Primary Department: Universal Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director & CIO
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 5%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Universal Services for approval to submit an application to AARP Community Challenge for grant funds in the amount of $15,000, with no required match, for the AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grant.
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Background and Discussion:
The AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grant offers funding for programs benefiting residents, especially those age 50 and older, in enhancing digital connections and digital literacy. With this funding the Universal Services Community Outreach team can acquire translation devices and host digital skills workshops with in-person translators. Forty-six percent of all households in Harris County speak a language other than English at home, and over 12% of households are limited English proficient.
Expected Impact:
By implementing real-time translation services, the Universal Services Community Outreach team can reach portions of the senior population that they have not been able to reach before. Technology education allows more people to navigate to web safely and encourages participation in civic society where there may have been gaps previously.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): H5: Improve broadband reliability and expand wireless access points.
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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2/6/2025 |
167 |
Court approved submission of 2025 application. |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Community Outreach Language Translation Enhancement |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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$15,000 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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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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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 3/4/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Natali Hurtado, Director - Strategic Operations, Universal Services
Attachments (if applicable):
2026 AARP Community Challenge FAQs