Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources for Soil Health Supplemental Staffing
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources for soil health supplemental staffing.
2. Accept a grant award and approve the grant agreement with Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources for soil health supplemental staffing for the period after the grant agreement is executed through December 31, 2027, in the amount of $345,000.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) provides grant funding to local units of government to deliver soil and water conservation services to their communities. The Soil Health Supplemental Staffing grant is a competitive new grant available to Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Minnesota. The grant was proposed to fund supplemental staffing needs associated with accelerating implementation of soil health practices and systems. There is no match requirement.
With this grant, Ramsey County’s Soil and Water Conservation division (SWCD) proposed to use the funding to expand their Urban Agriculture Program and employ a full-time employee to create high-quality soil health initiatives, increase efforts on sustainable forest management and expand the 2023 cover crop pilot with private gardens, community gardens and urban farms. This funding will also support youth development programs with partner organizations.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The SWCD proposed to assist financially with programming to two non-profit partners, Urban Roots and Frogtown Farms, to expand their youth development programs which recruit youth from under-resourced and primarily Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The SWCD collaborated with the Ramsey County Master Gardeners to establish the 2023 Cover Crop Pilot Program and involved them, along with Urban Roots and Frogtown Farms in drafting this grant application, to better meet the needs of the community and increase urban agriculture programming with the youth of Ramsey County. This hire will also support the goals of the 2024-2028 Climate Equity Action Plan by increasing land management practices that enhance climate resilience.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The awarded grant will cover the costs of hiring a full-time employee through the grant expiration of December 2027, which is already in the personnel complement of the Parks and Recreation department. A budget adjustment will be needed to increase the 2024-2025 operating budget. Additional grants will be available from BWSR for continued funding for this program. No match is required.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Soil Health Staffing grant agreement