ORDINANCE approving and authorizing first renewal of Child Care Local Match Contribution Agreement between City of Houston and GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD for Certification of Child Care Expenditures to obtain additional federal funding for child care and related services - 1 Year

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) requests City Council approve an Ordinance approving and authorizing the First Renewal of the Child Care Local Match Contribution Agreement between the City of Houston and Texas Workforce Commission (GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD) for Certification of $1,000,000.00 in after-school program expenditures to match draw down federal childcare funds and to obtain additional Federal Funding of ($250,000.00) for Child Care Quality Improvement Programs and ($30,000.00) for Related Administrative Services.

HPARD previously requested City Council approval to receive grant funding through the Texas Workforce Commission (Gulf Coast Workforce Board-GCWB) Child Care Local Match for the Original Agreement #C77443, dated October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022, and authorized pursuant to the previous City of Houston Ordinance No. 2021-983. The agreement includes a provision for a renewal of up to three (3) consecutive one-year terms. The performance period in this renewal of the agreement is October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023, being the first one-year renewal of the agreement.

Under this agreement, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board will use the City's certified expenditure to draw down federal funds for afterschool programs and summer day camps for Houston youth. The agreement directs the Gulf Coast Workforce Board (GCWB) to utilize the federal funding to subsidize the cost of childcare programs for low-income families and provide Child Care Quality Improvement funds for allowable quality improvement activities. Approximately 1,000 children will benefit from reduced or no-cost summer day camp, and 2,000 children will benefit from reduced or no-cost after-school programs. In addition, local area childcare practitioners will receive professional development opportunities, resources, and materials to enhance the deliverables of quality improvement programs.

Funds received through this grant provide program administrative support and quality improvement activities that include but are not limited to literacy development, STEM and technology advancement, social emotional learning, professional development training and scholarship opportunities to attend local/national conferences to obtain best practices that will further enhance the deliverables of quality improvement programs.

HPARD also requests City Council to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the city’s representative in this application process with the authority to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, and documents with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.

Director's Signature:

______________________________

Kenneth Allen, Director

Houston Parks and Recreation Department

Ordinance No. 2021-983- November 17, 2021