TO: CRA Board of Commissioners
FROM: Alexina Jeannite, Community Engagement Director
THROUGH: Renée A. Jadusingh, Esq., Executive Director
DATE: July 15, 2021
Title
A-GUIDE FUNDING REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 - GREATER DELRAY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Direct staff to include funding for the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (Chamber) in the CRA’s FY 2021-2022 Budget in the amount of $40,000.
Body
Background:
The Chamber applied for CRA A-G.U.I.D.E.: Achieving Goals Using Impact Driven Evaluation Funding for FY 2021-2022 under the category of Economic Development. Funding is requested for one program, (Program “A”), the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at FAU. Housed at the Chamber, the SBDC, in partnership with the Delray CRA provides a dedicated consultant to the local business community in support of economic development efforts. Delray-based businesses receive prioritized attention, through a locally assigned consultant that assists them with one-on-one business consulting, access to webinars and trainings, mentoring, and counseling across all industry sectors and at any phase of the business life cycle.
The specifics of the Chamber’s request are summarized below.
|
Current Funding Request Amount: |
$40,000 |
|
Organization Total Budget: |
$783,224 |
|
CRA Funds - Percentage of Budget: |
5% |
|
FY2020-2021 Funding: |
$40,000 |
This year’s Funding Evaluation Committee consisted of CRA Executive Director, Renee Jadusingh, CRA Assistant Director, Christine Tibbs, and City of Delray Beach Economic Development Director, Sara Maxfield. The Committee rated the application package based on the established A-GUIDE criteria. Criteria used in review of the application were grouped into six categories weighted to total 100% as follows:
|
Organization Capacity |
20% |
|
Need for Project/Program |
20% |
|
Project/Program Description |
10% |
|
Logic Model |
20% |
|
Evaluation Plan |
10% |
|
Budget & Sustainability |
20% |
The Application Evaluation Form has six categories and the majority of the items are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 (worst to best possible response) with the exception of two items: Organizational Capacity - Demonstrated experience/success with similar programs/project rated on a scale of 1 to 15 (worst to best possible response); and Logic Model/Projected Results - Stated program/project goal clear and relevant to CRA Overall Need rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (worst to best possible response).
Please review the attached Application Evaluation Form (Exhibit A) that includes the rating of the committee members on each Project/Program. The outcome of the committee’s review is as follows:
Evaluation Score: 86%
In addition to the attached Application Evaluation Form and budget forms, the following documents are available upon request:
A-GUIDE Application
A-GUIDE Logic Model
A-GUIDE Evaluation Plan
Strategic Plan
IRS Form 990
Audited Financial Statements
Refer to the funding request overview for more information.
As stipulated in the A-G.U.I.D.E. guidelines, the Funding Evaluation Committee reviews each application according to established criteria and makes preliminary funding recommendations to the CRA Board of Commissioners. Then the CRA Board considers and makes final decisions regarding the funding request. At this time, the Funding Evaluation Committee recommends funding the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce for fiscal year 2021-2022 in the amount of $40,000.
Attachments: Exhibit A - Application Evaluation Form; Exhibit B - FY 2021-2022 Goals & Outcomes; Exhibit C - CRA Combined Budget Form and Narrative.
CRA Attorney Review:
N/A
Finance Review:
N/A
Funding Source/Financial Impact:
$40,000 allocated from General Ledger #7376 - A-GUIDE Funding.