Subject:
Title
Grant application to the American Association of Retired Persons for the 2025 Community Challenge Program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by the Emergency Management Director for the electronic submission of a grant application to the American Association of Retired Persons for the 2025 Community Challenge Program.
• The proposed project seeks to Support community resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents
• The quick-action grant funding request is for $25,000 for the purchase of weather radios. There is no match requirement.
• Applications are due by March 5, 2025. Award announcements will take place in May 2025 with a project completion date of December 15, 2025.
• Should this grant be approved, a budget amendment to accept the funds and approve the expenses will be proposed to the Board of County Commissioners.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to create and enhance a safe, secure, and healthy community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
Summary:
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is accepting applications for quick-action grant projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. The Community Challenge Flagship Grant opportunity supports projects that encourage the replication of promising efforts that benefit residents (especially those age 50 or older). The proposed weather radio grant project fits into AARP’s application category of “supporting community resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents”.
Background/Explanation:
Emergency and weather-related events may require protective measures or the need for at-risk persons to convey and receive information, have an emergency power source to charge communication devices and provide emergency lighting during infrastructure interruptions. At-risk populations are less likely to have access to emergency backup power, emergency notification and communication tools and may have limited resources or support networks to help them before, during and after emergencies and disasters. Multi-purpose weather alert radios allow access to critical warning and notification with phone charging capability and an emergency lighting source, ultimately increasing citizen preparedness for emergency events.
Pinellas County Emergency Management seeks to improve bi-directional communications with at-risk populations by distributing multi-purpose weather alert radios to residents.
Fiscal Impact:
The grant application request is for $25,000.00 from AARP with no required match. The funds to implement the program will come from Emergency Management’s FY25 operating budget, with reimbursement expected in FY25.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the Department Director to sign this grant application was delegated by the County Administrator per the memo dated March 28, 2016 titled “Delegation of Authority by the County Administrator and Improved Grant Procedures.”
Staff Member Responsible:
Cathie Perkins, Director, Emergency Management
Partners:
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Attachments:
Intent to Apply
2025 AARP Community Challenge funding announcement