Subject:
Title
Florida Dream Center Pantry to Life Project Fiscal Year 2023 Municipal Services Taxing Unit funding request
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Municipal Services Taxing Unit funding request, in the amount not to exceed $20,000.00, for the Florida Dream Center (FLDC) Pantry to Life Fiscal Year 2023 Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) funding request.
• The FLDC’s MSTU funding request is for the purchase of a new indoor walk-in cooler to allow the organization to continue to collect, sort and distribute fresh and nutritious food to residents in Pinellas County.
• In 2022, FLDC distributed 1.4 million pounds of food.
• The demographic profile of participating residents ranges from those who are chronically homeless to low-income, elderly, disabled and multigenerational-housed families.
• The organization anticipates the request will result in a 45% increase in food received by clients and increase the number of clients by 1,200 in 12 months.
• The cooler selected has a sales price of $17,801.00 but actual shipping costs cannot be determined until the order is placed. Though the organization is requesting $20,000.00, it understands it will only be reimbursed the actual cost and will be responsible for any amount above the $20,000.00 grant limit.
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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
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.4 Strive to serve the needs of all Pinellas County residents and customers
Summary:mmary
Prior to February of 2022, the FLDC Mobile Food Bank was in a three-storage unit warehouse. As the real estate values began to soar, the warehouse was sold and the new owners increased the rent of the unit by 250%. As a nonprofit FLDC could not afford this rent, deciding to move the Mobile Food Bank to the administrative offices in Lealman. The move damaged one of our walk-in coolers that housed our dairy, meats and fresh produce.
Our client demographic includes chronically homeless to low-income/elderly/disabled, multigenerational-housed families. These communities share common characteristics: 22.7% of families with children under 5 live below the poverty level. 27% of households spend more than 30% of their income on housing. 16.7% of adults reported that their household had been authorized to receive WIC or Food Stamp benefits according to our case management software OASIS Insight.
It is imperative that this unit be replaced so that FLDC can continue to collect, sort and distribute fresh and nutritious food to the residents of Pinellas County. In 2021, FLDC distributed over 1,400,000 pounds of food. dy
Background Information:
The MSTU Special Projects Funding opportunity was created by the Board of County Commissioners for the purpose of supporting projects that enhance community and neighborhood opportunities in unincorporated areas of Pinellas County. These MSTU Special Projects Awards are intended to support culture, recreation, and community engagement opportunities for residents in unincorporated areas that are comparable to those opportunities which municipalities typically provide to their residents.
Fiscal Impact:
Approval would result in a one-time expenditure of budgeted MSTU Special Projects funds in the amount up to $20,000.00 to be provided on a reimbursement basis. This funding is consistent with the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Chris Moore, Assistant to the County Administrator, Lealman Community
Partners:
Florida Dream Center
Attachments:
Florida Dream Center MSTU Special Project Application, including Budget and
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