Resolution No. 130-a
Establishing a Policy and Eligibility Requirements for the Legislative Grant Program
Introduced: 4/12/21
By: Messrs. A. Joyce, Feeney, Ethier, Ms. Lekakis, Mr. Clay, Ms. Willingham, Messrs. Miller, Peter and Cleary
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature has operated a Legislative Grants program providing an opportunity to provide the community at large with funding sources for the public benefit, and
WHEREAS, Community groups or individuals were able to submit applications detailing the positive impact and benefits they would be able to provide if allocated funding by the Legislature, and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 232 for 2018 required, among other things, that a “Policy establishing eligibility requirements” be adopted by the body prior to the 2020 Legislative Grant Program, and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic caused the Legislature to suspend the program for the year 2020, and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated that programs like the Albany County Legislative Grant Program are all the more necessary, and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 232 for 2018 also required equal distribution of the funding source among the thirty-nine legislative districts, and
WHEREAS, In order to properly effect the goals of the Legislative Grant Program, the monies therefrom must flow to the entities within the County based on a system of merit and necessity, with emphasis on having the greatest impact possible on suburban and urban communities, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that in accordance with Resolution No. 232 for 2018, the following eligibility requirements are put in place for the Legislative Grant Program
1. Funding shall only be provided in accordance with Article VIII, § 1, of the New York State Constitution.
2. Funding shall be distributed in a manner which provides the greatest impact on all parts of the County.
3. Any grants authorized shall be to organizations, individuals or groups with a presence in Albany County.
4. Consideration shall be given to whether matching funding is available to the recipient from other sources.
5. Funding awards shall not exceed $3,500 per legislative district unless multiple Legislators support the applicant.
6. Awards shall only be made to applicants submitting completed applications which are unanimously approved by the Leaders of the Legislature: The Chairperson of the Legislature, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader and the Chairperson of the Legislative Black Caucus.
7. Applicants shall provide a list of Federal, State, County or other municipally sourced funding for the previous five (5) years.
8. The Clerk of the Legislature shall provide the blank application to all members of the Legislature and it shall be posted on the website of the Legislature.
9. Applicants shall provide a date of establishment, a brief history and mission statement.
10. Applicants shall provide a detailed description and budget for the project/program.
11. Applicants shall provide performance indicators to quantify the success of their project/program.
12. Applicants shall provide the following financial information
a. Most recent year-end financial statements and tax returns
b. List of Board of Directors and affiliations, if applicable
c. Budget for fiscal year for which the grant will be used and the following year, if available.
13. No grant funding shall be used to compensate, in whole or in part, staff members of the applicant.
and be it, further
RESOLVED, That these requirements shall continue in effect until amended or otherwise modified by a vote of a majority of the membership of this body, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward
certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.
Referred to Audit and Finance Committee - 4/12/21
Favorable Recommendation Audit and Finance Committee - 4/29/21
Adopted by unanimous vote - 5/10/21