Title
Authorization to Apply for, Accept, Disburse Funds and Enter into Agreements for a Food System Vision Prize (Ordinance S-46332)
Description
Request approval for the City Manager, or his designee, for the City of Phoenix Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) to submit a grant application to the Rockefeller Foundation for a $200,000 Food System Vision Prize (Prize) to further the implementation of food system goals and related projects, and if awarded, to execute all contracts and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) necessary to accept and disburse the grant funds. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse, grant funds in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned grant and agreement. Additionally, request the City Council to grant an exception to authorize inclusion of indemnification and assumption of liability provisions in the grant application and subsequent documents pertaining to the grant that otherwise would be prohibited by Phoenix Code section 42-18.
Report
Summary
Prize grants funds to unite fragmented actors in projects aimed at uniting planners in the global food system. The goal of the program is to inspire and facilitate sustainable, resilient food systems. The application addresses a systems-focused approach that has transformational potential and is informed by the community. Themes of Environment, Diets, Economics, Culture, Technology, and Policy are included.
The Prize would provide $200,000 in funding for food system resilience building. For the past several years, the OEP has worked with partners to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the local food system. The local food system is not contained by the borders of Phoenix and is defined to include Maricopa County. Through OEP’s partnership with organizations in Maricopa County, several Phoenix and county-wide food system projects have been identified. The following are examples of projects in need of investment: 1) development of an app that provides heathy recipes, cooking videos, grocery lists connected to local grocers and/or mobile markets; 2) educational and job training for consumers and future farmers; and 3) creation of agricultural entrepreneurship (agriprenuership) opportunities, such as mobile food processing units available for local farms to prepare their goods for market and distribution.
The opportunity to apply for Prize funding was brought to the attention of OEP and other partners in November by Arizona State University. As a result of the outreach, the city of Tempe, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Health Improvement Partnership of Maricopa County, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Mesa Community College, Vitalyst Health Foundation, Maricopa County Food Systems Coalition, Local First Arizona Foundation, Arizona Community Land Trust, Arizona Cooperative Initiative, Sun Produce Cooperative, and Recycled City, LLC elected to join the coalition with Phoenix. Additional partners may join as well. The OEP will serve as the Lead Applicant for the coalition. The OEP currently has a fulltime Food System Coordinator through the AmeriCorps VISTA program who has drafted the application and will continue to coordinate the effort. The Coalition nominated and OEP accepted the role of Lead Applicant, responsible for overall grant management. The MOA will be the vehicle used to detail the roles, responsibilities, authority, and details of disbursement of the grant funds and must be completed prior to award.
The grant application deadline is Jan. 31, 2020. Semi-finalists are announced in March 2020 with top finalists/visionaries announced in September 2020.
Contract Term
The term is for up to three years.
Financial Impact
No match or General Fund dollars are required for this grant.
Public Outreach
Upon award of the Prize, a public outreach and community engagement plan will be developed.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Environmental Programs.