Title
American Rescue Plan Act Phoenix Resilient Food System Programs - Enter into Agreements for Food System Transformation Grant (Ordinance S-49902)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into individual agreements with the Arizona Fresh LLC, Cihuapactli Collective, Creighton Community Foundation, Food Forest Cooperative, Local First Arizona, Machokoto Family Farms, Phoenix Local Organizing Committee, Spaces of Opportunity, Sun Produce Cooperative, and The Orchard Community Learning Center to disburse funds for the Food System Transformation 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) federal funding and is in the Phoenix Resilient Food System category of the strategic plan and through City of Phoenix General Funds. The additional aggregate expenditures included will not exceed $860,300.
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.
Economic Development and Innovation
Food System Transformation Grant Program
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.
OEP had an open grant application process for 30 days and received 16 eligible applications for a total request of $1,288,953. 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. OEP is recommending award of Food System Transformation grant funds to 10 food system businesses and non-profits that were impacted by COVID and/or are providing food to COVID-impacted individuals/households. The projects also accelerate the transition and transformation of the local food system.
The following are recommended for funding:
- Arizona Fresh LLC will use grant funds to establish an outdoor Farmer's Market in South Phoenix, serving food desert communities and benefiting underserved farmers. It will increase access to healthy food in COVID-impacted areas and boost sales for local food producers. The grant funds will be used for the costs to initiate the farmer’s market.
- Cihuapactli Collective will use the grant to build a Wellness Center and Food Forest on seven acres in South Phoenix. The project aims to enhance access to fresh local foods, culturally sensitive health services and products, and safe outdoor spaces for residents.
- Creighton Community Foundation will use the grant to develop a food retail project at Fresca Zona, providing low-income Phoenix residents with access to affordable, fresh, and healthy SNAP-eligible produce. The grant funded project will improve food security, accessibility, affordability, and promote healthy eating in the community while enhancing local market options and strengthening the resilience of the local food system.
- Food Forest Cooperative will use grant funds to establish security and food prep/storage infrastructure. The project includes storage containers, tools, shade structures, water tanks, solar pumps and plants. Additionally, fencing, a refrigerated trailer, water trailer, mobile outdoor kitchen and labor stipends will be provided.
- Local First Arizona will use grant funds to scale up the Heart & Soil People’s Garden’s capacity by installing a portable restroom, creating new educational and training materials for children, installing a misting system and hiring staff to coordinate project execution.
- Machokoto Family Farms will use grant funding to scale up food waste diversion and carbon farming efforts along with training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers in Phoenix.
- Phoenix Local Organizing Committee will use grant funds to promote 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.
- Spaces of Opportunity will allocate grant funding to provide training to local farmers, implement water efficiencies saving 13 million gallons per year, and build shade structures to mitigate extreme heat on food production and farmers.
- Sun Produce Cooperative Project will use grant funds to increase food distribution by 25-30 percent per year. Funding will support Sun Produce to expand sales and reduce distribution costs for farmers. Additionally, the project will enhance service to those in need, resulting in increased sales for local food producers and improved accessibility for consumers living in food deserts.
- The Orchard Community Learning Center will utilize the grant to expand regenerative food production of fruit trees and native adapted edible foods and plants, install a gravity irrigation system to save five million gallons of water annually, enhance local market access, upgrade cold storage facilities, expand composting operations and create four positions. This will result in increased access to local markets, water and labor savings, reduced food loss and waste, and improved operations.
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 July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Agreements may be extended based on continuous need and available funding, which may be exercised by the City Manager, or his designee.
Financial Impact
Funds are available from a combination of ARPA and City of Phoenix General Funds. ARPA funds represent $750,000 and General Fund dollars from OEP’s Food Systems Program will cover the remaining amount.
The funding breakdown is as follows:
- Arizona Fresh LLC - $99,000
- Cihuapactli Collective - $99,000
- Creighton Community Foundation - $94,571
- Food Forest Cooperative - $95,000
- Local First Arizona - $15,000
- Machokoto Family Farms - $78,390
- Phoenix Local Organizing Committee - $98,914
- Spaces of Opportunity - $99,000
- Sun Produce Cooperative - $99,000
- The Orchard Community Learning Center - $82,425
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council approved the ARPA Strategic Plan on June 8, 2021, and the ARPA Phoenix Resilient Food System allocation for the second tranche on June 7, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson and the Office of Environmental Programs.