HomeMy WebLinkAbout20232583.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE APPLICATION FOR COLORADO AMERICORPS PLANNING GRANT
FUNDS AND AUTHORIZE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT
ELECTRONICALLY
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with an Application for the Colorado
AmeriCorps Planning Grant Funds from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through
the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Human
Services, Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC), to the Colorado AmeriCorps, with
further terms and conditions being as stated in said application, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said application, a copy
of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, Colorado, that the Application for the Colorado AmeriCorps Planning Grant Funds
from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners
of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Human Services, Weld County Youth
Conservation Corps (WCYCC), to the Colorado AmeriCorps, be, and hereby is, approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that Karina Amaya-Ragland, Department of
Human Services, be, and hereby is, authorized to electronically submit said application.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 6th day of September, A.D., 2023.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: Wes) ..k ;„k
Weld County Clerk to the Board
County orney
Date of signature: O.1 /)2/2
Cc : HS D, A CT (CPKb)
at/‘ 1023
2023-2583
HR0095
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PASS -AROUND REVIEW
PASS -AROUND TITLE: AmeriCorp's Planning Grant Application
DEPARTMENT: Human Services
PERSON REQUESTING: Jamie Ulrich, Director, Human Services
DATE: August 29, 2023
Brief description of the problem/issue:
Employment Services of Weld County would like to apply for the AmeriCorps Request for Planning Grants
seeking the maximum $150,000.00 to assist with the planning of a Water/Energy Corps. This grant would fall
under the umbrella of the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) and would recruit individuals for
AmeriCorps and help such efforts as promoting and/or increasing energy and water efficiency, weatherization,
product installation, etc.
Grant submission is due September 11, 2023. Awardees will be notified September 22, 2023, and planning
would begin October of 2023. There have been several municipalities throughout Weld County seeking this type
of assistance through WCYCC and have expressed interest in working with the corps if this comes to fruition.
What options exist for the Board?
• Approval to apply for the AmeriCorps Planning Grant.
• Deny applying for the AmeriCorps Planning Grant.
Consequences: Grant money will not be applied for.
Impacts: No money will be awarded for the planning of a Water/Energy Corps.
Costs (Current Fiscal Year / Ongoing or Subsequent Fiscal Years):
• Applying for the maximum amount of $150,000.00.
• Funded through AmeriCorps under the umbrella of the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps.
Recommendation:
• Approval to apply for the AmeriCorps Planning Grant and authorize the Department to sign and submit
electronically.
Support Recommendation Schedule
Place on BOCC Agenda Work Session Other/Comments:
Perry L. Buck, Pro -Tern 6-1?
Mike Freeman, Chair
Scott K. James Kevin D. Ross \k``-
(n�
Lori Saine r
Pass -Around Memorandum; August 29, 2023
2023-2583
9/(o R12UCFi5
Planning Grant Application Worksheet
This worksheet is to be used by those seeking Colorado AmeriCorps planning grant funding. This form is required
as a first step. If moved forward in the process after review of this worksheet and attached application narrative,
applicants will be instructed on how to complete the full application in eGrants. Pending available funding, Serve
Colorado can award planning grants throughout the year and will be as flexible as possible in meeting the timetable
needs of successful applicants.
I. Cover Page
Legal Applicant (Organization) Name *
Employment Services well Geurrfy
Primary Point of Contact regarding this pre -application * Email *
KmNi'YYP-- Amor Ft/91140 wl1yirct)welcl.lpv
Title * Phone *
W ooKfPrce t1 rcc r g400-1/11,9�
Secondary Point of Contact regarding this pre -application Email
�Uf� ReYhh�IVC�t '1}°etvirei-FcaWelli gov
Title Phone
W c yCzSupeivIGor 17o- 500-2-7b1
Readiness & Eligibility Assessment
This Readiness Assessment helps you determine whether your organization is poised to successfully apply for and implement a
Colorado AmeriCorps State grant. Your responses help Serve Colorado assess your need/likely needed duration fora planning grant .
