Title
Economic Development Technical Assistance Community Development Block Grant Award (Ordinance S-52538) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, to enter into agreement with HUUB LLC for economic development technical assistance services through PHXbizConnect, for a one-year term, with a one-year option to be exercised at the discretion of the City Manager or the City Manager's designee. The total grant award will not exceed $302,900 per year in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, for a maximum total award of $605,800. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. Funding is available from the Neighborhood Services Department's (NSD) CDBG entitlement funds. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
HUUB LLC provides economic development technical assistance to microenterprises through PHXbizConnect as a public service to City of Phoenix residents with low-and-moderate incomes. Historically, the HUUB's online technical assistance services were funded through federal grant dollars, including Coronavirus Relief Funds, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, and Community Development Block Grant funds. Since inception, the program has provided technical assistance, including free, one-on-one consulting from business advisors to over 220 businesses with over 1,300 hours of consulting services.
Continuation of grant funds for HUUB LLC's PHXbizConnect software platform for management technical assistance provides significant advantages to City of Phoenix residents. The software platform reduces program paperwork, provides a streamlined process with greater self determination, offers additional business training resources, and collects data for City economic development program administrators.
Contract Term
The 12-month contract term will begin on or about January 7, 2026, with a one-year option to extend that may be exercised at the discretion of the City Manager or the City Manager's designee.
Financial Impact
Funding the contract for twelve months will not exceed $302,900 per year, for a maximum total award of $605,800. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available from the Neighborhood Services Department's CDBG entitlement funds.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Cynthia Aguilar and the Neighborhood Services Department.