American Rescue Plan - Food Assistance Program

Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021, to provide needed relief to state, local, and Tribal governments to enable them to continue to respond to the public health emergency COVID-19 and its negative economic impacts. The current public health crisis and resulting economic crisis have devastated the health and economic wellbeing of millions of Americans. As Macon-Bibb citizens continue to regain their economic stability, their need for food assistance remains significantly greater than pre-COVID. Providing additional food assistance will alleviate some of the economic and emotional tolls on those families who remain in need. Macon-Bibb County Board of Commission has authorized up to $500,000 in this current funding round to support Household Assistance through food programs. Interested entities may apply for an amount up to $50,000 in ARP Funding. If applicant is approved, the applicant must complete the Macon-Bibb County Vendor application to receive payment; contract for services with Macon-Bibb County; and submit required documentation on expenditures.

The ARP category for this funding opportunity is under Negative Economic Impacts 2.1: Household Assistance: Food Programs. Macon-Bibb County Commission has approved $500,000 for distribution of food to citizens.

Funds are provided through the American Rescue Plan : Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds.

Please submit the Vendor Packet for MBC found at https://www.maconbibb.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MBC-Vendor-Application-1-required-documents.pdf Vendor packet is also attached in the next section. Note exception: you do not have to submit a business license as a non-profit.

Eligible Activities include: Food Distribution: Direct Client(recipient) Benefit Eligible Items: any food used in served meals (Cold or Hot) Food Purchased for food boxes Food purchased to be distributed to other non-profits Transportation costs Equipment: Including Freezer, refrigerator, racks, scales, carts Supplies: Including tape, boxes, gloves, storage bins In-Eligible Items: Any items not related to feeding a client Excessive snack food items Staff/events functions Sales tax

Quarterly Reporting requirements (March 31, June 30, October 31, Dec. 31) include: 1. Brief Description of where/when/how the distribute food. 2. Receipts for food purchases, transportation costs, equipment and supplies (sales tax is not an eligible reimbursement) 3. Number of meals served or pounds of food distributed 4. Number of individuals and/or households served Federal reporting requirements focus on location of the distribution and the people receiving the food. Do you collect information on the people receiving the meals that would help us determine answers to the following questions? • Does the program or service have an eligibility criterion that the recipients earn less than 60 % of the median income? • Does the program or service have an eligibility criterion that more than 25 % of recipients are below the federal poverty line? Or, can you provide information about the neighborhood to be served. By providing a street address for distribution, we can identify if it is a Qualified Census Tract for reporting purposes.