Section 4: Subgrantee Approval

Introduction

A grant agreement must be approved and executed in accordance with subgrantee procedures. This may involve placement on the agenda for a city council meeting, the county commissioners’ court, or a state agency’s director, board, or commission. Scheduling time frames vary from agency to agency.

Some local governments require agenda items to be heard at three consecutive meetings, which adds significantly to the time required for grant approval.

Scheduling requirements must be considered in the approval process to stay on a project schedule so that it can be activated on time.

Local Resolutions and Ordinances

A local government may issue one and possibly two resolutions during the life of a project. The first resolution may authorize the local government to file the application. If the application is selected for funding, another resolution may be issued to authorize signing the grant agreement and to designate an officer (usually the mayor, city manager, or county judge) to execute the agreement.

Some local governments have enacted an authorizing ordinance wherein an officer is designated as having authority to execute any agreement on behalf of the local government.

The authorizing resolution or ordinance must be retained by the subgrantee in order to verify the authority of the local government to enter into the agreement.