CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                  CITY COUNCIL AGENDA



  Agenda Date:        September 19, 2022

  Action Required:    Appropriation of Grant Funds

  Presenter:          Chris Engel, Director

  Staff Contacts:     Chris Engel, Director

  Title:              Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Temporary Aid to Needy
                      Families Grants - $100,000 (1 of 2 readings)


Background
Over the past several years, the City of Charlottesville, through the Office of Economic Development
(OED), has been receiving matching grants from the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS)
in order to provide workforce development training, business development training and supportive
services to individuals residing in the City of Charlottesville living at or below 200% poverty. For
fiscal year FY23 the following grant has been renewed:

    1. VDSS Employment Advancement for TANF Participants Grant (BEN-19-113) - a
       $100,000.00 grant awarded in 2022 for additional workforce development training programs
       including minority business/entrepreneurship training and supportive services.

The grant is set up on a reimbursable basis and there is no required local match for this particular
grant.

Discussion
These grant funds go to support OED's ongoing workforce development training programs and the
minority business/entrepreneurship training programs and supportive services. Specifically in FY23
the GO Cook program, which trains individuals in the culinary arts and prepares them for careers in
local food and hospitality establishments, will be supported. GO Cook has been run 10 times,
resulting in 45 individuals being trained and placed into employment. Additionally, the city's Minority
Business Program, which is designed to promote the startup and growth and expansion of minority-
and woman-owned businesses in the City will again conduct the GO Start-Up program. Go Start-Up
teaches individuals how to start up their own business and provides seed money for essential
business creation purposes (e.g., business license fees, websites, business cards, logos, inventory,
equipment, etc.). Twenty individuals participated in the previous three programs, resulting in over a
dozen new businesses in the Charlottesville community.

Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan
This effort supports City Council's "Economic Sustainability" vision and aligns with the City's Strategic
Plan, specifically, to create "A Strong, Creative and Diversified Economy" and "An inclusive
Community of Self-sufficient Residents."

Community Engagement
OED engages a variety of partners in delivering the City's workforce development services and its
employment training programs. These programs are supported by numerous community agencies
and organizations and include: Albemarle County, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Virginia
Career Works, and employer partners. Similarly, on the business development side, partners include
the Chamber Minority Business Alliance, the Community Investment Collaborative, the Central
Virginia Small Business Development Center, and private sector organizations.

Budgetary Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. All funds will be budgeted and expensed in the Grants Fund

Recommendation
Staff recommends approval and appropriation of grant funds.

Recommended motion: "I move the RESOLUTION appropriating the amount of $100,000 received
from TANF Grants"

Alternatives
If grant funds are not appropriated, more local dollars will have to be used for training or fewer low-
income, underemployed City residents will be able to be trained.

Attachments
1.   Renewal Modification for Agreement #BEN-19-113-04 - signed
2.   TANF Resolution