DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Ratification Of USDA SNAP Fiscal Year 2022 Process And Technology Improvement Grant Application, And Authorization To Accept Grant Funds, Execute Grant Agreement And Related Contracts, And Amend 2022 Employment And Economic Assistance Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Ratify application for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Fiscal Year 2022 Process and Technology Improvement grant, and authorize acceptance of USDA grant funds in the amount awarded, execution of USDA grant agreement and related contracts for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2025, and amendment to the 2022 Employment And Economic Assistance (E&EA) budget.
SUMMARY
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Dakota County’s E&EA department to move quickly to provide services in virtual and flexible ways. While these process changes have been successful and more clients are being served via remote means, the systems used to serve clients in this way are inflexible and inefficient. Since the move to provide more services in a virtual or telephonic way, lobby visits have decreased by 60 percent, even though the E&EA caseload has increased by 30 percent; the workload has increased, while the need/demand for in-person visits has decreased. E&EA is serving more people than ever and serving them in completely new ways. The current systems used to serve clients remotely are old and inflexible, requiring inefficient workarounds that make extra work for both clients and staff. In this grant application, E&EA sought to fund a project that aims to modernize and expand E&EA’s self-service and communication options for clients.
E&EA submitted an application and was awarded the full amount of $623,950 for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2025. The USDA SNAP Process and Technology Improvement grant will fund the replacement of the unsupported Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System and implementation of a modern contact center.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends ratification of the application for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service SNAP Fiscal Year 2022 Process and Technology Improvement grant, acceptance of USDA grant funds in the amount awarded, execution of USDA grant agreement and related contracts, and amendment to the 2022 E&EA Budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is a $0 net County cost anticipated as a result of this action. Authorization is requested to amend the 2022 E&EA Budget in the amount of $100,000 to reflect the revenues and expenses associated with the SNAP Process and Technology Improvement grant. The unused budget will be carried over into 2023, where the remaining allocation will also be budgeted.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Dakota County’s Department of Employment and Economic Assistance (E&EA) to move quickly to provide services in virtual and flexible ways; and
WHEREAS, lobby visits have decreased by 60 percent, even though the E&EA caseload has increased by 30 percent; and
WHEREAS, E&EA is serving more people than ever and serving them in completely new ways; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County E&EA submitted an application for and was awarded the full amount of $623,950.00 for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2025, and;
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Fiscal Year 2022 Process and Technology Improvement grant will fund the replacement of the unsupported Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System and implementation of a modern contact center; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends amending the 2022 E&EA Budget in the amount of $100,000 to reflect the revenues and expenses associated with the SNAP Process and Technology Improvement grant, and.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the Dakota County application for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Fiscal Year 2022 Process and Technology Improvement Grant for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to accept the grant funds in the amount of $623,950 (or the amount awarded), for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorizes the Community Services Director to execute the grant agreement with USDA for the SNAP Fiscal Year 2022 Process and Technology Improvement Grant for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 30, 2025, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorizes the Community Services Director to execute any necessary contracts that are a result of the need to provide services in relation to the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system work, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That unless the grant program requirements change, the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend the grant to alter the grant term, accept additional grant funds consistent with County contracting policies, and inclusion of grant funds in future yearly Recommended and Adopted Budgets, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 2022 Employment and Economic Assistance Budget is hereby amended as follows:
|
Revenue |
|
SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grant |
$100,000 |
|
Total Revenue |
$100,000 |
|
|
|
Expense |
|
SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grant |
$100,000 |
|
Total Expense |
$100,000 |
endPREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Nadir AbdiAuthor: Jessica Strydom