Title
Authorization to Apply, Accept, Disburse Funds and Enter into Agreements for the Walmart Local Community Grant (Ordinance S-49898)
Description
Request approval for the City Manager, or his designee, for the City of Phoenix Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) to submit a grant application to the Walmart Local Community Grants program for a $5,000 grant for the Phoenix Food Day & Healthfest 2023 community event. If awarded, request approval to execute all contracts necessary to accept and disburse the grant funds. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse, grant funds in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned grant.
Report
Summary
The Walmart Local Community Grants program is available to nonprofit and local government organizations that provide benefits directly to those within the impacted service area. Areas of funding include community and economic development, diversity and inclusion, education, environmental sustainability, health and human services, hunger relief and healthy eating, public safety and quality of life. Grant funding is available from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $5,000. Grant applications are accepted on a quarterly basis.
The requested grant funding is for the implementation of the annual Phoenix Food Day & Healthfest (Food Day) event to be held in October 2023 in the South Phoenix community. This event fits within the grant program's focus area of hunger relief and healthy eating, as well as education, environmental sustainability, and diversity and inclusion. Food Day is hosted by OEP with volunteer support from several city departments. Historically, OEP funds the event with financial support from a variety of business and nonprofit entities that provide sponsorship dollars. The community event is held in food desert areas that are also low income and communities of color, and the event offers food, health and wellness resources to residents impacted by food insecurity and hunger. The event includes exhibitors, a farmers’ market, kids zone area, music and entertainment, education, cooking and gardening demos, food trucks, free baby shots and vaccine stations, the Apple Crunch and prize giveaways.
Funding from this grant would be used for the following activities: giveaways (tote bags and water bottles), prizes (children's bikes and grocery store gift cards), free produce from local farmers, advertising, entertainment, rental equipment (restrooms, water stations and canopies), and cooking and gardening demonstration supplies.
The grant will be managed by the OEP. The grant proposal deadline is July 15, 2023. Award announcements are made prior to Oct. 15, 2023.
Contract Term
The grant term is for one year.
Financial Impact
No match or general fund monies are required for this grant.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson and the Office of Environmental Programs.