To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Economic Development Collaborative, County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Lauren Cartwright (707) 565-7298
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Local Immigration Integration and Inclusion Grant
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution delegating authority to the County Executive and the Director of the Economic Development Collaborative, or designees, to negotiate and execute grant agreement(s), any amendments, Consent Forms, and related grant document(s) necessary for obtaining funding from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) under the Local Immigration and Integration Grant Program (LIIIG) funding program, in form approved by County Counsel .
B) Delegate authority to the Economic Development Collaborative Director, or designee, in consultation with County Counsel and the County Executive, to enter into contracts necessary to utilize grant funds in compliance with the terms of the grant and the County’s competitive contract procedures.
C) Adopt a Resolution authorizing a budgetary adjustment of $141,235.60 to the Economic Development Board Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Final Budget.
(4/5th Vote Required)
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Executive Summary:
The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) has applied for funding under the California Governor’s Office for Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Local Immigration Integration and Inclusion Grant Program (LIIIG). The LIIIG program provides one-time funding to support the development or expansion of immigrant integration efforts, increase community trust, and enhance organizational capacity of local governments to support immigrant populations in California.
EDC has received a Notice of Intent to Award Grant for Sonoma County in the amount of $141,235.60 in grant funding to complete a comprehensive asset map and gap analysis of Sonoma County’s economic development and social service providers through intentional community engagement and partnership to help strengthen current services available to the regional immigrant population.
Discussion:
Sonoma County is home to a diverse population, with nearly 29% of residents identifying as Hispanic/Latino, 5% Asian and/or Pacific islander, 1.5% Black, and 13.5% multiracial. Additionally, 16.4% of Sonoma County residents are foreign-born - 47.5% of these residents are naturalized citizens, while 52.5% are not citizens (American Community Survey, 2022 <https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/data.html>). A significant number of residents (25.6%) speak a language other than English at home, and on May 14, 2024 the County of Sonoma approved a formal Language Access Policy with a goal to achieve equitable participation and improved access to County services for residents who do not speak English as their primary language.
The EDC has worked diligently to adapt its programming over the last decade to better serve all residents (and business owners), with a specific focus on uplifting equity and diversity through its programming and agency strategic planning. Over the years, the EDC has created a Bilingual Small Business Development Assistance Program (also referred to as the “Business Diversity Program”) to support the county’s growing Hispanic/Latino population. The program has since expanded its efforts to service the broader BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and other diverse small business owners in the county.
In partnership with the County Administrator’s Office Policy, Grants and Special Projects division, the EDC will facilitate the development of a county asset map and gap analysis with Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative (“SFC”), a local nonprofit that provides pro-bono legal and social services to immigrants in the community. SFC will leverage its extensive experience providing linguistically and culturally accessible social services workshops, financial literacy, educational services, benefit enrollment assistance, and more to support this scope of work. Due to SFC’s experience in providing linguistically and culturally accessible services and programs to local immigrant populations, the Purchasing Agent has approved a sole source waiver in lieu of a Request for Proposals.
Through the process of creating an accessible countywide tool for public use, the proposed asset-mapping activity will create a comprehensive inventory of Sonoma County’s social, economic, and workforce development related services, with a specific focus on the county’s immigrant population and their needs. The scope of work also includes the identification of areas for improvement and collaboration, and connection to and between critical service providers across the region. In addition to the partnership with SFC, other county entities such as the Office of Equity and the Workforce Investment Board will provide guidance and input during the map’s development, ensuring that both business and socio-cultural services are represented.
The county asset-mapping and gap analysis, which will include the full network of Sonoma County’s immigrant service providers, will serve as an important resource for both community members as well as County departments and local nonprofits to provide more up-to-date information and referrals, avoid duplication of services, and create a stronger and more connected network of care for immigrant community members.
Strategic Plan:
Approving access to this grant fund will strengthen and support current programs and services available to the local immigrant population.
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 2: Identify gaps in the Safety Net system of services and identify areas where departments can address those gaps directly and seek guidance from the Board when additional resources and/or policy direction is needed.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
5/14/2024 - Language Access Policy and Implementation Plan <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6660921&GUID=92160618-5373-4E18-B73F-1AE315C28F5F&Options=&Search=> (File No. 2024-0460)
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$141,235.60 |
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Total Expenditures |
$141,235.60 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$141,235.60 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$141,235.60 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Sonoma County has been awarded $141,235.60 by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Estimated program costs to be incurred by the Economic Development Collaborative included $16,235.60 for overhead costs attributable to the project including, but not limited to vendor and project management as well as local agency staff hours and translation services. Approximately $125,000 of the grant will be allocated to contractual expenses with Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Administration of this grant and the contract with Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative will not require additional staffing and the workload can be completed with existing staffing.
Attachments:
1) Delegated Authority Resolution
2) Budget Resolution
3) California Governor’s Office for Business and Economic Development Local Immigration Integration and Inclusion Program Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A