Council to consider repurposing federal funds for new fridge for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

At their meeting on February 20, 2024, the Charlottesville City Council will hold the first of two readings on a proposal to appropriate $215,000 in unspent Community Development Block Grant funds to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to upgrade the capacity of their food distribution center in Charlottesville. 

“While the city has used CDBG funds over the years to support many beneficial community development programs, some funded programs in prior years did not fully utilize the full funds awarded to them and, as a result, have unspent balances that are available to be reprogrammed to new eligible CDBG activities,” reads the staff report. 

The report goes on to say that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)  has rules that require money to be spent within a certain period of time. This has come up before with funds intended to go toward a sidewalk being transferred to cover fire prevention kits instead. As I wrote about at the time.

According to the report, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves an average of 9,816 individuals a month. Their refrigeration system at 1207 Harris Street is no longer adequate for their needs. 

“[Blue Ridge Area Food Bank] BRAFB has to turn away deliveries of significant amounts of fresh produce because they lack the space needed to safely store it until it can be distributed to those in need,” the report continues. 

A member of Council might ask why this project would be funded outside of the regular budget cycle subject to a competitive process. The lengthy application represents a transition to a government run by a city manager with broad authority given by elected officials and one that is very detailed in how it makes its request to Council. 

“It is proposed to fund this work through HUD activity code 03E, a category specifically established by HUD to support the rehabilitation of facilities designed to provide a broad benefit to the community,” reads page five of the report. 

The reallocation request is for $215,000 but there does not appear to be a breakdown of the budget for the project. The presentation indicates that part of it might also include building a wooden covering over the loading dock to protect deliveries from the elements. 

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