2ndt QUARTER FY 2012-2013
GAO, Finance Department, and the awarded Department, and serves as the platform for discussion where roles and responsibilities are defined and communicated. Also, six months into the grant project, the GAO conducts a Compliance and Monitoring Review to assess the project. The CMR includes an assessment of grant expenditures, financial status reports, and progress reports. It is through the CMR and associated discussions with the Department, that the GAO outlines possible challenges or obstacles that could interfere with project implementation. For example, if the grant has a one year period of performance and the Department has disclosed delays as related to procurement or vendor issues, the GAO may consider requesting a no-cost time extension with the funding source. Finally, each funding source imposes specific reporting requirements; however, the GAO has created an internal check and balance system
through the Grant Status Report. The GSR requires that all City Departments implementing grant awards report all grant activity on a monthly basis. This practice is completed through the City’s Grant Management System, an application that was developed in-house and is accessed through the Intranet site. The GSR is another way to ensure that all Departments implementing grants remain on task with their projects and expenditures. While a grant award provides funding to leverage City projects and services, it is important to remember the performance and financial obligations that come with that award. Fostering a culture of compliance and understanding is critical to future funding, and one that the Grant Administration team is committed to achieve. Story by: Carla M. Rodriguez carlarodriguez@mcallen.net
10. “We were awarded a grant but don’t have time to finish the project, so we’ll finish it next fiscal year.” 9. “Sure, it’s okay to apply for this grant without getting approval from the City Commission.” 8. “Our Department is too small to handle the terms and conditions if we are awarded, so we shouldn’t apply.” 7. “We were awarded the grant but we count on the Grant Administration Office to maintain our files for us.” 6. “The Grant Administration Office handles all labors for grant compliance. 5. “We don’t have the local match in our Department’s budget, so I guess we stop here.” 4. “It’s only a pre-application, so we don’t need to discuss with the City Manager’s Office or go before City Commission for authorization to submit.” 3. “Well, we missed the funding cycle, so I guess we’ll have to wait until next year.” 2. “With the extra money we can buy a golf cart. 1. “Alright a grant, free money!”
By: Jaime Guzman jguzman@mcallen.net
City of McAllen Grant Administration 1300 Houston Ave. or P.O. Box 220 | McAllen, TX 78505-0220 Phone (956)681-1033 | grants@mcallen.net | www.mcallen.net
Newsletter layout by: Amy Sepulveda, asepulveda@mcallen.net
All grants are tied to some form of compliance, typically in the form of binding commitments. These often tie your receipt of the grant funds to performance and financial obligations regarding the proper use of grant funds. This is why compliance must be an organizational commitment, as it requires coordination between several Departments throughout the grant life cycle. The Grant Administration Office has created several internal systems to ensure City grant awards remain in fiscal and programmatic compliance. Because the culture of compliance begins with a culture of understanding, the GAO conducts a Compliance Orientation with the implementing Department no later than two weeks from the receipt of the grant award package. The Compliance Orientation outlines reporting requirements, provides the Department with the project’s account number/project code, sets clear divisions of labor between the
The City’s recent EDA grant award of $600,000 will provide for infrastructure upgrades at the South Bentsen Road Industrial Complex. The improvements will support McAllen’s economy with the creation of 300 new jobs by SFT Foodtech, L.L.C., the Industrial Complex’s anchor tenant. The food manufacturing company will produce guisados, like the carnitas de cerdo pictured above.
The Economic Development Administration has awarded a $600,000 Financial Assistance Award to the City of McAllen for the expansion of the South Bentsen Road Industrial Complex. The project’s infrastructure improvements will support McAllen’s regional economy and pave the way for the creation of 300 new jobs. In addition to the federal award, the Development Corporation of McAllen, Inc. will invest
$672,512 for a total project sum of $1,272,512. Federal and local funds will provide for the construction of basic roadway, water and wastewater infrastructure along with sidewalk and drainage improvements at the Industrial Complex. “The expansion of the South Bentsen Road Industrial Complex is a long-term investment in the region’s economic development,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “These upgrades
will allow for the growth of existing and new industries in the area and are expected to facilitate the creation of 300 jobs in subsequent years, which will create additional economic development opportunities.” SFT Foodtech, L.L.C., a food manufacturing company expanding its U.S. operations, will be the Industrial Complex’s anchor tenant. Story continued on Page 2
FRONT PAGE EDA Grant to Expand Economic Opportunity and Create Jobs; PAGE 2 Front page con nued; PAGE 3 Walk with Ease; and PAGE 4 Culture of Compliance & Top 10 Grant Compliance Myths.
