To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Yvonne Shu, 565-1739; Inez Almaras, 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Quarterly County Grant Program Update - Second Quarter of 2024
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive 2024 second quarter reports on departmental grant efforts.
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Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors has requested that County departments to proactively pursue external funding to support County priorities. Departments regularly report their efforts to the County Administrator’s Office’s Policy, Grants, & Special Projects team, which coordinates and provides quarterly updates to the Board. This report covers activities from April through June 2024. This is an informational item only; departments will return to your Board as needed to seek any necessary grant-related approvals.
Discussion:
Departments with grant activity in the reporting quarter prepared individual updates (Attachment A) covering the following:
1. Grant objectives and priorities
2. Grant activity during the quarter
3. Funding sources monitored
4. Other activities that support grant-seeking opportunities
5. Activities that align with the County’s Five-Year Strategic Plan
6. Whether the projects associated with the funding have come, or will come, before the Board of Supervisors
Grant activity in the reporting period is summarized as follows:
Ag Preservation & Open Space District (APOSD):
§ APOSD currently manages a total of 7 grants, amounting to $13,695,250.
§ APOSD identified a new grant opportunity and is developing a competitive application with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
§ APOSD is awaiting response from Cal Fire and California Investments regarding the status of the Northside Russian River Shaded Fuel Break Project. The grant application was submitted in January 2024 and if the $1,900,000 grant is awarded, APOSD will bring the item to the Board for approval.
§ APOSD added a Grants Administrative Aide (0.5 FTE) in May 2024 to the District.
County Administrator’s Office - Climate Action and Resiliency Division (CARD):
§ CARD currently manages a total of four grants, amounting to $11,274,990.
§ CARD is seeking three grant opportunities in the second quarter. Applications were submitted with 1) the California Energy Commission to support the countywide fleet electrification project; 2) Department of Energy to fund EV charging equipment in locations to be determined later; and 3) California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to support the countywide energy resilience plan. If awarded, the grants will total $2,361,562.
Department of Emergency Management (DEM):
§ Department of Emergency Management (DEM) currently manages a total of 11 grants, amounting to $6,206,288.
§ DEM is seeking three grant opportunities in the second quarter. Grant applications have been submitted with the following: 1) California Housing and Community Development - HUD Pass through for the Sonoma County Access and Functional Needs Communications Gap Analysis and Feasibility Study, revised application submitted; 2) California Housing and Community Development - HUD Pass through for the Sonoma County Access and Functional Needs Communications Plan Implementation and 3) CalOES - FEMA Pass through for various Operational Area Projects. If awarded, the grants will total $1,399,356.
§ DEM is also researching the Emergency Management Performance Grant with CalOES - FEMA pass through to support Emergency Management Personnel in the amount of $220,474.
Department of Health Services (DHS):
§ In May, DHS was awarded $45,000 from Tulare County Superintendent of Schools - Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA.) In June, DHS was awarded$1,363,578 from the State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Both grants will support programs that treat underlying causes of homelessness, including substance abuse, mental illness, poverty and lack of affordable housing.
§ DHS is seeking five grant opportunities the second quarter. Grant applications have been submitted with the following: 1) SAMHSA for the California Friday Night Live Partnership Grant; 2) SAMHSA for the Substance Use, Prevention and Treatment Block Grant; 3) Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) for the Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) Round 4 Marginalized and Vulnerable Youth grant; 4) MHSOAC for the MHSSA Round 4 Sustainability grant; and 5) SAMHSA for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) - FY24-26. If awarded, the grants will total $14,798,086.
Economic Development Board (EDB):
§ EDB currently manages a total of 8 grants, amounting to $4,067,035 that support Broadband infrastructure initiatives and expand EDB’s capacity in providing business services and capacity to complete special projects.
§ EDB was awarded $141,235.60 from Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO Biz) for the Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion grant, which will assist with the County’s asset map project.
§ EDB is seeking a grant opportunity from the California Emerging Technology Fund - California Emerging Technology Fund Local Government Best Practices Checklist grant. If awarded, the grant will total $20,000.
Human Services Department (HSD):
§ Human Services Department (HSD) currently manages 11 grants, amounting to $9,004,634.
§ HSD is awaiting approval from the California Department of Transportation for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program grant and the Operating Assistance grant. The two Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant applications, for $452,468 and $265,940 respectively, were submitted in August 2023. Notifications are expected next quarter.
Permit Sonoma:
§ Permit Sonoma currently manages 11 grants, amounting to $19.5 million.
§ Permit Sonoma had no new grant activity for the reporting period; however, it successfully completed and closed one grant project totaling $1 million.
Regional Parks:
§ Regional Parks was awarded $297,320 from the California Natural Resources Agency for the YES! Mountain River project and $1,250,000 from State Parks for the Larson Park Renovation and Sonoma Valley Fire Resiliency project.
§ Regional Parks submitted a letter of interest in May 2024 to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Sonoma Schellville Trail Design project and is awaiting response.
§ Regional Parks is researching three grant opportunities with the US Department of Transportation, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the Division of Boating and Waterways.
Sonoma Public Infrastructure (SPI):
§ SPI was awarded $18,840 from the Sonoma Clean Power E-bike Commuter Program grant.
§ SPI is awaiting response from the California Transportation Commission regarding the Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant. The grant application was submitted in June for $3,442,863 in funding.
§ SPI is researching two grant opportunities with the California Department of Housing of Community Development (HCD) for the Composting and Food Waste Reduction Program (CFWR) grant and Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG) for Bike and Pedestrian Projects, as well as Sewer and Water Infrastructure. Additionally, SPI is researching a grant opportunity with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the Composting and Food Waste Reduction Program (CRWR).
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 4: Seek out grant funding to enhance programs and improve infrastructure
Objective: Objective 1: Secure a total of $60 million in grant funding by 2026 for strategic priorities, including technology tools, climate resiliency, and other capital projects.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
The Board has received quarterly updates on departmental grant activity since April 2023.
On March 2, 2021, the Board adopted the Sonoma County Strategic Plan, which established the priority of securing $60 million in grant funding by 2026.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this quarterly report. However, the grant activity efforts described in the report increase revenue capacity to meet County priorities.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There are no staffing impacts associated with this informational report, but any successful grant award will require staff capacity for grant management and project execution.
Attachments:
Attachment A - Second Quarter 2024 Quarterly Grant Department Reports
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None