dane County Pantry Brigade: up to $3,440 for youth intern stipends, FEED Kitchens rental and storage space, and staffing for the establishment of a youth internship program to deliver fresh, local produce to low-income households.
· Healthful Access Program, Goodman Community Center: up to $5,700 for staffing, cooking demonstrations, and supplies for the expansion of activities to provide youth cooking classes, demonstrations, and child care at the Goodman Community Center.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Madison Common Council approves the recommendations of the Funding Working Group of the Madison Food Policy Council to provide funding for the programs and projects in the amounts detailed above; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute agreements with the above listed agencies, organizations, or companies (or their fiscal agents) for the described activities.