TITLE
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Maricopa, Arizona authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Ak-Chin Indian Community for funding VetIT and act as the designated fiscal agent. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Maricopa Mayor and City Council passed a grants acquisition and administration policy providing guidelines for the City of Maricopa to consider sponsorship of an application to the State Shared Revenue Programs and is detailed as follows.
Agency guidelines for the City of Maricopa to act as the Fiscal Agent:
i. Agency is a non-profit and /or proof of tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code section 501 (c) 3 or similar provision.
ii. The agency must provide an explanation how their proposal aligns with the City of Maricopa Strategic Plan Elements
iii. There must be a benefit to the City of Maricopa community.
On June 5, 2015 the Ak-Chin Tribal Council approved the RFP to accept grant applications. For 2015, the Ak-Chin Indian Community has elected to award its 12% contributions directly through the 12% grant program. Through the 12% grant program the community accepts applications from cities, towns and countie4s and other organizations seeking funding to support services that benefit the general public.
Applications should only request funding for programs and service which benefit the general public. Within the broad spectrum of services and programs that serve the general public in 2015 the Community is only accepting applications from programs that are/serve the following areas of need.
1. Animal Shelters/Services for abused, abandoned or neglected animals
2. Food Banks/ Programs providing food to needy families
3. Health Care and Health Services
4. Schools/ School Districts/ Universities
5. Programs providing services with persons with special needs
6. Youth Shelters
The VetIT non-profit organization are actively engaged and involved with local veterans by providing assistance and services required for a good quality of life. Within the grant application/request, we will prove the essential needs for our funding request of $20,000 in accordance to “serving the areas of needs” outlined in the request for proposals. VetIT aligns with the City of Maricopa’s strategic plans, priorities and goals; economic sustainability, quality of life and transportation mission is to provide military veterans and their families the resources, services, education and training necessary to obtain marketable professional careers and a sustainable quality of life. Sustainability is related to the quality of life of our veteran population in our community (Incorporated and Unincorporated areas of Maricopa and Ak-Chin, defined as the Northwestern area of Pinal County Arizona) in all economic and social systems that make up the community while providing a healthy, productive, meaningful life for our present and future veterans.
Project Aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan:
Economic Sustainability: According to the United States Small Business Administration, Veteran business owner demographics and the economic and business environment are changing dramatically and rapidly. There is some evidence that the proportion of younger veteran business owners (under age 35) increased from 2008 to 2012, as did the share of veteran women business owners. Veteran business owners and entrepreneurs make important contributions to business creation and growth in the American economy. Their active duty and reserve service often provide them with important skills and leadership abilities that are directly relevant to business ownership. Because the economic welfare of veterans is an ongoing concern of policymakers, various programs have been designed to help support aspiring veteran entrepreneurs and business owners. VetIT has assisted a local business owner accomplish their Veteran Administration certification as a “Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business” and is determined to continue its work in assisting veteran owned businesses develop local jobs and obtain economic growth.
Quality of Life: Hundreds and thousands of brave men and women in our armed forces have served our country honorably and many have endured multiple deployments in war zones but have not been adequately reciprocated with the same tenacity and service as they have given to our country. Our veteran population (approximately 9-10% of the city’s population) is lacking proper services required to live a good life within our community. VetIT is determined to provide the community’s veterans with resources for employment, financial advisement, housing, medical/mental health, transportation needs, emergency food, clothing, furniture and funds for utilities and medical expenses. VetIT plans to continue with the city’s mantra “proud history, prosperous future” by assuring that our country’s heroes’ are provided with the services and basic needs that they have so justly earned.
Transportation: Veterans must leave the community and travel into Phoenix or Tucson for their healthcare needs and many more travel outside the community for employment. Northwestern Pinal County lacks the infrastructure to provide the low cost public transportation needs for our veterans. VetIT is determined to establish a collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs to assure that our veterans are provided with the adequate and affordable transportation in order to meet their medical appointment/needs. Furthermore, the organization has connected veterans with carpool groups to share in the cost of transportation to and from their places of employment, resulting in less commuter congestion on Highway 347. We are working with local employers and community college district in order to assure our veterans are utilizing an environmentally friendly mode of transportation by either walking or riding a bicycle (provided free of charge by collaborating organizations) to work.
This item will be presented by Mary Witkofski, Community Programs Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council approve a Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Maricopa, Arizona authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Ak-Chin Indian Community for funding VetIT and act as the designated fiscal agent.