The Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) recommends Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing the following:
- The submission of required application materials to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), for a $1,000,000.00 Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending award (CPF) to benefit residents of the City of Houston.
- The execution by the Mayor, or the Mayor’s designee, of the Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and DOL for the CPF grant; and
- The execution by the Mayor, or the Mayor’s designee, of related forms and documents for the CPF grant.
In the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 117-328) (the Act), the United States Congress made CPF awards available, and projects were identified in the annual appropriations legislation. The City of Houston was named the recipient of a grant award for “City of Houston, TX for job training in the home recovery and construction industries,” through DOL’s Employment and Training Administration. This grant will be managed by HCD.
HCD will use a selection process to identify one or more nonprofit organizations to provide job training in the home recovery and construction industries, using CPF grant funds. This funding will increase the number of workers in trades needed for the general home construction industry, an employment sector facing shortages in skilled labor. This deficit in skilled labor is most acutely felt following disasters when housing is impacted and the demand for skilled labor to aid in recovery is highest, which results in significant delays in efforts to bring affordable housing back in the market.
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City of Houston, TX for job training in the home recovery and construction industries: $1,000,000.00
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Program Costs (includes costs such as personnel, instructional supplies, and tuition/fees)
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$890,000.00
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Administration
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$110,000.00
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Total
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$1,000,000.00
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The City of Houston will submit required application forms and documents before the deadline of January 31, 2024. The date DOL signs the grant agreement will serve as the start date for the grant’s period of performance and budget period.
This item is a procedural, administrative matter for the City to receive the funds awarded. After the CPF grant award is received by the City and partner organizations are selected, the contract(s) or agreement(s) resulting from the selection process will be presented to City Council.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal note is required for Grant Items.
This item was reviewed by the Housing and Community Affairs Committee on October 17, 2023.
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Keith W. Bynam, Director