Title
ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System Program - Enter into Agreements with Arizona State University and St. Mary’s Food Bank (Ordinance S-49079)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into three agreements with: (1) Arizona State University (“ASU”) to support a food waste education and composting project; (2) ASU to support an Agri-Food Tech Incubator project; and (3) St. Mary’s Food Bank to support a farm to food banks project. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to these items. Funding is available through the City’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funding to the Phoenix Resilient Food System Program by the ARPA Strategic Plan approved by the Mayor and Council. There is no impact to the General Fund. The aggregate expenditures of these contracts will not exceed $1,260,000.
Report
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Environmental Programs (“OEP”) developed a food assistance plan to address the food needs of vulnerable populations and communities impacted by COVID-19. The plan provides: (1) access to healthy foods for impacted populations; (2) infrastructure assistance regarding transportation and delivery with a focus on home delivery; (3) support for food banks, food pantries and community food support agencies; (4) support for increased local food production; and (5) business and employment opportunities throughout the food system spectrum.
ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System Program
Supporting the following project will provide inclusive economic and business opportunities and training, decrease food insecurity and hunger, and reduce food waste in Phoenix.
(1) ASU - Agri-Food Tech Incubator Project
ASU will establish an Agri-Food Tech Incubator, based on their proven Resource Innovation and Solutions Network experience across metro Phoenix and integrate the knowledge and best practices from other food systems and agricultural hubs. The Agri-Food Tech Incubator will connect food system entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders to resources and services needed to support growth of new ventures, new products and/or services, and to support existing food-related businesses to expand the size and scope of the sustainable food and agriculture economy in the City of Phoenix. It will include pathways for COVID-19-impacted Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities to realize economic development opportunities within the sustainable food systems and agricultural technology space.
(2) ASU - Food Waste and Composting Education Project
This one-year program will provide food waste and composting education, training, and access to a compost service for up to 400 residents living in COVID-19-impacted areas and food deserts in Phoenix. Participants will learn how to decrease food loss and waste through practical and usable tips, such as better food purchasing, storing food practices, meal planning tools, and composting. By learning about and adopting better practices, COVID-19-impacted households can save money and become more food-secure.
(3) St. Mary’s Food Bank - Farm to Food Banks Project
This program will source produce primarily from farms within the City of Phoenix, including from small and BIPOC farms impacted by COVID-19. The produce will be delivered directly from the farm to St. Mary’s and agency partners (food pantries) who will distribute produce to Phoenix clients. Funds will be used for food purchases with a small portion being allocated to increase St. Mary’s ability to store and distribute produce while reducing food waste.
Procurement Information
Services may be procured, as needed, in accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10 to implement and administer programs intended to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contract Term
The contract term will be as follows:
- ASU - Agri-Food Tech Incubator Project from October 31, 2022, to May 31, 2024;
- ASU - Food Waste and Composting Education Project from October 31, 2022, to June 30, 2023;
- St. Mary’s Food Bank - Farm to Food Banks Project from October 24, 2022, to October 31, 2023.
All agreements may be extended based on available funding, which extensions may be executed by the City Manager, or his designee.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available through the City's allocation of ARPA funding to the Phoenix Resilient Food System Program by the ARPA Strategic Plan approved by the Mayor and Council.
The funding breakdown is as follows:
• $750,000 for the ASU - Agri-Food Tech Incubator Project;
• $310,000 for the ASU - Food Waste and Composting Education Project;
• $200,000 for the St. Mary’s Food Bank - Farm to Food Banks Project.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council approved:
- ARPA Strategic Plan on June 8, 2021;
- ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System allocation on June 7, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Environmental Programs.