Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING AWARD FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,750,000 FOR LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES PLANNING.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to accept the Community Project Funding Award and enter the grant agreement and any amendments thereto, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $1,750,000 for library and community services planning with said funds to be deposited into fund 450-030-4209-01-CP450-CTRSOC-24HUD (capital improvements, Finance, direct federal grants - capital, capital projects - other fund contributions, center for social innovation, 2024 Housing and Urban Development Grant).
FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Duluth has the legal authority to accept these funds and the financial, technical, and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and implementation of the project. There is no local match required for this award.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council names the authorized representative for this project as Erik Birkeland, Director of Property, Parks, and Libraries, 1532 West Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55806.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Nina Salinas, Finance Director, 411 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the acceptance of a Community Project Funding Award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $1,750,000 for library and community health services planning. There is no local match required for this award.
The Community Project Funding program is funded by congressionally directed spending. This award was authorized by the Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Funds are administered by HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development through their Economic Development Initiative. The award will support library and community services planning through two projects: Project 1 - Library Concept and Project 2 - Health Center Concept.
Development of the Library Concept will be led by the City of Duluth in close partnership with neighboring communities. Funds will support professional services that will explore opportunities, lead community engagement activities, develop preliminary designs for proposed alternatives, and conduct feasibility assessments of facility options. These activities will aim to create an actionable, community-supported and expert-vetted plan to expand reach and capacity of library services for Duluth and local communities. This project will evaluate alternatives that may or may not lead to physical improvements or alterations to existing facilities and/or plans for a new library facility, both of which could potentially support establishment of a new regional library services district.
The Health Center Concept will be developed through a $300,000 subaward to the Lake Superior Community Health Center (LSCHC). For over 50 years, the LSCHC has served as a vital source of care for uninsured, low-income, and publicly insured individuals in the Duluth and Superior region. Designated as a federally qualified health center, LSCHC offers universal access to affordable, patient-focused integrated family medicine for adults and children, dentistry, behavioral health, and chiropractic care. The existing LSCHC facility is undersized, and the site cannot accommodate expansion, both factors limit LSCHC’s ability to meet rapidly growing regional needs. Relocation of the LSCHC facility generates an opportunity to partner with multiple community-based organizations to improve efficiency and efficacy of programming and care supporting overall community health and wellbeing. Funds from this project will support professional services to lead stakeholder and community engagement activities, develop preliminary designs for proposed alternatives, and conduct feasibility assessments of facility and funding options. These activities will aim to identify a preferred path for the development of a new facility in western Duluth anchored by the LSCHC with opportunities to collaborate with other community-oriented service providers, such as hosting an out-of-school-time youth programming provider or other partners that may be identified during the planning process.