Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce in an amount up to $175,000.00 in support of the Urban Business Connection program.
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce (Columbus Chamber) is the largest chamber in the Columbus region and with membership comes access to great opportunities for participating businesses in the Columbus community. The workforce development, government advocacy efforts, and business solutions ensure businesses in the Columbus Region grow and thrive.
In an effort to reach a broader net of the Columbus business community, the Columbus Chamber and Columbus Urban League combined efforts to grant free Chamber memberships to thirty black-owned businesses for the 2021 fiscal year. These businesses have access to a suite of services (including business connections, specialized consultations, research capabilities for targeted expansion, government advocacy, and member pricing at Columbus Chamber events), as well as expanded services in marketing and visibility in the Columbus community. The City of Columbus funds will help expand participation for up to 45 black-owned business and develop key partnerships that foster the stabilization and growth of minority-owned businesses.
Emergency action is requested in order to allow the Chamber of Commerce to expand its reach and continue program services without interruption.
The services included in this contract cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current responsibility and capacity to provide.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Job Growth subfund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce in support of the Urban Business Connection program; to allow for reimbursement of expenses beginning March 1, 2022; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($175,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Chamber and Columbus Urban League combined efforts to grant free Chamber memberships to thirty black-owned businesses for the 2021 fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, these businesses now have access to a suite of services, as well as, expanded services in marketing and visibility in the Columbus community; and
WHEREAS, continued financial support will help expand participation and develop key partnerships that foster the stabilization and growth of minority-owned businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Development desires to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into this non-profit service contract to allow program services to expand and continue without interruption; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce in support of the Urban Business Connection program in an amount up to $175,000.00 and allow for reimbursement of expenses beginning March 1, 2022.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $175,000.00 in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the Department of Development per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $175,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in section 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.