Agenda 05/26/2020 Item #16F 6 (Early Learning Coalition Funds)05/26/2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize the County Manager to sign a local match commitment form for the
Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida Inc., to provide funding in the amount of $75,000 in
Fiscal Year 2021 for the School Readiness Match program.
OBJECTIVE: To authorize a funding commitment for the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest
Florida, Inc. (“Coalition”) for Fiscal Year 2021.
CONSIDERATIONS: For the past nine years, the Board has budgeted funds in the amount of
$75,000 for the Coalition. As part of the application process to apply for funding from the School
Readiness Match (SR Match) program, the Coalition must submit local match commitments.
The School Readiness Match (SR Match) program provides financial assistance by paying for childcare
for low to moderate wage earners to enable families to secure stable childcare arrangements that meet the
social, emotional, and educational needs of the children requiring care. Reliable, affordable, and quality
childcare enables employees to focus on their job responsibilities and assists in reducing absenteeism.
By linking families to childcare and Pre-K services, the Coalition supports parents’ ability to work
and helps prepare children for success in school. Since 2011, the County has extended a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) with the Coalition that supports policies to strengthen and diversify our local
economy by providing services to aid employees or job seekers with childcare needs and continue the
provision of Early Learning Child Services to eligible families in Collier’s School Readiness Program.
The Coalition leverages the County’s funding to obtain federal grant funds.
If the Coalition is approved for the SR Match program, staff will bring back the MOU for approval by the
Board prior to the start of Fiscal Year 2021.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost of the agreement will not exceed $75,000 in FY 2021 should the
Coalition be approved for SR Match funds. Funding for the Coalition is normally included in the
Business and Economic Development budget within the General Fund (001).
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This request is consistent with Objective 3 of the Economic
Element of the Collier County Growth Management Plan, which states: “Collier County will support
programs that are designed to promote and encourage the recruitment of new industry, as well as the
expansion and retention of existing industries in order to diversify the County’s economic base.”
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as
to form and legality and requires a majority vote for Board approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To authorize the County Manager to sign a local match commitment form
for the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida Inc., to provide fu nding in the amount of $75,000
in Fiscal Year 2021 for the School Readiness Match program.
Prepared by: Sean Callahan, Executive Director, Corporate Business Operations
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Commitment Form 2020-2021 Collier County (PDF)
16.F.6
Packet Pg. 1273
05/26/2020
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.F.6
Doc ID: 12447
Item Summary: Recommendation to authorize the County Manager to sign a local match
commitment form for the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida Inc., to provide funding in the
amount of $75,000 in Fiscal Year 2021 for the School Readiness Match program.
Meeting Date: 05/26/2020
Prepared by:
Title: – Corporate Business Operations
Name: Sean Callahan
05/19/2020 5:57 PM
Submitted by:
Title: – Corporate Business Operations
Name: Sean Callahan
05/19/2020 5:57 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Public Services Department Jennifer Reynolds Additional Reviewer Completed 05/20/2020 8:03 AM
Corporate Business Operations Sean Callahan Additional Reviewer Completed 05/20/2020 1:13 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 05/20/2020 1:16 PM
Budget and Management Office Mark Isackson Additional Reviewer Completed 05/20/2020 1:16 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 05/20/2020 1:52 PM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 05/20/2020 1:54 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 05/26/2020 9:00 AM
16.F.6
Packet Pg. 1274
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The School Readiness Match (SR Match) program provides financial assistance by paying for
childcare for low to moderate wage earners to enable families to secure stable childcare
arrangements that meet the social, emotional, and educational needs of the children requiring
care. Reliable, affordable, and quality childcare enables employees to focus on their job
responsibilities and assists in reducing absenteeism.
This letter outlines the commitment and guidelines for participation. Entities that participate in
this program, by signing below, acknowledge that in return for consideration provided by Early
Learning Coalition and Office of Early Learning/Department of Education in providing the School
Readiness Match program, an obligation to pay any amount incurred for the month of service as
per Parent Fees. If your business is a childcare program that participates in Florida’s School
Readiness program, then the monthly SR Match contributions will be deducted from your monthly
attendance reimbursement. If not, your business’ portion of the cost will be billed monthly. Any
non-payment of amounts due to the Coalition pursuant to this agreement are subject to collection
activities, if necessary. The Early Learning Coalition will provide reports on program usage and
financial data on a monthly basis upon request.
Eligibility: The total family income of families participating in the SR Match Program must follow
eligibility guidelines. Participants are required to be employed or attending school a minimum of
20 hours per week to be eligible for participation. Changes in the employees work schedule or
family income may affect eligibility for the program and any changes must be reported
immediately. Employees may not receive childcare assistance through the school readiness/early
learning program and the SR Match program at the same time. The Early Learning Coalition staff
will determine employee eligibility for the program.
Parent Fees: Families will be required to pay a portion of the childcare costs based on a sliding
fee schedule as approved by the Coalition Board of Directors. The balance of the childcare costs
(after parent fees owed have been deducted from the total child care costs) are shared by the
local purchasing pool and the SR Match program.
Employee: Eligible family participants must meet the definition of an employee per the United
States Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). See www.dol.gov and
www.irs.gov for further information. Generally, an employer regularly pays employees for services
rendered and withholds social security/Medicare and income tax. Independent contractors are not
eligible for benefits under this program.
Commitment Agreement 2020‐2021
School Readiness Match Program Overview
16.F.6.a
Packet Pg. 1275 Attachment: Commitment Form 2020-2021 Collier County (12447 : ELC Funding Commitment)
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1 ‐ Business Information
Business Name
(if applicable) Collier County Board of County Commissioners
D/B/A
Address 3299 Tamiami Trail E
City Naples Zip
Code 34120 Phone 239-252-8383
Email
2 ‐ Business Representative Information*
Name
(printed)
Leo E. Ochs, Jr.
Title County Manager Phone 239-252-8383
Email Leo.Ochs@colliercountyfl.gov Fax 239-252-4010
*The above named is authorized by the business to enter into this agreement and is the primary point of contact
regarding this agreement. This person will also be considered as an authorized representative to enroll employees
(“participants”) in the childcare benefit program.
3 – Additional Authorized Representative(s) Information*
Name
Sean Callahan
Title
Executive Director, Corporate Bus Ops.
Name Title
Name Title
*The above name(s) are additionally authorized by the business representative to enroll employees
(“participants”) in the childcare benefit program. If there are no additional authorized representatives allowed to
enroll employees, please write “N/A” in the first box.
4 – Commitment
We propose to support childcare through the SR Match program for the period July 1, 2020 through
June 30, 2021 pending availability of funds through the Florida Office of Early Learning/Department
of Education.
Our proposed commitment amount is $ 75,000 in FY20-21 to support this
program.
In Addition to the funding committed to support childcare through the SR Match program,
(Please check one, both or none)
Funds committed may be used for Administrative Services Funds
committed may be used for Non‐Direct Services
16.F.6.a
Packet Pg. 1276 Attachment: Commitment Form 2020-2021 Collier County (12447 : ELC Funding Commitment)
3
5 – Entity Type
You MUST check only ONE in each column:
Participation Business Type
New Participant Private Business
Renewed/Existing Participant Non-Profit
Public Entity
6 – Signature
Authorized Business Representative Signature Date
Print Name Title
Authorized Coalition Representative Signature Date
Print Name Title
xx
xx
x
16.F.6.a
Packet Pg. 1277 Attachment: Commitment Form 2020-2021 Collier County (12447 : ELC Funding Commitment)