Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with ICANDO Community Development in support of South Side Family Farms. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to ICANDO to support these efforts, as it does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
ICANDO Community Development is dedicated to serving disadvantaged, low-income residents of the South Side. Historical disinvestment in this red-lined community has created systemic barriers that many families are unable to overcome, exemplified by a high school student population consisting of ~73% free/reduced lunch participants. Through its growing program, South Side Family Farms, ICANDO has donated at least 2,000 pounds of produce to individuals and local food pantries every year. It now needs to invest in a team of paid staff in order to serve the community in the long term.
For the past five years, ICANDO has provided produce boxes to 240 families and hosted 120-150 community members during educational programs every year. This growing season, it aims to match previous measures of success and offer a new health-centered, culturally relevant community supported agriculture (CSA) box for 40 families on a sliding scale starting at $35/week. ICANDO will additionally offer a summer youth enrichment program where 20 high school juniors and seniors will receive high-level training in agriculture, financial literacy lessons, and individualized career development coaching.
City Council is proposing $15,000.00 for these efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: $15,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for ICANDO to ensure immediate service for food distribution to households in need.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with ICANDO Community Developmen...
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