Requesting approval to accept and expend a $300,000 grant renewal with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Infectious Disease & Laboratory Sciences to the Health and Human Services Department for local health support for COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing.

To the Honorable City Council: The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council accept and approve expending a grant of $300,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Infectious Disease & Laboratory Sciences to the Health and Human Services Department, under the provisions of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53A. This grant does not require the commitment of new matching funds. The purpose of this grant is to pay for local contact tracing and public health support outreach as well as increasing staff Spanish language skills and data management and analysis in FY25 and FY26. Appropriate staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this item. Respectfully submitted, Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor