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Resolution amending Resolution No. 568 of 2024, which authorized the City of Pittsburgh to enter into an Agreement or Agreements with New Sun Rising for the management and disbursement of grassroots and small-scale investments for the City of Pittsburgh's Food Justice Fund, by naming grant recipients and award amounts, as selected by the Food Justice Fund Governance Committee. The not to exceed amount remains One Million Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,650,000.00).
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Whereas Pittsburgh City Council approved a use plan for three million dollars ($3,000,000) of American Rescue Plan Act funds as a "Food Justice Fund" on July 18th, 2023 with Resolution 466 and;
Whereas this use plan stated that "the purpose of the Food Justice Fund is to increase public investment in a just, equitable, and sustainable food system, that supports our neighborhoods, local economy, and the environment" and that one and a half million dollars ($1,500,000) of this Food Justice Fund would be managed by an intermediary and distributed as grants of up to seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and;
Whereas, in accordance with this approved use plan, the Food Justice Fund Governance Committee, a diverse group representing the city and community, has now reviewed and scored grant applications and recommends the subsequently listed awards for review and approval by City Council.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1: Resolution No. 568 of 2024, entitled “Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into an Agreement or Agreements with New Sun Rising for the management and disbursement of grassroots and small-scale investments for the City of Pittsburgh's Food Justice Fund for a sum not to exceed One Million Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,650,000.00) through December 31, 2026 and for the payment of the costs thereof” is hereby amended as follows:
Section 1. The Mayor and the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, are hereby authorized to enter into an Agreement or Agreements with New Sun Rising for the management and disbursement of grassroots and small-scale investments for the City of Pittsburgh’s Food Justice Fund.
Costs shall not exceed One Million Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,650,000.00) through December 31, 2026. Funds shall be paid from the American Rescue Plan Trust Fund, JDE account 0222905500.53901.00
Section 2. Said Agreement or Agreements shall be approved by the City Solicitor as to form.
Section 3. Per the Use Plan approved in Resolution 466 of 2023, the grant recipients and award amounts to be funded by New Sun Rising as part of the Agreement or Agreements, as duly reviewed, scored, and selected by the Food Justice Fund Governance Committee, are attached hereto as Exhibit A and are hereby approved.
Section 4. To the extent that City Council rejects the recommendations of the Food Justice Fund Committee and removes any project from or otherwise alters the Exhibit A duly presented by the Food Justice Fund Committee, the Council Budget Director is hereby directed to submit a communication for the legislative record explaining the reasoning behind said deviation(s). All awards listed on Exhibit A shall be considered approved by City Council.
Section 5. If a recommended or approved applicant becomes unable to complete a proposed project, the Director of the Parks and Recreation may award an alternate recipient from the list of eligible projects. To the fullest extent possible, the alternate shall be the highest scoring project that fits into the available budget.
Section 6. Said Agreement or Agreements shall include terms allowing for the audit of the grant program by the Office of the City Controller.