Title
Resolution to Approve a Grant Agreement and Accept Funds from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity in the Amount of $174,548.00 for the Ann Arbor Climate Corps AmeriCorps Program, and Appropriate Funds ($575,741.89) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor applied, through the State of Michigan, to the AmeriCorps Agency to receive a fourth year of funding support for the Ann Arbor Climate Corps (A2C2) program. This grant application included funding to support 7 AmeriCorps members in Ann Arbor with conducting outreach and educational activities related to neighborhood decarbonization efforts and natural system preservation. Each member will serve for 1700 hours between December 1, 2026 and November 30, 2027. This is the fourth year of our A2C2 program, with the first three years providing numerous lessons learned that have enabled the City to strengthen this program.
This summer, the City was notified by the State of Michigan that its application was chosen to receive $174,548.00 to advance the A2C2 program. In the application, the City agreed to $222,320.40 cost share (provided through the local Community Climate Action Millage - which was budgeted in the FY26 budget) and $178,873.49 in in-kind staff support time to manage and work with the members.
This resolution seeks City Council authorization to execute a Grant Agreement with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and to accept and appropriate a grant award of $174,548.00 for the Ann Arbor Climate Corps program.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The City will be reimbursed by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity for $174,548.00 of expenditures related to this award. The local match of $222,320.40 has already been budgeted in the FY27 budget within the Community Climate Action Millage fund, as has the staffing support costs which are serving as part of the match.
Staff
Prepared by: Maggie Halpern, Engagement Innovator
Reviewed by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Reviewed by: Kim Hoenerhoff, Financial Analyst
Reviewed by: Valerie Jackson, Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is committed to achieving a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality as outlined in the A2ZERO plan;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is working on multiple community facing programs and initiatives to advance the goals outlined in A2ZERO;
Whereas, Staff capacity to educate and engage with a large portion of the public around A2ZERO is limited;
Whereas, In fiscal year 2024 the City’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations received funding to launch an Ann Arbor Climate Corps AmeriCorps program to undertake deep and more sustained engagement around sustainability;
Whereas, The engagements enabled through the City’s first AmeriCorps award were critical in reaching Ann Arbor residents and engaging them in a variety of sustainability activities;
Whereas, To continue work through the AmeriCorps program, the City applied to the national AmeriCorps program to support a fourth year of the Ann Arbor Climate Corps program, including funding to support 7 AmeriCorps members who will advance community education and engagement around A2ZERO, and enhance natural system preservation initiatives;
Whereas, The City’s application was chosen for an award in the amount of $174,548.00 with a local match of $222,320.40, which was budgeted in the FY27 Community Climate Action Millage fund, along with $178,873.49 in in-kind staff support which will be provided by staff in the Office of Sustainability and Innovations; and
Whereas, The City has received the Grant Agreement from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity outlining the terms of this award;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the Grant Agreement with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity;
RESOLVED, That City Council accept a grant award in the amount of $174,548.00 from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity for the purpose of continuing the Ann Arbor Climate Corps AmeriCorps program;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriate $575,741.89 in the FY27 Major Grants Fund with the source of revenue being $174,548.00 from the grant award from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and $401,193.89 as a transfer from the Community Climate Action Millage;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute the Grant Agreement, after approval by the City Administrator and City Attorney;
RESOLVED, That any Climate Action Millage funding allocated as the match for this grant in the FY 2027 budget be made available without regard to fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary actions to implement this resolution.