The food manufacturing company will produce guisados, like the albondigas, pictured above.
Continued from Front Page… “When considering locations to expand our business, many reasons drew us to McAllen,” said Edgardo Antunano, partner and president of the Monterrey-based company. “McAllen offered us a geographic location to serve captive Texas and Mexican markets; an availability of labor; a vibrant quality of life; training and recruiting sources at The University of Texas–Pan American
and South Texas College; and an incentives package offered by the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.” SFT Foodtech, L.L.C.’s main products are Meals, Ready To Eat for the food service industry. The MREs are the typical “guisados,” traditional Mexican casseroles, including albondigas, asado de puerco, barbacoa de res, carnitas and pollo en mole. The company plans to market its products to food
The food manufacturing company will produce guisados, like the barbacoa de res pictured above.
service professionals who prepare and serve food to the general public such as restaurants, schools, hotels, convenience stores and caterers. The company anticipates creating 300 jobs within five years. This sustainable job growth would initially create approximately 70 full-time jobs in the first year with an additional 125 full-time jobs in the following year. In the subsequent three years, the company plans to expand its work force by 35 additional full-time employees each year, reaching a minimum of 300 full-time employees. To attract and maintain motivated and effective employees, the company will offer benefit packages including health insurance; vacation, sick and personal days; and training to enhance technical, supervisory and leadership skills. In addition to the anticipated 300 jobs, SFT Foodtech, L.L.C. will obtain its raw materials from current suppliers in the United States and will also seek local suppliers that meet the company’s required standards. The company also anticipates investing up to $12,000,000 in the McAllen Metropolitan Statistical Area inclusive of building, laboratory, research and development, compliance and delivery unit costs. The City’s May 2013 unemployment rate was 7.3 percent, 0.8 points above the state unemployment rate for the same month. This project’s long-term investment will help the area become more competitive in a global economy by creating sustainable job growth. EDA grants are awarded through a competitive process where projects are evaluated to determine if they advance global competiveness; create jobs; leverage public and private resources; can demonstrate readiness and ability to use funds quickly and effectively; and link to specific and measurable outcomes. Story by: Claudia L. Farias clfarias@mcallen.net
Local seniors participate in a group stretching and flexibility class at Lark Community Center
NRPA Walk with Ease By now we should know that junk food is bad for us, smoking is harmful to our health, and drinking plenty of water is beneficial to living a healthy life. These are guaranteed, common approaches to maintaining healthy lifestyles. Even though we know we should eat less and move more, we don’t always utilize the outdoor recreational facilities that our City has to offer. By reminding people of our City’s natural resources, we can inspire more people to get outside and get active. The Walk with Ease Program is designed with that in mind for people suffering from disease
-specific limitations such as joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis. The City of McAllen was recently awarded a $4,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation. Funds will allow the City to incorporate the Walk with Ease and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) through the Parks and Recreation’s program activities. The new programs will be offered at all three community centers, Las Palmas, Lark, and Palm View for seniors, including training, material, and
facility costs. McAllen was among 24 parks and recreation award recipients nationwide, a critical distinction as participation varies from 25 to over 100 participants per community centers when Winter Texans visit McAllen. “This
award will not only benefit our seniors physically, but emotionally. Senior citizens will learn new ways of staying healthy, while socially interacting with their peers,” said Mayor Jim Darling. Walk with Ease consists of group classes lasting a total of six weeks, led by certified instructors, and
include discussion topics relevant to arthritis management. An individual program is also available in the form of a workbook that guides participants through the walking plan. The strategies are based on research and tested program in exercise science, behavior change, and arthritis management. And studies among program participants have shown improvements in balance, strength, walking pace, and pain reduction. McAllen has implemented arthritis-prevention programs for the older citizens of our community to improve the quality of life for people affected by arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. “All three centers are in parks, so when the weather allows, Seniors can go outside for walking, if not, Seniors can always participate in activities within McAllen’s community centers,” said Sally Gavlik, Director of McAllen’s Parks and Recreation Department. Through this program initiative, McAllen is addressing the need for public health interventions which improve function and promote an active lifestyle.
