Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)/U.S. Food and Drug Administration
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Funding Source
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Public Health Services for approval to accept from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) - U.S. Food & Drug Administration grant funds in the amount of $4,000.00, with no required match, for the Retail Flexible Funding Model grant program.
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Background and Discussion:
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) notified Harris County Public Health that its application was approved under the NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model Grant Program as a one-year Training Optional Add-On for “Retail Food Safety Training Advancement - NEHA AEC 2026.” The award supports staff attendance at NEHA’s 2026 Annual Educational Conference (August 4-6, 2026) to strengthen the County’s retail food regulatory program and advance FDA Retail Program Standards activities (including Standards 3, 6, and 9). The Notice of Award identifies a one-year project period from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, and a total award amount of $4,000.00.
Expected Impact:
Approval will allow Harris County Public Health to use the awarded grant funds to support staff training and conference participation that strengthens implementation of risk-based food establishment inspections, improves consistency in compliance and corrective actions, and supports program assessment activities. The training is expected to improve local capacity to apply current retail food safety practices and program standards, which supports safer food operations and reduced risk of foodborne illness in the community. This request does not create new positions.
Alternative Options:
If the Court does not approve acceptance of these funds, Harris County Public Health would either (1) reduce or cancel the planned training and conference participation, or (2) fund limited participation using existing departmental resources, if available. In the current funding environment for public health, accepting available external support helps preserve essential program capacity while limiting pressure on local resources.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: M: Ensure that Harris County remains the best place in the region to start and grow a business, with a focus on equitable economic growth.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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06/13/2025 |
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Court authorized acceptance of the three-year Track 3 Maintenance & Advancement Base Grant from the NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model Grant Program. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Environmental Public Health - Food Safety and Inspection |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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$4,000 |
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Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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Anticipated Court Date: June 11, 2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): June 11, 2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Scott Jeansonne, Environmental Public Health Director, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Award, Court Order