A lack of prior AmeriCorps experience does not adversely affect you in this process, but helps us determine timelines, scope, etc.
Previous Experience
Is/was your organization a program, service site, or partner of a current or former AmeriCorps program of Serve
Colorado?
,Yes ONo
Does your organization have experience with AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, or AmeriCorps State and National,
even if in another state?
1 -.,Yes 0 No
Has your organization previously managed a federal, state and/or foundation grant?
Yes 0 No
Qualifying Questions
Is your organization a public or private nonprofit organization (including faith -based organizations); an institution of
higher education; a government entity within the State of Colorado; or an Indian Tribe?
3Yes' 0 No
Does your organization's plan for utilizing AmeriCorps members address specific unmet community needs?
Yes ONo
Will the staff person/consultant most responsible for managing the planning grant be budgeted at no less than 0.5 FTE
(not less than 20 hours/week) and, if a new position, be hired not 60 days after the start date of the grant award?
34 Yes 0 No
Would a full operational program that your planning grant is working towards utlize at least 7 full-time members
annually, or the equivalent (10 three-quarter time or 14 half-time, for example)?
CT, Yes ONo
Administrative Function
Does your organization have an active and independent board of directors and/or other governing body? (Independent
is defined as a majority of board members who are neither employees of the organization nor family members of
employees or other board members.)
{,' 'Yes 0 No
Does your organization have the infrastructure to recruit, train, and support the efforts of AmeriCorps members?
Variables include office space, technology, supervisory time and skill, financial expertise, and the ability to manage
volunteers.
=Yes ONo
Does your organization have a process to recruit, develop, and retain employees in accordance with an equal
opportunity environment?
M Yes,O No
Does your organization provide staff and volunteers with written job descriptions and the necessary resources to carry
out duties appropriately?
Yes; O No
Does your organization conduct regular assessments of existing programs' effectiveness in meeting recipient needs and
identify needs for improvement?
O Yes Q No
Does your organization collect data to measure performance and progress regularly?
Yes 0 No
If awarded a planning grant and you apply for an operational grant and are awareded, would you optimally want
members to begin service before August in the calendar year to which you are applying?
Yes 0 No
Provide any additional information on these questions, as needed.
Financial Function
The questions below address key elements of financial management that suggest whether your
organization has the capacity and structure in place to operate an AmeriCorps program. The more
questions to which you answer No, the more likely we are to discuss seeking an outside "fiscal host" to
administer the program on your behalf.
Does the organization have diversified funding from multiple sources?
Yes, 0 No
Are there formal internal controls governing all financial operations?
a`'Yes ® No
Does your organization have sufficient cash to operate a grant on a reimbursement basis? Payments are made 30-60
days after submission of invoices by programs.
0 No
Does your organization produce and review financial statements at least monthly?
: f��'4 Yes. 0 No
Does your organization have the ability to secure the financial and in -kind resources to meet any required match, which
begins at 24%?
i.Yes a No
Is your organization familiar with federal cost principles?
t:Ys ONo
Does your organization have written financial policies and procedures, including a cost allocation plan?
C Yes ONo
Does your organization have the ability to segregate and track different funding sources (for example, QuickBooks with
classes & job functions)?
Yes 0No
Applicants are to budget from 6-12 months. Based on the factors outlined below, what do you foresee as the time
needed to plan? Understand that there maybe a gap from when a planning period ends and an operational program
(with members) begins. This is based on how many months you budget for planning, when you are awarded your
planning grant, and when you apply for an operational grant. Future RFA round timelines are udpated in real time on
this page: https://servecolorado.colorado.gov/operationalgrants
The applicant's proposed budget duration factors in the time needed for
• Partnership development;
• Internal processes and procedures specific to running an AmeriCorps program (an assigned Serve Colorado
Program Officer helps guide successful applicants through this process throughout the planning period);
• Staffing; and
• Member recruitment and placement.
