REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: SANTINO DANISI, MBA, City Controller/Finance Director BY: COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Business Manager Finance Department, Grants Management Unit SUBJECT ..Title Approve a Grant Agreement with The Central Valley Honor Flight allocating $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support and honor 70 Valley veterans by providing resources to pay for a trip to Washington, DC to visit their military memorials. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends Council approve an agreement with the Central Valley Honor Flight allocating $100,000 in ARPA funding to support and honor 70 Valley veterans by providing resources to pay for a trip to Washington, DC to visit their military memorials and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement, amendments, and modifications pertaining to this grant program. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Staff recommends Council approve an agreement with the Central Valley Honor Flight allocating $100,000 in ARPA funds to support and honor 70 Valley veterans by providing resources needed to pay for a trip to Washington, DC to visit their military memorials. This allocation was previously approved by Council through the budget process and approval on June 20, 2024. As a beneficiary of ARPA funding, the Central Valley Honor Flight will receive funding to build on their current capacities and provide additional support to program participants. BACKGROUND In 2021, the City of Fresno was awarded American Rescue Plan Act funding in the amount of $170,808,029. Of this funding $100,000 was identified in a resolution passed by Council on June 20, 2024, allocating funding to augment current resources for the Central Valley Honor Flight. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Valley Honor Flight has been negatively impacted specifically with a significant reduction in donations during that time. In addition, due to the moratorium on honor flights more than 25 veterans on the waitlist passed away before they could make the trip. Funding will increase the ability for the organization to honor 70 Valley veterans with a Central Valley Honor Flight tip to see their military memorials in Washington, DC. In most cases, this is a trip that the veteran would otherwise not be able to participate in without the support from Central Valley Honor Flight. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project as defined by CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered because the approval of a grant agreement does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract. FISCAL IMPACT This program will be funded through American Rescue Plan Act funding and will not impact the general fund. Attachments: ARPA CBO Agreement with the Central Valley Honor Flight