ITEM TITLE:
#22-02 - Authorizing the Submission of the 2022 American Rescue Plan Act Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Economic Development Administration Matching City of Valdez Funds Grant
SUBMITTED BY: Nicholas Farline, PRCS Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: $3,165,918 ($2,532,734.34 grant funds, if awarded, plus $633,183.58 city match
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: TBD - Projects Budget
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the EDA grant submission and matching funds if awarded
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) requires that the local governing body as part of the application process approve a resolution of support for the EDA Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation competitive grant. This is a matching grant program, which will require the City of Valdez to provide matching funds of 20% if awarded.
Below is from the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (attached):
Funding Opportunity Description: Subject to the availability of funds, awards made under this NOFO will help communities ad regions devise and implement sustainable economic recovery strategies through a variety of non- and construction projects to respond to damage to the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors from the coronavirus pandemic and to promote the economic resilience of regions dependent on those industries.
U.S. EDA updated Investment Priorities on 04/14/2021 (attached). The top two listed priorities are Equity and Recovery & Resilience. The Entrance Project addresses Equity for this application so that the park is open and accessible to as many members of the community of Valdez and visitors as possible. Recovery & Resilience is addressed in the project application by increasing outdoor recreation opportunities for the community and visitors of Valdez. This project will help the City of Valdez build resilience to and long-term recovery from future economic shocks.
City of Valdez has engaged the services of Anchorage based grant specialist Agnew:Beck to assist PRCS Director with the application and submission of the EDA grant application. Consultant Huddle, AK tasked with continuing to bring the initial Meals Hill master plan elements to 35% which satisfies the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) and the Environmental Report.
Per a conversation with the Alaska Economic Development Representative for the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)/EDA, and speaking with the consultant team the following will be included in the grant:
Alder Flow single-track trail (T10), Forest Flow single-track trail (T), Bog view trail (T8), Valdez Vista Trail (T2), Entrance project, Trailhead (A1), Overlook Loop (A2), Bathroom, and Covered Shelter (A3) (image attached).
PRCS Director has meet with over twelve local businesses garnering statements of economic benefits to their business because of the development of Meals Hill Park. These statements include job creation, job retention and investment into their business. Anticipation of 15 jobs created or retained because of both the EDA investment into the City of Valdez, and completion of the Meals Hill Master plan over the next nine years. These statements will be included in the final grant submission.
Parks & Recreation Commission vote 6-0-1 (one absent) in support of submitting the grant and for City of Valdez matching funds if awarded the grant.
Future planning and financial considerations:
Continued negotiations with Great Land Trust on the applicable uses of the remaining federal funds, it has been determined that the City of Valdez can use the remaining funds to design all elements in the Meals Hill Master Plan. This will greatly benefit the City of Valdez in applying for future trail grants.
City of Valdez funds used (excluding staff time) to develop Meals Hill master plan, create funding strategy and development of EDA grant application:
$8,000- Contract for Agnew:Beck
Federal Funds (EVOS) used as of 12/20/2021:
$295,560.00 ($317,010.75 encumbered)
Remaining federal funds (EVOS) available for design of Meals Hill park elements:
$582,989.25
Submission deadline is January 21, 2022
Attached:
• NOFO
• Updated EDA Priorities
• Map of projects to be submitted
• Meals Hill Master Plan