ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer with a Request for the Following:
A. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the City Manager to Execute a GRANT AGREEMENT with NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. for EDWARDS SETTLEMENT FUND GRANT AWARD Funding to Enhance Stipend of 8 Cohorts of Peoria Corps Members from Summer 2020 through Summer 2024, in the Amount of $288,000.00;
B. ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2020 - 2021 BIENNIAL BUDGET Relating to the Peoria Corp Grant Fund to Recognize the Receipt of a Grant from the Edwards Settlement Fund, in the Amount of $72,000.00, and the Corresponding Expenditures for Two Cohorts of Ten Members.
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BACKGROUND: In November of 2019, City staff were notified on the availability of $8.6 million in funding for public health and environmental projects to benefit the greater Peoria region - particularly Communities of Concern - through the Edwards Settlement Fund. This included a category of projects to enhance workforce development opportunities.
In January of 2020, the City submitted a grant proposal designed to improve workforce development opportunities by increasing the stipend of Peoria Corps members. The proposal was selected for $288,0000 of funding.
The funding provides an increase in stipends for Corps members, making the program more competitive and attractive for residents to learn how to maintain, improve, and expand the City's green infrastructure and earn a National Green Infrastructure Certificate. Members already earn a stipend through AmeriCorps which totals $6.25 per hour of work. Through the Project, Recipient will enhance the stipend by up $3.75 per hour equivalent, to a total of up to $10 per hour equivalent, The Project will include two cohorts of ten Members per year for four years. The Project's stipend enhancement will total up to $3,600 per Member, or up to $36,000 per cohort. The total Project cost, for eight cohorts, will be up ...
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