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A resolution appropriating a total of $200,000 from the COVID-19 Pandemic Fund No. 30099 to various nonprofit organizations selected to receive Community Partnership Fund grants.
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WHEREAS, Section 7-3-314 of the Tennessee Code Annotated states that metropolitan forms of government may provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations in accordance with the guidelines of the Metropolitan Government; and,
WHEREAS, Section 5.04.070 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws provides that the Metropolitan Council may, by Resolution, appropriate funds for the financial aid of nonprofit organizations; and,
WHEREAS, Resolution RS 2020-394 previously appropriated for the support of various agencies and non-profit organizations providing direct services to members of the community negatively impacted by COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, Resolution 2020-394 provided that funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the requirements of section 7-3-314 of the Tennessee Code Annotated and all related grant contracts shall be approved by resolution of the Metropolitan Council, including $200,000 for Office of Family Safety; and,
WHEREAS, there are federal requirements for use of CARES Act funds which require that these funds be used or distributed on or before December 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Family Safety has accepted applications from nonprofit organizations to receive Community Partnership Fund grants; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor has accepted the recommendations of the Office of Family Safety that $200,000 in Community Partnership Fund grants should be disbursed to specific nonprofit organizations; and,
WHEREAS, Davidson County has experienced a 286% increase in domestic violence cases/calls during the course of the pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, the nonprofit organizations named below have experienced an increased demand in their services due to the increase in domestic violence cases during the pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that these funds be appropriated to these nonprofit organizations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. There is hereby appropriated $200,000 from the COVID-19 Pandemic Fund No. 30099 to fund grants to five nonprofit organizations as follows:
a) $20,000 to Nurture the Next, for the provision of a public awareness campaign to ensure victims of domestic violence are aware of increased risks as a result of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and informed about how they can safely access services in Davidson County;
b) $40,000 to Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, for the provision of direct civil legal representation that will keep high risk survivors safe and increase access to critical resources in Davidson County for low-income families that COVID-19 has impacted at higher rates than the rest of the population;
c) $40,000 to The Nashville Children’s Alliance, to reduce the compounded factors of COVID-19 coupled with trauma, abuse and/or neglect in Davidson County;
d) $50,000 to The Mary Parrish Center, for the provision of shelter to domestic violence victims in Davidson County for those COVID-19 has impacted by making it more difficult to leave their current living situation; and
e) $50,000 to AGAPE, for the provision of assistance to the Office of Family Safety by working with domestic violence victims in Davidson County by providing shelter, counseling and advocacy to those directly impacted by COVID-19.
Section 2. The Metropolitan Government is hereby authorized to enter into grant contracts with the nonprofit organizations listed in Section 1 above for the amounts provided herein and the purposes stated. Such contract shall specify the terms and conditions under which the grant funds are to be spent, including that all expenditures shall be in accordance with the financial requirements of the federal CARES Act.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
This resolution appropriates $200,000 in federal CARES Act grant funds to five nonprofit organizations upon the recommendation of the Metro Office of Family Safety. Resolution No. RS2020-394 allocated $2,800,000 in CARES Act funds for the support of various nonprofit agencies providing services to members of the community, including $200,000 to the Office of Family Safety for future appropriation to agencies providing domestic violence-related services related to COVID-19. The Office of Family Safety solicited applications from nonprofit organizations for the use of these funds. This resolution appropriates this $200,000 as follows, as recommended by the Office of Family Safety:
• $20,000 to Nurture the Next, for a public awareness campaign regarding available domestic violence services in Davidson County during the pandemic
• $40,000 to Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence for the provision of direct civil legal representation for high-risk domestic violence survivors
• $40,000 to The Nashville Children’s Alliance to reduce the compounded factors of COVID-19 coupled with trauma, abuse and/or neglect in Davidson County
• $50,000 to The Mary Parrish Center to provide shelter to domestic violence victims in Davidson County for those impacted by COVID-19
• $50,000 to AGAPE to assist the Office of Family Safety by working with domestic violence victims in Davidson County by providing shelter, counseling and advocacy to those directly impacted by COVID-19
This resolution also authorizes Metro to enter into grant contracts with each of these agencies detailing the terms and conditions under which the grant funds are to be spent, including that all expenditures shall be in accordance with the financial requirements of the federal CARES Act.
Fiscal Note: The Council has appropriated a total of $93,800,000 thus far through the Committee process. The total unallocated is $24,822,575. This resolution does not appropriate any new funds from the CARES Act Fund.