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Taos County accepts $304,000 ICMA grant via Gates Foundation to fund economic-mobility specialist; $100K–$120K match required
Summary
The commission accepted a $304,000 ICMA grant to support a 2½-year 'special assistant' to help coordinate health and human-services strategies with the 100% Taos County initiative; staff said the county must provide approximately $100,000–$120,000 in matching funds and hire the employee as a county staff member.
Taos County commissioners voted Aug. 19 to accept a $304,000 grant awarded through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the Gates Foundation to support a special assistant focused on economic mobility and health-and-human-services coordination.
Jessica Stern and Jennifer Aman described the award and a rapid application process. "We're one of 16 communities in the country that were awarded this opportunity, supported by the Gates Foundation," Stern said. The grant funds a 2½-year position (the "special assistant") to connect health providers, action teams and the county’s 100% Taos County initiative to improve economic mobility by addressing barriers such as healthcare, housing and education.
Stern said the grant is fast-tracked: the county must submit a job description by Sept. 1 for ICMA review and ideally have the position hired by December to attend an initial convening. The award includes about $100,000 for professional development and convenings; the grant requires a local match of about $100,000–$120,000 over the grant term. Stern said the employee will need to be an employee of Taos County to receive benefits and retirement.
Commissioners praised the award and approved acceptance of the grant on a motion and roll-call vote. Staff noted they were exploring internal funds to meet the match requirement and would present a job description and associated personnel actions for commission review.
Why it matters: the grant provides dedicated staff capacity to help coordinate services that affect health, employment and upward mobility; the county must decide how to provide the required match and how to house the position.
