To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INNOVATION FUND PHASE 1 PLANNING GRANT AWARDS
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE Innovation Fund Phase 1 Planning Grant awards in the amount of $5,000 to each of the ten applicants listed on Attachment 1 and DIRECT the County Administrator to execute grant contracts with each applicant, with awards conditioned upon applicants submitting a Phase 2 Innovation Fund proposal.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The current $2,000,000 Innovation Fund derives from a second allocation of Measure X sales tax revenue. Recommended Phase 1 grants, if approved, will reduce the fund by $50,000, leaving a balance of $1,950,000 for Phase 2 allocation.
BACKGROUND:
On November 16, 2021, the Measure X Community Advisory Board presented a report and funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for Measure X revenue. Among the many recommendations approved by the Board of Supervisors that day was a one-time allocation of $2 million to establish an Innovation Fund to seed pilot programs and innovative projects. The County Administrator was charged with administration of the fund and grant process, with guidance from the Board of Supervisors and its Finance Committee.
Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors allocated two rounds of Innovation Funds, each in the amount of $2M. The first round was allocated in October 2023 and the five awarded projects are expected to wrap up by the end of this fiscal year or sooner. The first round leaves an unallocated balance of $179,263, which is available to augment/extend 1st Round projects, add to the second round, or redirect to other County needs.
The second round grant eligibility, principles, priorities, and project categories were substantially the same as in the first round, except that a requirement to be a California registered organization was removed:
Guiding Principles:
* The...
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