Title
ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System Program Amendments to Ordinances S-49902, S-48884, and S-49079 (Ordinance S-51208)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, extend the agreement terms to December 31, 2024, for Agreements 159198 with Machokoto Family Farms, Agreement 159201 with Phoenix Local Organizing Committee, Agreement 159342 with Arizona State University (ASU), and Agreement 155362-002 with Thrive Consultancy Inc. Further request an amendment to Agreement 159201 to decrease allocated funds from $98,914 to $49,457 with Phoenix Local Organizing Committee. All agreements may be extended based on available funding, which extensions may be executed by the City Manager, or his designee. The agreements may contain other terms and conditions deemed necessary by City staff.
Report
Summary
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) developed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Phoenix Resilient Food System Program, a food assistance plan to address the food needs of vulnerable populations and communities impacted by COVID-19. The following projects provide inclusive economic and business opportunities and training, decrease food insecurity and hunger, and reduce food waste in Phoenix.
Food System Transformation Grants
The Food System Transformation Grant program is designed to encourage small businesses across the food system to implement projects with the potential to transform the City’s food system into a more resilient, sustainable, equitable, healthy and thriving system.
- Machokoto Family Farms grant scales up food waste diversion and carbon farming efforts along with training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers in Phoenix. Due to unanticipated challenges, Machakoto requires additional time to complete all grant activities.
- Phoenix Local Organizing Committee grant promotes sustainable and resilient food production by reducing water use, mitigating extreme heat with shade structures, empowering the community through food production education, and training at three community garden and urban farm sites within Phoenix. Due to unanticipated staffing challenges that delayed the start of the grant, it is necessary to reduce the scope of grant and request a time extension.
ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System Program
The Agri-Food Tech Incubator provides inclusive economic and business opportunities and training, decreases food insecurity and hunger, and reduces food waste in Phoenix.
- The Agri-Food Tech Incubator managed by ASU connects 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 includes pathways for COVID-19-impacted BIPOC communities to realize economic development opportunities within the sustainable food systems and agricultural technology space. An extension is requested to accommodate unforeseen challenges associated with administrative processes at ASU.
Economic Development and Innovation
- Worker Cooperative Sustainable Food System Business Incubator and Training Program managed by Thrive Consultancy Inc. continues to provide training on sustainable cooperative food entrepreneurship, including operational, legal, financial, and marketing practices for a cooperative food business. Due to the success of the program and budget availability, Thrive Consultancy Inc. will conduct one additional networking event/workshop requiring a time extension.
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
Upon approval, the agreements will be extended as follows:
- Agreement 159198, Machokoto Family Farm through December 31, 2024.
- Agreement 159201, Phoenix Local Organizing Committee through December 31, 2024.
- Agreement 159342, ASU Agri-Food Tech Incubator through December 31, 2024.
- Agreement 155362-002, Thrive Consultancy Inc. through December 31, 2024.
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 the ARPA funding to the Phoenix Resilient Food System Program by the ARPA Strategic Plan approved by the Mayor and Council.
- Agreement 159201, Phoenix Local Organizing Committee, also includes a decrease in grant funds from $98,914 to $49,457 to be reallocated as directed and approved by City Manager’s Office.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- The City Council adopted the request for the Worker Cooperative Sustainable Food System Business Incubator and Training Program on July 1, 2022 (Ordinance S-48884).
- The Agri-Food Tech Incubator with ASU was adopted by the City Council on October 22, 2022 (Ordinance S-49079).
- The City Council adopted the request for the Food System Transformation Grant Program (Ordinance S-49902) on June 14, 2023.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson and the Office of Environmental Programs.