Story by: Veronica Vela Veronica_vela@mcallen.net
The food manufacturing company will produce guisados, like the albondigas, pictured above.
Continued from Front Page… “When considering locations to expand our business, many reasons drew us to McAllen,” said Edgardo Antunano, partner and president of the Monterrey-based company. “McAllen offered us a geographic location to serve captive Texas and Mexican markets; an availability of labor; a vibrant quality of life; training and recruiting sources at The University of Texas–Pan American
and South Texas College; and an incentives package offered by the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.” SFT Foodtech, L.L.C.’s main products are Meals, Ready To Eat for the food service industry. The MREs are the typical “guisados,” traditional Mexican casseroles, including albondigas, asado de puerco, barbacoa de res, carnitas and pollo en mole. The company plans to market its products to food
The food manufacturing company will produce guisados, like the barbacoa de res pictured above.
service professionals who prepare and serve food to the general public such as restaurants, schools, hotels, convenience stores and caterers. The company anticipates creating 300 jobs within five years. This sustainable job growth would initially create approximately 70 full-time jobs in the first year with an additional 125 full-time jobs in the following year. In the subsequent three years, the company plans to expand its work force by 35 additional full-time employees each year, reaching a minimum of 300 full-time employees. To attract and maintain motivated and effective employees, the company will offer benefit packages including health insurance; vacation, sick and personal days; and training to enhance technical, supervisory and leadership skills. In addition to the anticipated 300 jobs, SFT Foodtech, L.L.C. will obtain its raw materials from current suppliers in the United States and will also seek local suppliers that meet the company’s required standards. The company also anticipates investing up to $12,000,000 in the McAllen Metropolitan Statistical Area inclusive of building, laboratory, research and development, compliance and delivery unit costs. The City’s May 2013 unemployment rate was 7.3 percent, 0.8 points above the state unemployment rate for the same month. This project’s long-term investment will help the area become more competitive in a global economy by creating sustainable job growth. EDA grants are awarded through a competitive process where projects are evaluated to determine if they advance global competiveness; create jobs; leverage public and private resources; can demonstrate readiness and ability to use funds quickly and effectively; and link to specific and measurable outcomes. Story by: Claudia L. Farias clfarias@mcallen.net
Local seniors participate in a group stretching and flexibility class at Lark Community Center
NRPA Walk with Ease By now we should know that junk food is bad for us, smoking is harmful to our health, and drinking plenty of water is beneficial to living a healthy life. These are guaranteed, common approaches to maintaining healthy lifestyles. Even though we know we should eat less and move more, we don’t always utilize the outdoor recreational facilities that our City has to offer. By reminding people of our City’s natural resources, we can inspire more people to get outside and get active. The Walk with Ease Program is designed with that in mind for people suffering from disease
-specific limitations such as joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis. The City of McAllen was recently awarded a $4,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation. Funds will allow the City to incorporate the Walk with Ease and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) through the Parks and Recreation’s program activities. The new programs will be offered at all three community centers, Las Palmas, Lark, and Palm View for seniors, including training, material, and
facility costs. McAllen was among 24 parks and recreation award recipients nationwide, a critical distinction as participation varies from 25 to over 100 participants per community centers when Winter Texans visit McAllen. “This
award will not only benefit our seniors physically, but emotionally. Senior citizens will learn new ways of staying healthy, while socially interacting with their peers,” said Mayor Jim Darling. Walk with Ease consists of group classes lasting a total of six weeks, led by certified instructors, and
include discussion topics relevant to arthritis management. An individual program is also available in the form of a workbook that guides participants through the walking plan. The strategies are based on research and tested program in exercise science, behavior change, and arthritis management. And studies among program participants have shown improvements in balance, strength, walking pace, and pain reduction. McAllen has implemented arthritis-prevention programs for the older citizens of our community to improve the quality of life for people affected by arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. “All three centers are in parks, so when the weather allows, Seniors can go outside for walking, if not, Seniors can always participate in activities within McAllen’s community centers,” said Sally Gavlik, Director of McAllen’s Parks and Recreation Department. Through this program initiative, McAllen is addressing the need for public health interventions which improve function and promote an active lifestyle.
