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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DULUTH 1200 FUND, INC. TO PROVIDE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A CHILD CARE PROVIDER EXPANSION PROGRAM AND CHILD CARE STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $465,000.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to enter into a agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, authorizing the reimbursement to the Duluth 1200 Fund, Inc. for costs incurred associated with its Child Care Provider Expansion Program and its Child Care Staff Training Program in an amount not to exceed $465,000, said costs to be paid from fund number 226-125-5005 (Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Finance, Public Safety Programs).
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the execution of an agreement with the Duluth 1200 Fund, Inc., whereby the City will provide up to $465,000 to fund the Duluth 1200 Fund, Inc. implementation of its Child Care Provider Expansion Program and its Child Care Staff Training Program to support expanded availability of child care spaces in Duluth to support employment and business recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Child Care Provider Expansion program is intended to incentivize existing or new child care operations to expand the physical size of facilities in order to create new child care space availability. The program is intended to focus first on serving facilities in Qualified Census Tracts, and subsequently throughout the city in eligible locations to serve Duluth residents. The Duluth 1200 Fund’s program will provide for grants of up to $100,000 for eligible child care providers, and the funds must be used for fixed assets. The program will include requirements to ensure that the facilities are available for a minimum time period of two years, or the funds must be repaid.
The Child Care Staff Training Program will provide for reimbursement of Duluth 1200 Fund, Inc. costs incurred associated with providing training to child care providers that is unavailable or insufficiently available in the community. The training will be conducted by appropriate trainers, and will allow for child care providers to meet requirements for state licensure.
The funding source for the reimbursement of said costs is the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.