Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Jonathan Daniels
Department: Port Everglades Division: Director’s Office
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds Subrecipient Grant Agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and Broward County in the amount of $58,260,881 for the purpose of providing a subaward from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for Port Everglades; and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners approval is required for the execution of Grant Agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation.
What Action Accomplishes
Provides a subaward to Broward County from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency on Port Everglades.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Board”) Value of “Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward’s diverse population and businesses” and the Goal to “Increase the economic strength and impact of revenue-generating County enterprises balancing economic, environmental, and community needs.”
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) establishing the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The Florida Legislature, through the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”), allocated $250,000,000 of these funds to assist Florida ports to recover from decreased revenue in 2020 resulting from the pandemic. On July 29, 2021, the Governor and FDOT announced that Port Everglades would be receiving $58,260,881 of the State’s allocation to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency on Port Everglades operating revenue, and to provide working capital to lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. As indicated in Exhibit G to the grant agreement, the funds allocated to Port Everglades were calculated by FDOT based on guidance provided by the US Department of the Treasury to account for the negative economic impact on Port Everglades for the period from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
The Grant Agreement identifies a number of categories of allowable expenses the funds can be used for. Port Everglades staff anticipates that the funds will be used to provide reimbursement for eligible operating expenses incurred by the Port beginning on March 3, 2021. Although the grant period of performance extends through December 31, 2024, Port staff anticipate there will be sufficient eligible operating expenses incurred in Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2022 to draw down the full amount of the grant during that period. Unlike most other FDOT grant programs, there is no local cost share required for these funds.
The Grant Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. FDOT will execute the Grant Agreement after Board approval.
Source of Additional Information
Leah Brasso, Director of Finance, Port Everglades Department, 954-468-3513
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Port Everglades Department intends to use a portion of these funds in Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2022 for eligible operating expenses. The actual amounts to be requested from FDOT for each fiscal year is still to be determined based on the grant eligibility criteria, but is estimated to be approximately $13.7 million in Fiscal Year 2021, with the remaining amount in Fiscal Year 2022.