Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Zora’s House in support of their proposed community hub.
Through community building efforts, shared space, and programming, Zora’s House - the first and only co-working space and leadership incubator in Ohio created by and for women of color - works to dismantle barriers of systemic racism and sexism, and to ensure the full participation of women of color in the civic, economic, and cultural life of the City of Columbus.
Since its founding in 2018, Zora’s House has helped over 3,000 women of color to connect with mental health resources; navigate job losses and other COVID-19 related transitions; incubate businesses; and activate their leadership in their families, neighborhoods, and workplaces.
Zora’s House aims to expand into a 10,000 square foot, $3 million community hub that will serve as a center for innovation, empowerment, and community change created by and centering women of color; and as a community-led economic development engine for the Weinland Park neighborhood and its residents.
The city’s allocation of $500,000.00 will match in-kind and financial contributions of $250,000.00 apiece by the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and The Columbus Foundation.
Fiscal Impact: Funding to support this agreement is available within the General Permanent Improvement Fund.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to immediately provide resources necessary to sustain human services programming.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Zora’s House in support of their proposed community hub, to amend the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget; to transfer and appropriate $500,000.00 within the General Permanent Improvement Fund, to authorize an expenditure within the General Permanent Improvement Fund, and to declare an emergency ($500,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, since its founding in 2018, Zora’s House has helped over 3,000 women of color to connect with mental health resources, navigate job losses and other COVID-19 related transitions, incubate businesses, and activate their leadership in their families, neighborhoods, and workplaces; and
WHEREAS, Zora’s House aims to expand into a 10,000 square foot, $3 million community hub that will serve as a center for innovation, empowerment, and community change created by and centering women of color; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the 2021 Capital Improvement Budget is necessary; and
WHEREAS, the city’s allocation of funding will match previously secured in-kind and financial commitments by the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and The Columbus Foundation; 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 Zora’s House in support of their proposed community hub; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a grant agreement with Zora’s House in support of their proposed community hub.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer and appropriate $500,000.00, within the General Permanent Improvement Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the 2021 Capital Improvement Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Project No. | Project Name | Revised Authority | Remaining Authority | Change
P748999-100000 | Unallocated Balance Fd. 7748 | $2,382,044 | ($500,000) | $1,882,044
P441780-100000 | Zora’s House | $0 | $500,000 | $500,000
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $500,000.00, is hereby authorized from the General Permanent Improvement Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Development, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 9. 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.