Title
ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System Programs - Enter into Agreements for Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Grants (Ordinance S-48671)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into individual agreements with: The Food Forest Cooperative; Society of St. Vincent de Paul; Maya’s Farm; Creighton Community Foundation; YoBro Farms; and Recycled City LLC, to disburse funds for the Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Grant program. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. Funding is available through the City’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received from the federal government and is in the Phoenix Resilient Food System category of the strategic plan. There is no impact to the General Fund. The additional aggregate expenditures included in this amendment will not exceed $245,000.
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) 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.
Resilient Food System
Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Grant
The Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Grant will provide funds to five private and non-profit farms implementing projects accelerating the transition toward a resilient, sustainable, equitable, and thriving food system, as follows:
- The Food Forest Cooperative, located at Spaces of Opportunity, South Phoenix, will use the grant funds to strengthen and enhance the existing food forest by increasing their ability to grow and sell products and connect with community members. The grant funds will be used for a greenhouse, shade infrastructure, solar pump, water tank, signage, pathway supplies, stipends, and insurance;
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul will use the grant funds to install permanent seasonal shade structures over two existing South Phoenix urban farms that provide free fresh food to food-insecure and low-income community members and people experiencing homelessness;
- Maya’s Farm, a 3.3-acre farm in South Phoenix, will use the grant funds to increase efficiency by purchasing a tractor and soil amendments. Additionally, the farm will initiate an agroforestry project to increase shade and additional produce;
- Creighton Community Foundation’s Ascension Urban Farm Project located in East-Central Phoenix addresses hunger and increases access to local food and nutrition. The grant funds will be used to support expansion of the existing food growing operation at a new 1.5-acre site at New Valley/Ascension Church by purchasing construction materials, farm startup supplies, tools, rentals, and funds for a Master Gardener;
- YoBro Farms, a small farm in West Phoenix, will expand its mushroom growing business by implementing an outdoor, solar-powered vertical mushroom farming system that will enhance resiliency and expand sustainable food production practices by purchasing photovoltaic supplies, a shed, air conditioning units, production and operations supplies, sales equipment, and materials; and
- Recycled City, LLC, a composting and farm in South Phoenix, will offer composting services and a fresh produce farm box for 38 weeks to 26 households located in food deserts in South Phoenix. This award is partial funding of the total request made by Recycled City due to the amount of funds that were available.
The grant awards were selected following criteria identified in the grant application and were evaluated by a panel consisting of City staff and external stakeholders.
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 term of the agreements will begin on or about June 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Agreements may be extended based on continuous need and available funding, which may be exercised 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 received from the federal government and is in the Phoenix Resilient Food System category of the ARPA Strategic Plan approved by Mayor and Council.
The funding breakdown is as follows:
- Food Forest Cooperative - $75,000;
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul - $41,000;
- Maya’s Farm - $30,000;
- Creighton Community Foundation - $35,000;
- YoBro Farms - $49,000; and
- Recycled City, LLC - $15,000.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council approved the ARPA Strategic Plan on June 8, 2021.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Environmental Programs.