Title
Authorizing the Department of Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity (HREEO) to apply for grants for the EMS Academy.
Body
WHEREAS, the EMS Academy is a collaborative effort between the Saint Paul Fire Department, Parks and Recreation's Youth Job Corps, and the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity promoting workforce development and providing a pipeline of diverse emergency medical providers for the City of Saint Paul, and allows underserved youth the opportunity to pursue a meaningful vocation; and
WHEREAS, the EMS Academy does not have an official source of revenue or a complete budget and in order to continue offering EMS training courses, the City of Saint Paul requires outside funding to operate the program; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity (HREEO) has identified a number of possible grant sources and continues to identify new opportunities for funding the EMS Academy; and
WHEREAS, HREEO would like the ability to apply for the grants quickly as they become available and without first seeking council authorization in each grant application; and
WHEREAS, all grants which are awarded to the EMS Academy would still be subject to approval by the Council before acceptance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the goal of the EMS Academy is a continuing benefit to the community by supporting the creation of a medical workforce that is reflective of the City's population and assisting its participants to break the cycle of poverty; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council authorizes the Department of HREEO to apply for any and all grants which might support the aims of the EMS Academy, provided that no funds will be officially accepted without council authorization and approval.