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Authorizing the Use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to Fund the Kane County Food & Farm Resiliency Project for the Kane County Development and Community Services Department
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WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has enacted the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) to provide economic relief to State, Local, and Tribal governments responding to economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the County of Kane has received a total of $103,413,041 (One Hundred Three Million, Four Hundred Thirteen Thousand, Forty-One Dollars) from the United States Department of the Treasury, in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“SLFRF”) pursuant to ARPA, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to ARPA and the administrative regulations adopted by the United States Department of the Treasury (“Final Rule”), the County of Kane shall use SLFRF to defray costs associated with its response to the COVID-19 pandemic within the County, to address the economic fallout from the pandemic, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 21-313, the Kane County Board has established the American Rescue Plan Committee (“ARPC”) as a resource for research, education, planning, and recommendations for the best allocation and uses of the County’s SLFRF; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 21-156, the Kane County Board approved the recommended Spending Plan as proposed by the ARPC, which designates $42,000,000 (Forty-Two Million Dollars) to be used for Kane County Department and Elected Office project requests; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Development and Community Services Department has made a request in the amount of $863,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Dollars) of SLFRF to fund an Agriculture Recovery and Sustainability Project (a.k.a. the Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Project) for the purpose of responding to the COVID-19 public emergency and its negative economic impacts; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project will provide grants for food-growing farm operations in Kane County to help cover the cost of critical operating expenses, allowing farmers to more easily prioritize long-term investments in farm infrastructure and business growth. Kane County will contract with a Project Manager to administer the program at the direction of the Department Director. Eligible applicants will include farms operated as either businesses entities or non-profit organizations, with awards anticipated to range between $10,000 and $25,000 per recipient farm. Kane County previously administered two mini-grant programs, providing partial relief to farm operators who experienced negative economic impacts during the pandemic. The proposed project will address the unmet needs of farmers negatively affected, as well as provide support for resilience-building investments enabling farm operators to better withstand future supply chain disruptions; and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for the agriculture industry - particularly for specialty crop production - that threaten its continued growth, while at the same time prompted a positive trend in consumer preferences for direct farm specialty crop purchases and increased demand overall. In Kane County, these challenges are playing out in real time for local growers. According to figures from the latest Census of Agriculture, the amount of acreage used for vegetable production in Kane County fell by 49% from 2017 to 2022. In 2021 Kane County surveyed local food growers to find that 68% of farmer respondents reported pandemic-related revenue losses due to sales outlet and market closures, and diminished access to processing facilities; and
WHEREAS, Ellen Kamps, an independent consultant, has demonstrated relevant experience and the capabilities to deliver quality services as shown through project samples and references submitted in response to Kane County’s solicitation for qualified service providers; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Board has authorized the approval of Ellen Kamps as a qualified vendor to provide technical services for food and agricultural projects (RES #: 24-037) on behalf of the County; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Board has authorized a consulting services contract with Ellen Kamps (RES #: 24-050) by which the Department Director may assign project management functions to the service vendor within the scope of the priority service needs outlined in the agreement, not to exceed $170,000; and
WHEREAS, the proposed program budget consists of $755,000 for farmer grant disbursements and $108,000 in project management consulting costs, for a total of $863,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Dollars); and
WHEREAS, to assist the County in determining whether the project is an eligible use of SLFRF under ARPA, the Final Rule, and the related guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, the ARPC consultant, Ernst and Young, has reviewed the Kane County Development and Community Services Department’s request for SLFRF for The Kane County Food & Farm Resiliency Project for the purpose of responding to the COVID-19 public emergency and its negative economic impacts and completed an assessment regarding the project’s eligibility (see Exhibit A); and
WHEREAS, the ARPC recommends that the Kane County Board authorizes the use SLFRF in the amount of $863,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Dollars) to fund the Kane County Food & Farm Resiliency Project for the Kane County Development and Community Services Department, to be spent during the ARPA period of performance and in accordance with the ARPA, the Final Rule and related guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, and any other Federal, State or local laws and regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kane County Board hereby authorizes the Kane County Development and Community Services Department’s use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the amount of $863,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Dollars) based on the proposal attached as Exhibit B, to be distributed in accordance with the terms established pursuant to the grant agreement attached as Exhibit C, to be used for the Kane County Food & Farm Resiliency Project, in accordance with the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Final Rule, and related guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury, and any other Federal, State or local laws and regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Kane County Board that the follow adjustments be made to the Fiscal Year 2024, 2025, & 2026 budget:
355.800.66814.50150 Contractual/Consulting Services $211,250
355.800.668.85000 Allowance for Budget Expense ($211,250)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Kane County Board that the remaining grant funding will be budgeted in FY2025 ($636,000) and FY2026 ($15,750).
Passed by the Kane County Board on May 14, 2024.
____________________________ ____________________________
John A. Cunningham, MBA, JD, JD Corinne M. Pierog MA, MBA
Clerk, County Board Chairman, County Board
Kane County, Illinois Kane County, Illinois
Vote: