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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 19, 2021 C-25ca AGENDA ITEM 5 CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Community Development Department Updated Small Business Assistance Program Plan Supported by American Rescue Plan Act Funds MEETING DATE: May 19, 2021 PREPARED BY: Community Development Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution approving the Community Development Department updated Small Business Assistance Program plan supported by American Rescue Plan Act Funds. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: A COVID-19 Needs Assessment was conducted from October 12 to October 30, 2020, by consultant staff who reached out for feedback from thirty community non -profits and government agencies and surveyed the Lodi business community. Based on this need assessment of the Lodi Business Community, staff determined that a Small Business Assistance (SBA) program would greatly benefit Lodi's economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two activities operated under this program, SBA for Urgent Needs and SBA for Low -/Moderate -Income (LMI) Benefit. The Community Development Department received an overwhelming response of 68 applications from local small businesses of which 61 fully completed their applications and were deemed eligible. With the initial available funding, the City was able to award grants to the 24 top scoring applications in the two activities identified. Some applicants were not awarded their full request due to funding limitations and there are currently 37 eligible applications that remain unfunded. With the passing of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed, into law on March 11, 2021, additional funding has been made available to the City. On April 7, 2021, staff received direction from the City Council that additional funding could be allocated to the SBA program ($600,000). On May 5, 2021, staff received updated direction that the SBA program would be allocated only $500,000, a reduction of $100,000. With the reduction in available funding, staff requested to come back with a plan on how to distribute the remaining funds. Staff is requesting that the six underfunded applications be made whole ($14,664), and award 22 additional SBA applications based on scoring rank be funded at their requested amount ($202,520). Additionally, as community based organizations (CBO) provide a significant benefit to the community, staff request applications be re -opened for CBO's for new awards ($222,816), and the remainder funding would go towards the administration of the program ($60,000). Staff determined what applications would not be funded by utilizing the scoring provided through the same SBA grant rubric. Based upon available resources, any applications that scored 10 and under were removed from the list of those applications to be funded. APPROVED:` w Step en Schw , City Manager SBA Update May 19, 2021 Page 2 of 2 Awarded Applications Underfunded Small Business Assistance Grants Unfunded Small Business Assistance Grants to be Funded ** New** Competitive Community Based Organization Grants Administration $215,136 24 $ 14,664 6 1 $ 202,520 22 $ 222,816 Unknown $ 60,000 N/A 7 (Incomplete) N/A 15 N/A N/A Total: $ 500,000 Staff recommends that City Council adopt a resolution to approve the Community Development Departments updated Small Business Assistance Program plan as noted in the table above and supported by American Rescue Plan Act funds. FISCAL IMPACT: The American Rescue Plan Act will provide $500,000 in funds to support Small Business Assistance Grants and Community Based Organization Grants FUNDING AVAILABLE: Signature: � %(� Email: akeys@lodi.gov Funding will come exclusively from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. There is no impact to general fund operations from this allocation, Andrew Keys Andrew Keys Deputy City Manager/Internal Services Director John. Della Monica, Jr. Com unity Development Dire for RESOLUTION NO. 2021-148 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT UPDATED SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PLAN SUPPORTED BY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS WHEREAS, the City has been awarded $796,408 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG-CV") funding from the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and WHEREAS, the City developed the Small Business Assistance Program (SBA), a competitive grant process; and WHEREAS, the City was only able to award 24 of the completed 61 SBA applications due to funding limitations; and WHEREAS, the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11, 2021; and WHEREAS, on May 5, 2021, City Council allocated $500,000 to the Small Business Assistance Program supported by American Rescue Plan Act funds; and WHEREAS, staff developed a plan to make whole the six underfunded applications ($14,664), and award 22 additional SBA applications based on scoring rank be funded at their requested amount ($202,520). As community-based organizations (CBOs) provide a significant benefit to the community, staff request applications be re -opened for CBOs for new awards ($222,816), and the remaining funding would go towards the administration of the program ($60,000); and WHEREAS, staff recommends the City Council approve the Community Development Department updated Small Business Assistance Program plan supported by American Rescue Plan Act funds. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby approve the Community Development Department updated Small Business Assistance Program plan supported by American Rescue Plan Act Funds. Dated: May 19, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2021-148 was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held May 19, 2021, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Chandler, Hothi, Khan, Kuehne, and Mayor Nakanishi NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None JENNIF CUSMIR City Cler 2021-148