Agenda Item Name:
Title
American Rescue Plan - State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Program Update - Alachua County Food Security - Strike Out Hunger, Household Assistance Food Program for Disadvantaged Communities (ARP2021x008)
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Presenter:
Sean McLendon, Office of SEEDS
Description:
Presentation of a program update for the in-process Household Assistance Food Program for Disadvantaged Communities
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Hear presentation
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Prior Board Motions:
October 26, 2021 - Food Insecurity Program
Food Insecurity Program
Strategic Initiatives Manager Sean McLendon stated that the purpose of the program is to provide food to areas that are experiencing food insecurity. The local food banks and other charitable entities will be involved in distributing gift cards using American Recovery Act funds.
Commissioner Alford presented comments.
Commissioner Alford moved to approve the plan presented to the Board and the associated budget amendment.
2nd Commissioner Wheeler
Commissioner Prizzia, Deputy County Carl Smart, and Commissioner Wheeler presented comments.
The motion carried 5-0.
June 22, 2021 - American Rescue Plan - State and Local Fiscal Revenue Recovery Funds
Fiscal Consideration: $26,129,224.50 has been received from the U.S. Treasury
Recommended Action: Approve the Plan, adopt the resolution for unanticipated revenue and accompanying budget amendment, and authorize the County Manager to: (i) approve and sign any recipient grant agreements and related documents necessary for the County to receive American Rescue Plan funding from the Federal Government; (ii) develop for subsequent BOCC approval guidelines and criteria for implementation of each Plan element, and (iii) negotiate for subsequent BOCC approval interlocal agreements and other contracts to implement the Plan.
Commissioner Prizzia moved to Approve the Preliminary Plan presented with a modification to increase local food line item to $4 million and decrease Undesignated line item from $9 million to $6 million, adopt the resolution for unanticipated revenue and accompanying budget amendment, and authorize the County Manager to: (i) approve and sign any recipient grant agreements and related documents necessary for the County to receive American Rescue Plan funding from the Federal Government; (ii) develop for subsequent BOCC approval guidelines and criteria for implementation of each Plan element, plus, explore items discussed during commission comment to possibly be added to the Plan including, mental health, non-profit capacity building, structural translation funding, re-entry services, and senior housing as well as request an update on the central receiving unit and a presentation by UF Health and (iii) negotiate for subsequent BOCC approval interlocal agreements and other contracts to implement the Plan.
Motion passed 5-0
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Currently budgeted in 234.00.0064.564.82.93 Project# ARP2021x008
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Strategic Guide:Strategic Guide
Social and Economic Opportunity
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Background:
On October 26, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners allocated $300,000 of American Rescue Plan funds to immediate food security assistance. This was first implemented in a food system support project in November 2021, with non-profit partners that provided emergency food assistance for low-income persons within Alachua County over the holiday season. The project’s estimated reach is between 2,000-3,000 households annually.
Over four years, approximately $75,000 will be distributed between local food banks, small local farmers, and marginalized and underserved community non-profits in support of emergency food assistance. This program has flexibility in deploying its allocated resources to reach overall programmatic goals. Though not implemented in the first year, approximately $25,000 may be allocated for fresh produce purchased from small local farmers. Another $50,000 will be allocated for food purchasing card distribution.
As the first iteration of the program in November 2021, Alachua County partnered with the Long Foundation and the Bread of the Mighty Food Bank for an annual Strike Out Hunger event and a special Thanksgiving initiative to continue to aid in the immediate food needs of the community.
The Strike Out Hunger event, held on November 18, 2021, was a food drive distribution that provided turkeys, fresh produce, and supplemental food items. The Bread of the Mighty Food Bank facilitated the special Thanksgiving initiative and provided grocery gift cards to local food pantries to individuals that reported immediate food needs. Alachua County funded these activities utilizing American Rescue Plan funds.
November 2021 Food Statistics and Impact
Total Impacted Individuals who benefitted from food assistance:
• 14,664 individuals
o Bread of the Mighty Food Bank distributed 1,666 grocery gift cards to the head of households. A total of 6,664 benefitted from the food assistance.
o The Strike Out Hunger event assisted 2,000 households. A total of 8,000 impacted individuals benefitted from the food assistance.
• Total amount of food distributed:
• 31,981 pounds of turkeys
• 63,056 pounds of nutritional and supplemental food
o Fresh produce, canned and packaged foods, and other items
Fall 2022 Proposed Workplan
2022 Goal: Expand food system support over and above Year 1 non-profit collaborative projects and food purchasing card distribution to also include produce from small local farms and to low-income and food-insecure communities over the Fall of 2022 and into 2023. This initiative will coordinate with other Food System Equity Programs created by the Office of SEEDS.
How this will be achieved:
Non-profit Collaboration
Alachua County will partner with the nonprofit community for another Strike Out Hunger event on November 17, 2022. The Long Foundation, Farm Share, and Bread of the Mighty Food Bank may participate. Logistic support will be provided by Alachua County with tables, chairs, and staffing for the day of food distribution. Community service workers organized by the County will assist in food distribution. The County will also work with the non-profits to generate awareness for the day of the event and ongoing food assistance locations. The November Strike Out Hunger event will also be an opportunity to solicit applications for additional food assistance that can be consistently applied over an entire year.
Data Collection and Reporting
For 2022, the County will rework the data collection form used in 2021 into an online application and screening tool. The online application and database will be called the
Alachua County Food System Support Portal (Portal).
The forms will go into a database that will assist the County with follow-up food assistance over 2022 and through 2024. Preregistration will allow the County to better target assistance and report metrics.
These metrics will assist in reporting and measuring progress toward minimizing food insecurity in vulnerable populations.
As an incentive to fill out the online form, qualified applicants will receive a food-purchasing card with an approximate value of $30. Approximately $50,000 will be allocated toward food-purchasing cards in 2022. Supplies will be limited. Depending upon the number of applicants, not every qualified individual may receive a card.
These qualified households will have follow-up outreach for additional food assistance using produce grown by local small farmers.
As of November 30, 2022, there are over 912 applications in the Portal.
The first wave of card distribution will be between Thanksgiving and the end of December. Applicants will be contacted via email regarding their approval status.
The Portal gives the County a database of pre-qualified individuals that can be contacted for follow-up food assistance and participation in related Food System Equity Programs.
Local Small Farmers
Supporting local small farms increases the resilience and economic health of our community.
Going into 2023, up to $25,000 will be allocated to purchasing produce from small local farmers.
This produce will be delivered in a Community Supported Agriculture model where regular shares of grown food will go to qualified Portal applicants.
Shares will be dropped off to community partners and distribution sites near qualified Portal applicants.