Title
Enter into an Agreement with Vitalyst Health Foundation for ARPA Phoenix Urban Agriculture Fellowship Program (Ordinance S-48295)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with Vitalyst Health Foundation to provide administration of the Phoenix Urban Agriculture Fellowship Program, which provides opportunities for Phoenix residents to gain experience in all aspects of food production with local Phoenix farms to grow the next generation of food producers. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. The agreement value will not exceed $151,000. Funding is available through the City’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received from the federal government, and is under the City’s Phoenix Resilient Food System category of the strategic plan, as well as from a Gila River Indian Community grant. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
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) food infrastructure assistance regarding transportation and delivery with a focus on home delivery; 3) support for food banks, food pantries, and community agencies; 4) support for increased local food production; and 5) business and employment opportunities throughout the food system spectrum.
This program provides workforce training for residents to learn the business of food production while assisting food producers with needed employees.
Equity and Inclusion
Phoenix Urban Agriculture Fellowship
The fellowship is designed to train the next generation of growers who will represent the future of farm entrepreneurship, innovation, and business ownership in Phoenix. The program is open to nine City of Phoenix residents ages 18-24, who would work with a local grower beginning February 2022. The program is available Citywide and targets Spanish-speaking residents and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, upon completion of the fellowship, participants are eligible to enter the Phoenix Worker Cooperative Sustainable Food System Incubator Training Program. The fellows will be paid $15 per hour for a maximum of 20 hours per week, for 50 weeks for work. Each fellow will be matched with the nine Host Farms that have agreed to participate in the program.
The nine Host Farms include: Maya’s Farm, Crooked Sky Farm, Horny Toad Farm, 40 Akers Farming, Project Roots, Arizona Worm Farm, Arizona Microgreens, 3 Angels Livable Communities Initiative (LCI), and Local Phoenix Organizing Committee. These farms are a diverse representation including small and large farms growing with various methods, such as organic, inground, greenhouse, in addition to diverse ownership.
Vitalyst Health Foundation (Vitalyst) will serve as a subrecipient and will administer the program, including payment to fellows. Vitalyst is a nonprofit organization located in Phoenix whose mission is to connect, support, and inform efforts to improve the health of individuals and communities in Arizona. Vitalyst has worked directly with the City on food system initiatives and was a key stakeholder in the development of the 2025 Phoenix Food Action Plan and in guiding the development of ARPA-funded Phoenix food programs. This program is in line with their community health initiatives.
OEP will assist Vitalyst to oversee the agreement and coordinate any needed services, such as program outreach and recruitment.
Four fellowships are being funded by ARPA and five are being funded by an OEP grant received from the Gila River Indian Community.
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, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 national pandemic.
Contract Term
The term of the agreement will begin on or about Feb. 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. The agreement may be extended based on continuous need and available funding, which may be exercised by the City Manager, or his designee.
Financial Impact
Funding for this program will not exceed $151,000. There is no impact to the General Fund. The funding breakdown is as follows:
$76,000 - American Rescue Plan Act
$75,000 - Gila River Indian Community Grant
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Environmental Programs.