Provide any additional information on these questions, as needed.
Application Narrative *
fUpload
5ubm
or drag files here.
Weld County Youth Conservation Corps
Application Narrative
Problem/Need: Communities in Weld County are growing at high rates and have identified a
severe need for water and energy saving measures. According to the United States Census
Bureau, from 2010 to 2020, Weld County grew by more than 30%, making it one of the fastest
growing regions in the country. In addition to a booming population, Colorado has been
experiencing a 20 -year -long megadrought, stressing water supplies and challenging Colorado
rivers to meet the rising demand. Coloradoans use an average of 65 billion gallons of treated
water annually, accounting for 15% of Colorado's water. While 40% of that water is estimated
to be used for outdoor lawn watering and other landscaping, the majority of consumption is
from household uses, including showering, laundry, and washing dishes.
During the planning period we will work with municipalities in Weld County to explore the
severity of the need in that area and prioritize the focus of our future Weld County Youth
Conservation Corps (WCYCC) Water and Energy Crew. Funds received through the planning
grant will be used to hire a dedicated staff member to address this problem/need.
Organizational Capability: WCYCC was started in 1993 through expansion funding provided by
the Office of Rural Job Training. We began with a summer crew, which targeted twelve (12)
opportunity (at -risk) youth. This crew worked on a project building an adobe house for the City
of Greeley's Centennial Village Museum. Since 1993, WCYCC has continued its commitment to
serve disenfranchised, opportunity youth, and uses service that benefits the residents of Weld
County as a means to attach them to their community and give them transferable skills.
WCYCC has been able to continue to operate over the years through utilization of a variety of
funding sources such as Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Summer Youth Funds; Youth Crime
Prevention and Intervention Funds Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Funds; Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Funds and in 1995,
AmeriCorps funding through a collaborative grant with Larimer County. Knowing that the
AmeriCorps funding through the 1995 sub -contract with Larimer County would end in August of
2003, WCYCC determined that it would apply for AmeriCorps funding directly and was able to
secure an Operating Grant to continue its program without interruption.
We have continued to expand and diversify our funding over the past 30 years and currently
have two (2) year-round crews and four (4) summer crews. One year round and one summer
crew serve 14 -17 -year -old youth and is not funded by AmeriCorps funding, but CORE Services
funding available through the Weld County Department of Human Services Child Welfare
Division. These youth are referred to WCYCC by case workers in the Child Welfare Division and
participate in WCYCC's Teamwork Innovation Growth Hope and Training (TIGHT) program. Our
other two summer crews are comprised of a seasonal crew leader and 14 and 15 -year -old
youth from rural Weld County communities. These two crews, as well as the seasonal crew
leader, are funded through Colorado Works Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
dollars.
WCYCC continues to seek opportunities to increase the number of sponsors for fee for service
projects. Since our inception, we have been able to expand our relationships with municipalities
within Weld County and collaborate on numerous GOCO (Great Outdoors Colorado) and
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) grants and have realized success with these
partnerships. In 2009, WCYCC explored and began operating chainsaw crews on invasive
species eradication projects within Weld, Sedgwick, and Morgan Counties. What began as a
summer crew has now led to a chainsaw crew in operation year-round. WCYCC continues to
operate seasonal and year-round conservation (land and water) & community service crews to
date and seeks various opportunities to continue delivering services and to diversify funding for
sustainability.
As you can see through our extensive history, WCYCC has significant knowledge and capacity to
operate a successful water and energy program. With this funding, WCYCC will come full circle
as we previously operated an energy crew that performed home energy audits from 2010-
2012; however, we would be expanding that model to include more water saving measures. It
is important to note that there are several Weld County municipalities who are supportive of
WCYCC and ensuring water and energy saving measures are being implemented throughout
their jurisdictions. Our longstanding partnerships and passion and dedication towards
conservation will make certain we are successful in addressing these needs.
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