Story by: Veronica Vela Veronica_vela@mcallen.net
2ndt QUARTER FY 2012-2013
GAO, Finance Department, and the awarded Department, and serves as the platform for discussion where roles and responsibilities are defined and communicated. Also, six months into the grant project, the GAO conducts a Compliance and Monitoring Review to assess the project. The CMR includes an assessment of grant expenditures, financial status reports, and progress reports. It is through the CMR and associated discussions with the Department, that the GAO outlines possible challenges or obstacles that could interfere with project implementation. For example, if the grant has a one year period of performance and the Department has disclosed delays as related to procurement or vendor issues, the GAO may consider requesting a no-cost time extension with the funding source. Finally, each funding source imposes specific reporting requirements; however, the GAO has created an internal check and balance system
through the Grant Status Report. The GSR requires that all City Departments implementing grant awards report all grant activity on a monthly basis. This practice is completed through the City’s Grant Management System, an application that was developed in-house and is accessed through the Intranet site. The GSR is another way to ensure that all Departments implementing grants remain on task with their projects and expenditures. While a grant award provides funding to leverage City projects and services, it is important to remember the performance and financial obligations that come with that award. Fostering a culture of compliance and understanding is critical to future funding, and one that the Grant Administration team is committed to achieve. Story by: Carla M. Rodriguez carlarodriguez@mcallen.net
10. “We were awarded a grant but don’t have time to finish the project, so we’ll finish it next fiscal year.” 9. “Sure, it’s okay to apply for this grant without getting approval from the City Commission.” 8. “Our Department is too small to handle the terms and conditions if we are awarded, so we shouldn’t apply.” 7. “We were awarded the grant but we count on the Grant Administration Office to maintain our files for us.” 6. “The Grant Administration Office handles all labors for grant compliance. 5. “We don’t have the local match in our Department’s budget, so I guess we stop here.” 4. “It’s only a pre-application, so we don’t need to discuss with the City Manager’s Office or go before City Commission for authorization to submit.” 3. “Well, we missed the funding cycle, so I guess we’ll have to wait until next year.” 2. “With the extra money we can buy a golf cart. 1. “Alright a grant, free money!”
By: Jaime Guzman jguzman@mcallen.net
City of McAllen Grant Administration 1300 Houston Ave. or P.O. Box 220 | McAllen, TX 78505-0220 Phone (956)681-1033 | grants@mcallen.net | www.mcallen.net
Newsletter layout by: Amy Sepulveda, asepulveda@mcallen.net
All grants are tied to some form of compliance, typically in the form of binding commitments. These often tie your receipt of the grant funds to performance and financial obligations regarding the proper use of grant funds. This is why compliance must be an organizational commitment, as it requires coordination between several Departments throughout the grant life cycle. The Grant Administration Office has created several internal systems to ensure City grant awards remain in fiscal and programmatic compliance. Because the culture of compliance begins with a culture of understanding, the GAO conducts a Compliance Orientation with the implementing Department no later than two weeks from the receipt of the grant award package. The Compliance Orientation outlines reporting requirements, provides the Department with the project’s account number/project code, sets clear divisions of labor between the
The City’s recent EDA grant award of $600,000 will provide for infrastructure upgrades at the South Bentsen Road Industrial Complex. The improvements will support McAllen’s economy with the creation of 300 new jobs by SFT Foodtech, L.L.C., the Industrial Complex’s anchor tenant. The food manufacturing company will produce guisados, like the carnitas de cerdo pictured above.
The Economic Development Administration has awarded a $600,000 Financial Assistance Award to the City of McAllen for the expansion of the South Bentsen Road Industrial Complex. The project’s infrastructure improvements will support McAllen’s regional economy and pave the way for the creation of 300 new jobs. In addition to the federal award, the Development Corporation of McAllen, Inc. will invest
$672,512 for a total project sum of $1,272,512. Federal and local funds will provide for the construction of basic roadway, water and wastewater infrastructure along with sidewalk and drainage improvements at the Industrial Complex. “The expansion of the South Bentsen Road Industrial Complex is a long-term investment in the region’s economic development,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “These upgrades
will allow for the growth of existing and new industries in the area and are expected to facilitate the creation of 300 jobs in subsequent years, which will create additional economic development opportunities.” SFT Foodtech, L.L.C., a food manufacturing company expanding its U.S. operations, will be the Industrial Complex’s anchor tenant. Story continued on Page 2
FRONT PAGE EDA Grant to Expand Economic Opportunity and Create Jobs; PAGE 2 Front page con nued; PAGE 3 Walk with Ease; and PAGE 4 Culture of Compliance & Top 10 Grant Compliance Myths.