DollarWise Innovation Grant Application Copyrighted
January 7, 2019
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 14.
ITEM TITLE: DollarWise Innovation GrantApplication
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending authorization to submit an application
to The United States Conference of Mayors for a DollarWise
Innovation Grant.
RESOLUTION Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Application to
The United States Conference of Mayors for Their pollarwise
I nnovation Grant and Authorizing the Director of Housing and
Community Development and the City Manager to Approve the
Application
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Adopt Resolution(s)
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
DollarWise Innovation GrantApplication-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
DollarWise Innovation GrantApplication Staff Memo
DollarW ise Resolution Resolutions
THE CITY OF Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: DollarWise Innovation Grant Application
DATE: December 27, 2018
Housing & Community Development Director Alexis Steger recommends City Council
authorization to submit an application to The United States Conference of Mayors for a
DollarWise Innovation Grant. Five individual grants of$10,000 each will be awarded to
cities with innovative programs that foster economic mobility and income stability efforts
for their residents.
Gaining Opportunities is a merger of the Housing Choice Voucher's Family Self-
Sufficiency Program and the program formerly known as Circles. The DollarWise
Innovation grant would be used to increase outreach for Gaining Opportunities, which
would include printing and distributing materials in various forms to gain interest for
individuals who wish to participate in the Gaining Opportunities program and recruit
more agency partners. Travel fees associated with speaking engagements for
recruitment and information distribution will also be covered by The DollarWise
Innovation Grant.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen �� �
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director
a�'��'a�� Housing and Community Development
THE CITY OF
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Dubuque, IA 52001
Masterpiece on the Mississippi �°°'��°�� E����u���� Office (563) 589-4230
2�13•.�017
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director
DATE: December 26, 2018
RE: DollarWise Innovation Grant Application
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council's authorization of an application to The United
States Conference of Mayors for their pollarWise Innovation Grant.
Background
The DollarWise Innovation Grant program is designed to foster innovative programs that help working people
and families, particularly within underserved and underrepresented communities, attain access to economic
mobility. Member cities of The United States Conference of Mayors are eligible to apply for this grant. Five
individual grants of$10,000 each will be awarded to cities with innovative programs that foster economic
mobility and income stability efforts for their residents.
Discussion
Gaining Opportunities (GO) is a merger of Housing Choice Voucher's Family Self-Sufficiency Program and the
program formerly known as Circles. Housing and Community Development Department is in the beginning
stages of branding and implementing GO. The DollarWise Innovation grant would be used to increase
outreach for GO. Outreach efforts include printing and distributing materials in various forms such as
brochures, flyers, pamphlets, purchasing space in local newspapers as well as newsletters that are distributed
to city residents. This will hopefully gain interest for individuals who wish to participate in the GO program and
recruit more agency partners. Travel fees associated with speaking engagements for recruitment and
information distribution will also be covered by The DollarWise Innovation grant.
The DollarWise Innovation grant will also assist with paying attendance or speaking fees for partners who will
be facilitating specific education. Materials that need to be distributed to participants regarding curriculum goals
may also be covered by this grant. For example, workbook costs associated with financial education and
envelope systems for money management.
Additionally, The DollarWise Innovation Grant will help alleviate funding gaps that contribute to barriers and
cause disruptions to participant progression. Needs and barriers participants identify most often are child care
expenses, transportation, fines that prevent them from obtaining driver's licenses; criminal records; previous
student financial aid debts that prevent returning to school; lack of tuition assistance for certificate programs;
out of pocket fees associated with school such as books, lab coats, hard hats, etc.; past due utility balances
and utility deposits; and inability to use reputable financial institutions due to upfront membership costs.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
DollarWise Innovation Grant terms and conditions would be:
• Coordinating with Mayor Buol to attend and accept the DollarWise award during the U.S. Conference of
Mayors Winter Meeting which will be held January 23-25, 2019.
• Coordinating with Mayor Buol to host a DollarWise awards ceremony in Dubuque with an invitation to
the local press.
• Periodically keeping the DollarWise Campaign updated on the progress of GO program.
• Provide a 2-page evaluative report on GO's accomplishments and challenges at the end of 2019.
Action Step
The action requested of the City Council is to authorize an application to The United States Conference of
Mayors for their pollarWise Innovation Grant.
Prepared by Teresa Bassler
Secvice People Integ�ity Responsibilily Ivvovafiov Teamwock
Prepared by Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Devel., 350 W. 6th St., Suite 312, Telephone: 563-690-6072
Return to: Kevin Firnstahl, City Clerk Address: City Hall- 50 W. 13th St Telephone: 589-4121
RESOLUTION NO. 9-19
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN APPLICATION TO THE UNITED
STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS FOR THEIR DOLLARWISE INNOVATION
GRANT AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION
Whereas, The United States Conference of Mayors has published the availability of
the DollarWise Innovation grant for member cities; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque proposes to use the $10,000 DollarWise Innovation
grant to increase outreach for the Gaining Opportunities Program; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE IOWA:
Section 1: That the Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to submit an application
to The United States Conference of Mayors for the DollarWise Innovation grant; and
Section 2: That the Director of Housing and Community Development and the City
Manager are hereby authorized to approve the application that is submitted to The United
States Conference of Mayors.
Passed, approved and adopted this 7th day of January 2019.
OL,
(Roy D Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Ke n S. Firnstahl, City Clerk