Fiscal Note
This resolution allocates $50,000 in funds previously approved within the City's 2014 adopted Operating Budget under Madison Food Policy Council grants as part of the budget's Miscellaneous Appropriations. No additional appropriation is required.
Title
Approving the allocation of $50,000 in previously authorized funds from Miscellaneous Appropriations to fund ten proposals received during the 2014 Madison Food Policy Council "SEED" Grants funding process, and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into agreements with the associated agencies, organizations and groups to implement the designated projects or programs.
Body
WHEREAS, in the adopted 2014 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 2014 Madison Food Policy Council "SEED" Grant funding process, 26 proposals, which included $181,464.50 in total funding requests, were received by the Mayor's Office; and
WHEREAS, in the first ever year of SEED grants, 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 Funding Working 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 Funding Working Group held two public 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 5, 2014, the Madison Food Policy Council approved the recommendations of the Funding Working Group; and
WHEREAS, a total of ten SEED proposals were funded (recomendations of the working group), totaling $50,000 (specific proposals and funding recommendations are shown below):
1. Madison Public Library Foundation, Inc., "Good Snack Club": up to $7,200 to create a new pilot program for afterschool youth in the Meadowood neighborhood to provide nutritious snack options at the library and neighborhood center.
2. REAP Food Group, Inc., "Improving School Access to Fresh Produce via Salad Bars": up to $7,200 to purchase and install refrigeration equipment at two elementary schools, Lincoln and Orchard Elementary, to implement daily salad bars as a part of the school lunch program.
3. Bayview Foundation, Inc., "Brittingham Farmers' Market": up to $6,000 to establish a farmers' market at Brittingham Park through staffing for market coordination, promotion of the event, and basic supplies for the market.
4. Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Inc., "Vera Court Community Garden": up to $5,700 to establish a community gardens in the Vera Court community, directly behind Mendota Elementary School. Most funds will go towards the build out of raised garden beds.
5. Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens, Inc., "Improve Food Handling Flexcon Totes": up to $1,225 for the purchase of flexcon totes to improve transportation and handling of produce from pantry gardens to food pantries.
6. FairShare CSA Coalition, Inc., "Partnership pilot program to increase low-income household CSA membership": up to $1,900 to provide printing, translation, and presenter assistance to go towards the establishment of a pilot program to increase CSA membership among low-income households.
7. Center for Non-Profits, School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Board of Regents for University of Wisconsin System, "Slow Food Odyssey for Growing Community Power in South Madison": up to $3,291 for the establishment of three fall "Odyssey" dinners and outreach at said dinners to increase participation in the Growing Power Farmers' Market Basket program.
8. Akira Toki Middle School, Madison Metropolitan School District, "Growing a Healthy Meadowood Community (Learning to Grow & Growing to Learn): up to $5,092 to expand the school garden, purchase supplies, support curriculum development, and support publicity of the programming.
9. Irvin A. and Robert D. Goodman Community Center, Inc., "Healthful Access Program": up to $5,092 to expand food pantry hours, add childcare services, and provide cooking demos at the Goodman Community Center.
10. Spring Rose Growers Cooperative, "Cooperative Harvest for Healthy Communities": up to $7,300 to establish a pilot "vegetable voucher" program at two satellite public health clinics. The two sites, East Washington Avenue and South Park Street, WIC clients will be able to pick up their benefit checks and addtionally receive vouchers for purchase of seasonal vegetables at the sites through the weekly delivery from the Cooperative.
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 details 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.