HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0002) IR 20-10461 - Nonprofit Organizations- Coronavirus PandemicINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 20-10461
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
August 18, 2020
Page 1 of 1
SUBJECT: ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
On April 29, 2020, the City Council adopted an ordinance to bring total appropriations from the federal Coronavirus
Relief Fund (CRF) received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to $50,000,000.00 for
disaster response expenses, which included funding for establishment of emergency rental assistance and small business
assistance programs (M&C 20-0263).
The Economic Development Department received various applications from nonprofit organizations for its "Preserve the
Fort" small business assistance program. Nonprofit organizations also approached other City of Fort Worth officials and
Tarrant County officials requesting funds to provide direct social services assistance to respond to the pandemic. Tarrant
County received $209,000,000 from the State of Texas through Title V of the CARES Act and plans to use a portion of
these funds for a Non -Governmental Organization (NGO) program for nonprofits. County officials consulted with the
City Manager's Office regarding collaboration and cost -sharing of funding for direct social services delivered in Fort
Worth as well as throughout the County. The County established an application process and agreed to share nonprofit
applications with the City in cases involving the provision of services to Fort Worth residents.
The Economic Development Department will administer a Phase II of the Preserve the Fort program for operations -
related requests from nonprofits such as funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) for the nonprofit's personnel.
The Neighborhood Services Department will administer assistance awards made through the City's collaboration with
the Tarrant County NGO program to nonprofit entities for direct social services in response to COVID-related need.
Nonprofit applications received from Tarrant County will be reviewed by Neighborhood Services staff, with funding and
cost -share recommendations forwarded to the City Manager's Office for approval. An M&C is scheduled for the August
25 Council agenda to authorize criteria for approval of awards to nonprofits for direct assistance activities that respond
to the public health emergency. Unused funds in the amount of $4.2 million from the Fort Worth CARES Emergency
Household Assistance Program will be used for this program. Criteria will include the following:
• Provision of necessary direct assistance to City residents in response to the public health emergency, such as
delivery of food to senior citizens and vulnerable populations to enable compliance with public health
precautions, and
• Reimbursement of necessary but unanticipated public -health -related costs incurred by social service
organizations on behalf of Fort Worth residents.
Proposals outside the scope of the NSD-managed program would include:
• Revenue replacement to make up for loss of income by the nonprofit,
• Programs that do not provide direct assistance to individuals or households, and
• Application information submitted does not demonstrate adequate financial management or record -keeping
capacity commensurate with the federal nature of CRF funding.
CRF funds must be expended prior to December 30, 2020. Therefore, contracts must be executed as quickly as possible
and funds disbursed to eligible non -profits prior to November 30, 2020.
If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Victor Turner, Neighborhood Services
Director at 817-392-8187 or Victor.Turner@fortworthtexas.gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS