Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): 21/0317
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): PFM Group Consulting, LLC.
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 0%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Minimal MWDBE Availability
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of an order authorizing the expenditure of funds in the amount of $348,975 for a comprehensive program evaluation of the Harris County Opportunity Fund, as a subaward of the agreement with PFM Group Consulting, LLC., under Job No. 21/0317.
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Background and Discussion:
In 2022, the Harris County Commissioners Court allocated $10.9 million in ARPA FLEX Funding to implement a revolving loan program - Harris County Opportunity Fund. On May 7, 2024, the Harris County Commissioners Court awarded PeopleFund a five-year award to provide lending services and technical assistance to eligible applicants. PeopleFund agreed to match $9 million to the program's fund, totaling $17 million. The program will develop and expand small businesses by filling financial gaps when a business cannot secure capital in the traditional private market.
This subaward will allow for a neutral third-party evaluator to evaluate the program administrator, including monitoring their progress in meeting program goals from start to completion. Evaluation proposals were requested from vendors previously selected under Job No. 210317 and evaluated by a cross-functional selection committee. PFM Group Consulting, LLC submitted the top-ranked proposal mee...
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