Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute a grant agreement with SID Public Services Association dba Capital Crossroads and Discovery SIDs in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 for the purpose of deploying grants to Columbus area small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Downtown and the Short North business districts as part of the department’s COVID-19 Small Business Response and Recovery Program.
To assist Columbus area small businesses in retooling from the economic impact of COVID-19, the department’s COVID-19 Small Business and Recovery Program will assist Downtown and Short North small businesses by offering grants to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SID Public Services Association will administer the program in close coordination with the Short North Alliance and will deploy grant dollars to Downtown and Short North small businesses who have not previously benefited from the Citywide COVID-19 Small Business Response and Recovery Program. SID Public Services Association will use no more than $25,000.00 of this funding for administration of this program.
This initiative will forward the Columbus Small Business Agenda by providing immediate financial assistance to businesses that have been significantly adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the disruption of their customer base of commercial office workers who have largely remained at home throughout the pandemic.
The services included in this agreement cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
Emergency legislation is requested in order to encumber funds in a timely manner so the SID Public Services Association can expend the funds before the end of the year.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 002160 and contract compliance expires February 13, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is provided to the City of Columbus from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and
Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 27, 2020 and available in the Department of Development’s CARES Act budget (fund 2207, subfund 220703).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute a grant agreement with SID Public Services Association in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 for the purpose of deploying grants to Columbus small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Downtown and the Short North business districts as part of the department’s COVID-19 Small Business Response and Recovery Program; to authorize an expenditure up to $2,000,000.00 from the CARES Act Fund; to authorize the payment of expenses starting March 1, 2020; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000.00)
Body
WHERAS, the Director of the Department of Development seeks to deploy grants to Columbus area small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Downtown and the Short North business districts as part of the department’s COVID-19 Small Business Response and Recovery Program; and
WHEREAS, SID Public Services Association, in close coordination with the Short North Alliance, directly interacts with small businesses in the Downtown and the Short North business districts and are well positioned to help them learn about, apply for, and provide compliance documentation in order for this program to be successful; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe economic hardship to the Downtown and Short North Business Districts and the small business community; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding for grants is necessary to address the severe economic hardship of businesses in these districts caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with SID Public Services Association in order to encumber funds in a timely manner so the SID Public Services Association can expend the funds before the end of the year, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the SID Public Services Association in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 for the purpose of deploying grants to Columbus small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Downtown and the Short North business districts as part of the department’s COVID-19 Small Business Response and Recovery Program allowing for expenses to be paid beginning March 1, 2020.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in fund 2207, subfund 220703 (CARES Act Fund), Dept. 44-02 (Economic Development), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.