Title
Authorization to Apply, Accept, Disburse Funds and Enter into Agreements for Vitalyst Systems Change Grant (Ordinance S-47255)
Description
Request approval for the City Manager, or his designee, for the City of Phoenix Office of Environmental Programs to submit a grant application to the Vitalyst Health Foundation for a $175,000 Systems Change grant to strengthen the local food system through creation of a Community Food Network, and if awarded, to execute all contracts and Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) necessary to accept and disburse the grant funds. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, grant funds in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned grant and agreement.
Report
Summary
The Vitalyst Health Foundation Systems Change Grants are available to catalyze collaborative work that transforms systems through changes to policies and practices to improve the health of communities. Up to $175,000 is available over a three-year grant period. The grant criteria are focused on a policy or practice change, intersection of two or more elements of a healthy community, identification of the system where the change will occur, and defined partners to select the policy/practice change.
The Coronavirus pandemic has brought to light the inadequacies and fragility of our existing local food system and the immediate need for resilience in growing, processing, and distribution. The Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) submitted a Letter of Intent to Vitalyst on Oct. 30, 2020 and received an invitation to submit a full proposal on Dec. 7, 2020, along with only four other organizations. The grant proposal is for $175,000 to foster a resilient local food system through the development of a county-wide Community Food Network. A Community Food Network connects, empowers, and creates economic opportunities and access to healthy, affordable food for all participants in the local food system from growing, processing, distributing, selling, eating, food rescue and waste. The local food system is defined as within the boundaries of Maricopa County with Phoenix at the core as the largest and most populous city. Phoenix would benefit from creation of a Community Food Network through increased economic opportunities such as new job creation and investment, a stronger supply chain, and market innovation that results in lower prices and greater availability of local products for consumers, particularly vulnerable populations affected by food apartheid/food deserts. Health outcomes are addressed by providing greater and equitable access to locally grown (and processed) food.
Phoenix is leading the way to improve access to healthy food through goals established in our comprehensive general plan, PlanPHX, in our 2050 Environmental Sustainability goals, and in the recently approved 2025 Phoenix Food Action Plan. The 2025 Phoenix Food Action Plan contains a goal for development of a resilient food system with policies and actions that address local and global challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, political and economic crises, population growth and other factors.
The grant funding would be used for the following activities:
- Convenings with local food producers and other food system stakeholders to provide guidance and recommendations on the elements of the Community Food Network. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to wholesale/retail sales, processors, distributors/aggregators, consumers, municipal and institutional leaders, and residents representing marginalized communities impacted by food insecurity;
- Education and training to food producers and aggregators in business and marketing planning and/or individuals desiring to enter the market;
- Research and support for data collection and analysis; and
- Connections to nonprofits and the private sector to foster entrepreneurship and innovation.
The grant will be managed by the OEP in coordination with the Community and Economic Development (CED) Department, who have been actively working with OEP on several food initiatives. CED has included a Food System Entrepreneurship & Innovation strategy within their 2020-21 Economic Development Strategic Action Plan and this grant complements those strategic objectives.
The grant proposal deadline is Jan. 22, 2021. Award announcements are expected in April 2021.
Contract Term
The grant term is for up to three years.
Financial Impact
No match or General Fund dollars are required for this grant.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters, the Office of Environmental Programs and the Community and Economic Development Department.