A firm hired in late 2001 to secure grants for Hollister has
failed to acquire any funding under a two-year contract that
guaranteed $500,000 in grant money by November.
A firm hired in late 2001 to secure grants for Hollister has failed to acquire any funding under a two-year contract that guaranteed $500,000 in grant money by November.
Don Duncan, CEO of the San Francisco-based firm of Randall Funding and Development, said he was “not panicking” and was confidence the firm would secure more than the promised amount by the end of the contract. If RFD does not reach the $500,000 mark during the next eight months, the contract mandates the firm continue working until it secures at least that amount.
“One of the things in an initiative like this is everybody wants to see results really fast,” Duncan said. “Sometimes it does happen really fast. Frequently it does not.”
The city paid $20,000 up front and pays $4,000 per month for RFD’s services, which would total $116,000 over the length of the contract.
However, in December the city requested a meeting with RFD because, according to Fire Chief Bill Garringer, “We weren’t satisfied totally with their performance.”
RFD has since waived the monthly $4,000 bill to the city until April.
Each week, RFD notifies the city about newly available grants, according to Garringer. Hollister department leaders must write a “letter of authorization” for each opportunity the city wants RFD to pursue, and grants available to the city fall under such categories as public safety, housing and economic development.
Garringer, who heads communication for the city with RFD, said the firm has failed to secure any grants, in part, because city officials initially had not been aggressive enough in their weekly round of requests. He said some department heads in 2002 expressed distress about the “extensive” nature of grant applications – paperwork Garringer said is difficult to read and often includes several complex “loopholes.”
“This year after the meeting (with RFD), departments have been more aggressive in looking at different grant applications,” Garringer said.
According to the contract, if the city would have requested at least $1.75 million within the first 10 months of the contract – and RFD had still not obtained $500,000 – Hollister would no longer be obligated to pay the monthly bill.
By the end of that 10–month period, Hollister department heads had only authorized applications for six grants, according to RFD’s most recent monthly report to Garringer.
Overall, officials have authorized RFD to apply for only 11 grants for a total of $429,444, according to a report obtained by the Free Lance.
City Attorney Elaine Cass said that apparent lack of assertiveness was because “insufficient grant opportunities” for which to apply.
Duncan said RFD has failed to find an adequate number of grants and secure funding partly because of budget woes and ensuing holdups from state and federal agencies that offer the money.
“It’s the real world we live in,” Duncan said.
However, city officials and RFD insist they maintain a good working relationship.
“They’ve been cooperative to answer all our inquiries,” Garringer said. “I think they’ve done a good job.”
Duncan said, “There’s been a really good spirit on both parts to get this done.”
The city most recently authorized grant applications for the fire department, parks and recreation and code enforcement – all for unspecified amounts. The code enforcement department holds responsibility for substandard housing issues. In recent months, building officials have disclosed that Hollister has a serious problem with slum-like housing conditions.
“We are working and pressing forward,” Duncan said. “We’re going to get there for them.”
According to the staff report given to the Council members before they approved the firm in November 2001, “For an expense of $116,000 the city is guaranteed $500,000, and it is likely that the city could receive much more, given the success rate in grant funding RFD has demonstrated.”
City of Hollister Grant Writing
Grants, amounts and status since contract with Randall, Funding and Development began November 2001:
SourceAmount RequestedAmount MatchAmount ReceivedContract Goal
State 2000 Park BondTBDTBDIn progressIn progress
State HCD Code EnforcementTBDTBDIn progressIn progress
DOJ Weed & SeedN/AN/A-Terminated
FEMA Firefighters AssistanceTBDTBDIn progressIn progress
FEMA USFA Fire Prevention, Safety—Terminated
Treasury Dept. Gang Reduction—Terminated
FEMA fire programs$315,000$35,000Not funded$0
DOJ, Universal Hiring Program$75,000$152,689Not funded$0
FM Global Arson Program$5,694N/APendingPending
State OTS Grants 2003$33,750N/APendingPending
Totals$429,444$187,689-$0
Source: City of Hollister
