Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with See Brilliance, a non-profit corporation, on behalf of the Columbus Rising Project in support of digital divide services.
The Columbus Rising Project, a partner in the Digital Skills Hub (DSH) initiative, seeks bridge funding to address a service gap caused by delayed summer 2024 funding. With a Memorandum of Understanding with Columbus Metropolitan Library, the project provides digital support at three branches, focusing on AI-driven upskilling for job seekers, youth engagement in technology and career pathways, and tech assistance for adults. This funding will resume essential services and support community resource fairs and technology development for DSH. Targeted constituencies include job seekers, youth, and adults in underserved communities. Intended outcomes are to equip 100+ job seekers with AI skills, engage 50+ youth in tech workshops, and provide digital assistance to 50+ adults.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide See Brilliance with the resources necessary to ensure no disruption of services and programming.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with See Brilliance on behalf of the Columbus Rising Project in support of digital divide services; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Columbus Rising Project, a partner in the Digital Skills Hub (DSH) initiative, provides digital support at three Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, focusing on AI-driven upskilling for job seekers, youth engagement in technology and career pathways, and tech assistance for adults; and
WHEREAS, this funding will resume essential services and support community resource fairs and technology development for DSH; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the city in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement with See Brilliance on behalf of the Columbus Rising Project in order to ensure no disruption of services and programming, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with See Brilliance on behalf of the Columbus Rising Project in support of digital divide services.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $20,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That for the reason 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.