Item Description:
title
Award funding for the Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants program Spring 2023 Equipment and Playground Grants
end
Resolution:
body
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners selects ten playground projects totaling $468,061 and twenty equipment projects totaling $129,081 for the Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants program as follows:
Equipment Awards:
• PR00005376 with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for nine grants, not to exceed $49,585
• PR00005377 with Minneapolis Public Schools SSD 1 for four grants, not to exceed $27,750
• PR00005378 with City of Bloomington for two grants, not to exceed $15,968
• PR00005379 with Three Rivers Park District, not to exceed $10,000
• PR00005380 with City of St. Bonifacius, not to exceed $10,000
• PR00005381 with Robbinsdale Area Schools ISD 281, not to exceed $8,978
• PR00005382 with City of Eden Prairie, not to exceed $5,000
• PR00005383 with City of New Hope, not to exceed $1,800
Playground Awards:
• PR00005384 with Hopkins Public Schools ISD 270, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005385 with City of Brooklyn Center, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005386 with City of Brooklyn Park, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005387 with City of Crystal, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005388 with City of Bloomington, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005389 with City of Eden Prairie, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005390 with City of Tonka Bay, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005391 with City of Mound, not to exceed $47,221
• PR00005392 with City of Loretto, not to exceed $45,293
• PR00004393 with City of Champlin, not to exceed $45,000
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 473.757, subd. 2, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners re-authorizes the award of available ballpark sales tax dollars to fund youth activities and youth sports through the Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants program;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following review and approval by the County Attorney's Office, the Purchasing Director be authorized to sign all agreements awarded funds pursuant to Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Purchasing Director be authorized to approve amendments to agreements awarded funds pursuant to Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants in order to extend their term;
end
Background:
The Hennepin County Ballpark Initiative provided equal amounts of excess sales tax proceeds to expand library hours and youth activities. Resolution 09-0320R3 established the Hennepin Youth Sports Program (HYSP) to use ballpark sales tax funds for youth sports activities. In 2023, Resolution 23-0153 renamed the grant program to Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants (HCYAG).
A Request for Applications (RFA) for the Spring 2023 grant cycle was released in February 2023. Applications were accepted through March 17, 2023 and returned 28 equipment applications and 10 playground applications. Two equipment applications did not meet eligibility criteria and one application was withdrawn by the applicant. The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC), the third-party administrator for sports grants, received and evaluated the applications.
Upon review, MASC made a recommendation to award 20 equipment grants. Due to the quality of playground applications as well as the need for upgraded equipment to provide improved playground accessibility, MASC recommended that all 10 playground projects receive funding. The 2023 facilities grant cycle closed with non-awarded funds due to a withdrawn application. These funds are available to be reallocated to the playground grant cycle, enabling all playground projects to be funded.
In total, 20 equipment awards are recommended totaling $129,081 and 10 playground projects are recommended totaling $468,061.
Current Request: Ten playground projects totaling $468,061 and twenty equipment grant proposals totaling $129,081 are recommended for funding, as further outlined in this resolution.
This board action will also re-authorize the award of ballpark sales tax dollars for future grant cycles.
Impact/Outcome: Funding will provide needed resources to local government units and partner organizations across Hennepin County for youth recreational activities. Funding for this round of playgrounds will allow for accessibility improvements at playground locations across Hennepin County.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval