April 10th, 2024
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Monroe County Executive Adam Bello today announced Rochester-based Starbridge Services, Inc. has been selected as the new administrator for the Neighborhood Collaborative Project, pending approval by the Monroe County Legislature. Starbridge Services is a longstanding local non-profit that specializes in uplifting and supporting individuals with disabilities and their families, assisting them achieve success in education, employment and healthy living. The organization has significant experience managing complex state and federal programs and grants. The selection process for Starbridge included bi-partisan participation from the Monroe County Legislature.
Neighborhood Collaborative Project, or NCP, is a capacity-building strategy that brings services back into Rochester neighborhoods. Supported with $7.2 million of Monroe County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, this unprecedented collaboration among a dozen organizations seeks to strengthen and empower neighborhoods within the City of Rochester.
“The services provided by NCP are vital to the neighborhoods they serve. These are life changing and even lifesaving support systems for many residents. Getting the NCP agencies back up and operating as soon as possible is imperative,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “Starbridge has a long history of providing support services and handling complex state and federal programs and grants. The NCP and taxpayers will be well served with Starbridge as the new fiscal administrator for NCP.”
The NCP program supports walking outreach, corner pop-up events and wraparound services; creates a responsive services platform; and expands staff and services at the participating agencies, all of which are trusted entities in their neighborhoods. Those groups include SWAN at Montgomery Center; Cameron Community Ministries; Father Tracy Advocacy Center; Beyond the Sanctuary; Barakah Muslim Charities; The Peoples’ Pantry; Lyell Avenue Business Association; Action for a Better Community; Baden Street Counseling and Support Center; MC Collaborative; On the Ground Research; and C3 Consultancy Services.
“Starbridge is honored to serve as the fiscal agent for the Neighborhood Collaborative Project (NCP), reinforcing our dedication to neighborhoods within the City of Rochester,” said Nikisha Ridgeway, Starbridge President/CEO. “We recognize that disability intersects with all identities, with over 35% of disabled individuals in Rochester living in poverty. It is our mission to transform communities to include everyone.”
Community Resource Collaborative, Inc. (CRC) previously served as administrative lead for NCP. That role entails reviewing invoices submitted by NCP partners, ensuring those activities complied with the strict federal requirements of ARPA, submit those invoices to the County and then disburse those funds to those agencies.
On February 7, 2024, when concerns arose about possible financial mismanagement by CRC, Monroe County suspended funding of CRC’s grant agreement and initiated a forensic review of the organization’s administration of the program. With the review complete, the County will terminate its contract with CRC and seeks to enlist Starbridge Services to take on administrative lead duties.
If approved by the Legislature, Starbridge Services would administer the remaining $6.1 million in funding for the NCP.
