Resolution amending the agreement with Yakima County Development Association (YCDA) regarding CARES Act grant funds to provide grants to small businesses and non-profit corporations affected by COVID-19

Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney

Kimberly Dominé, Financial Services Division Manager

This Resolution authorizes the City Manager to amend the agreement between the City of Yakima and YCDA with regards to the CARES Act grants for small businesses.  The proposed amendment does the following:

1. Increases the amount of funding available for grants from $1.4 million to $2.4 million.
2. Extends the deadline to award grants from October 31, 2020, to November 30, 2020, in accordance with the federal government’s extension to use CARES Act funds.
3. Amends the definition of small business to increase the number of employees to 25 or fewer full or part time employees.
4. Allows non-profit corporations (as defined in the Agreement) the ability to apply for grant funding from the additional $1.4 million added to the Agreement. The original $1 million would go to small businesses and the added $1.4 million could go to either small businesses or non-profit corporations.
5. Establishes a priority system in the event requests are larger than the grant money available as follows:

         A. Small businesses;

         B. Non-profit corporations which have provided services to the community during the pandemic prior to the
         date of application; and

         C. Non-profit corporations that have not provided services to the community during the pandemic.

     6.  Increases the administrative amount YCDA can retain of the $2.4 million to 

        $15,000.00 to cover the costs of administering the money to both                 

        small businesses and non-profits before November 30, 2020.