Title
Dept/ Agency: Administration/Office of the Business Administrator
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Application and Agreements with EDA for the Fiscal Year 2021 American Rescue Plan Act - Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant
Purpose: Application/Acceptance with EDA for the Fiscal Year 2021 American Rescue Plan Act - Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant and enter into an Agreement with New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Entity Name: United States Department of Commerce (DOC), Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Entity Address: 900 Market Street, Room 602, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Total Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Funding Source: United States Department of Commerce (DOC), Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Grant Period: December 15, 2021 through December 14, 2023
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
Resolution 7R1-a, adopted on February 6, 2019, approved an Exception to Public Bidding - Agreement with Governmental Entity, NJIT, to formally strengthen and build capacity within the City of Newark to enhance and deliver services to the local community.
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WHEREAS, the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy; and
WHEREAS, through this American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant, EDA aims to assist communities and regions impacted by the coronavirus pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused, and continues to cause, economic injury to United States communities and regions in devastating and unprecedented ways; and
WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant is designed as a two-phase competition to: (1) help regions develop transformational economic development strategies; and (2) fund the implementation of those strategies that will create and grow regional growth clusters; and
WHEREAS, these efforts will help regional economies recover from the pandemic and build economic diversity and resiliency to mitigate impacts of future economic disasters, as well as benefit regional workforces and residents through creation of high-quality jobs, increased wages, and revitalized communities; and
WHEREAS, the availability of these funds is designed to support clusters in transforming their regional economies through a collection of complementary, aligned construction and non-construction projects organized under a singular vision and designed to grow new industries and scale existing ones; and
WHEREAS, the identified projects should foster economic growth and competitiveness through job creation, capacity building, and attracting private investment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) under 7R1-a, adopted on February 6, 2019, to identify, engage and provide opportunities for NJIT students and faculty to collaborate and leverage available resources to explore research and develop projects that seek to improve infrastructure, enhance business and development opportunities, and support technology and innovation in the City; and
WHEREAS, the MOA allows the City and NJIT to work collaboratively to seek funding in the form of grants, technical assistance, and equipment to strengthen and build capacity within the City to enhance and deliver services to our local community; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Department of Administration coordinated the preparation of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application with NJIT; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Newark and Business Administrator caused to be submitted the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application; and
WHEREAS, as a result of submitting the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application, the City was awarded $500,000.00 for Phase 1 of the competition; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Newark desires to enter into a Task Order with NJIT to serve as the fiduciary agent for Phase 1 of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant, and the Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00) grant award for Phase 1 of the competition will be transferred to and managed by NJIT; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the Business Administrator wish to accept the grant award and did enter into, execute and submit a grant agreement governing said award; and
WHEREAS, no matching municipal funds are required for acceptance of the grant award; and
WHEREAS, no commitment of City resources or staff is required for acceptance of the grant award.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Business Administrator are hereby authorized to submit a 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application, which includes a grant award amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00).
2. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of the submission of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application from the date of its submission to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
3. The above-described grant award in the total amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00), from the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), is hereby accepted (copies of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Notice of Funding Opportunities, Application, and Award Letter are attached hereto and made a part hereof).
4. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Business Administrator, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute such grant documents and agreements with EDA as may be necessary to receive the above-described grant funds.
5. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of the execution of the grant documents and agreements from the date of their execution to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
6. No municipal funds are required for the receipt or acceptance of the grant funds.
7. No commitment of City resources or staff is required for the receipt or acceptance of the grant funds.
8. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Business Administrator are authorized to enter into and execute a Task Order with NJIT (attached), to serve as the fiduciary agent for Phase 1 of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant, and the Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00) grant award for Phase 1 of the competition will be transferred to and managed by NJIT.
9. The Task Order is subject to the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the City and NJIS, pursuant to Resolution 7R1-a, adopted on February 6, 2019.
10. The Business Administrator shall file fully-executed copies of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application and any associated grant documents or agreements, and the fully executed Task Order with the Office of the City Clerk.
STATEMENT
This Resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Business Administrator, and the actions taken to submit the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge Application with the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, and further ratifies and authorizes the execution of the Grant Agreements necessary to receive the grant funds in the amount of $500,000.00, the acceptance of the grant funds, and further authorizes the Task Order to transfer the $500,000.00 award to the grant partner and fiduciary agent, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).