Subject
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Reallocation of undistributed FY26 Community Services and Enrichment Grant Program funds to support RHE Foundation’s YouthBuild Program
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Department
Housing and Community Development
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council approve reallocating $30,000 in undistributed FY26 Community Services and Enrichment Grant Program funds to the Rockville Housing Enterprise (RHE) Foundation’s YouthBuild program.
Discussion
The availability of $30,000 in unspent grant funds results from an FY26 grant award to an organization that ultimately did not execute a grant agreement. Staff propose reallocating these funds to support Rockville Housing Enterprise’s YouthBuild program, allowing timely use of existing FY26 resources to stabilize the program amid federal funding disruptions, helping prevent further service interruptions and preserve positive outcomes for participating Rockville youth.
YouthBuild is a pre-apprenticeship workforce development program serving youth ages 16-24. RHE staff support participants in earning a high school or equivalent credential, occupational skills training, leadership development, and additional services such as transportation, childcare, and housing assistance, with the goal to prepare participants for apprenticeship and/or postsecondary education and full employment.
Recent federal shutdowns, delays, and other agency-level disruptions have created operational challenges for Rockville’s YouthBuild program. Reallocating these FY26 CS&E funds would help maintain staffing and participant services while RHE pursues additional and more diverse funding sources to sustain the program in future years through the RHE Foundation.
Fiscal Impact
There is no impact on the FY26 operating budget. The proposed $30,000 reallocation is from funds already approved within the FY26 Community Services and Enrichment Grant budget.
Next Steps
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council approve reallocating $30,000 in undistributed FY26 Community Services and Enrichment Grant Program funds to the Rockville Housing Enterprise (RHE) Foundation’s YouthBuild program.
Once approved by Mayor and Council, DHCD staff will finalize the FY26 grant agreement [see Attachment 1 - RHE FY26 Second Grant Version for M&C] with the RHE Foundation. DHCD staff will also support RHE Foundation’s alignment with other FY26 grantee processes, including reporting and invoice disbursement