Sec. 24.601. - Establishment; functions.

There is created an executive division of the Finance Department to be known as the Grants and Contract Compliance Division. The Division shall ensure the City of Jacksonville receives the broadest utilization of grant resources and manages such resources and relationships. The Division shall be responsible and accountable for appropriate compliance in accordance with funding policy. The Division shall: (a) Endeavor to obtain external funds for internal City of Jacksonville department projects and functions, established in the annual budget thereby reducing or eliminating the use of general fund dollars for those internal City of Jacksonville projects; (b) Direct resource development strategies including but not limited to recommendations concerning identification of external grant resources, private sector partners, and in-kind resources to include equipment, services, and staff for internal City of Jacksonville projects; (c) Direct and/or provide oversight of research and evaluation in collaboration with appropriate agency representatives to determine needs and assess feasibility of new program ideas and proposals as they relate to possible external funding and resources for internal City of Jacksonville projects; (d) Direct, advise, and consult, with all appropriate staff and partners regarding grant application specifications such as program descriptions, work plans, and timelines; (e) Administer budget computations, statistical analysis, and program/budget narratives for completion of applications; (f) Administer and oversee grant writing initiatives, program monitoring, and assure communication with both internal and external program administrators throughout the life of any resource award; (g) Ensure agency compliance with regulatory standards concerning resources development opportunities including compliance with federal, state, and local laws, rules, fiscal requirements, agency policies, programmatic guidelines and appropriate contracts/agreements; (h) Oversee training of City-wide staff engaged in grant writing, administration, and compliance which includes informal training, cross training, and formal training such as conducting grant writing workshops; (i) Staff the Public Service Grants Council and forward any recommendations from the Public Service Grants Council to the Director of the Finance Department; and (j) Coordinate with the Jacksonville Journey Forward in accordance with Chapter 85 of the Code regarding the application and award of City grants regarding crime reduction or public safety. The Jacksonville Journey Forward may make recommendations to the Division regarding any proposed new or existing community-based crime reduction programs being proposed by the Division or other City agency. (Ord. 2024-175-E , § 5; Ord. 2024-635-E , § 3)