Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services ("ETSS"). The agreement will provide a total of $80,000 in stop gap funding to allow ETSS to continue to provide assistance to immigrants, refugee families and low income individuals in Central Ohio.
ETSS currently serves refugees from 30 countries in their adult and youth programs. In fiscal year 2011-2012 ETSS helped 292 of their 410 clients find and get jobs. ETSS serves as a bridge to facilitate social community services by New Americans. The organization also promotes the development of work place skills to assist New Americans which helps them achieve their economic goals.
Emergency action is requested for this legislation to prevent the loss of education, training, supportive services, and workforce development assistance to immigrants, refugee families and low income individuals in Central Ohio.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this agreement are available from the Emergency Human Services Fund and Jobs Growth Fund.
Title
To approve the grant application of Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services ("ETSS") seeking financial assistance to address an emergency human service needs pursuant to Columbus City Codes, 1959; to authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with ETSS to allow them to continue to provide education, training, supportive services, and workforce development assistance to immigrants, refugee families and low income individuals in Central Ohio; to authorize the appropriation of $40,000 from the Emergency Human Services Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize the appropriation of $40,000 within the Jobs Growth Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $40,000 from the Emergency Human Services Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $40,000 from the Jobs Growth Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($80,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services ("ETSS") has submitted a grant application seeking financial assistance for emergency human service needs; and
WHEREAS, City Council has reviewed the grant application and hereby declares that the agency has articulated a need for Emergency Human Services Funds that is sufficient to justify approval of said grant; and
WHEREAS, City Council is authorized to allocate funds annually to assist social service agencies in the city with the operating costs of delivering programs; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development has reviewed and approved the grant application and desires to enter into a grant agreement with ETSS for education, training, supportive services, and workforce development assistance to immigrants, refugee families and low income individuals in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the grant will be funded with a combination of Emergency Human Services Funds and Jobs Growth Funds; and
WHEREAS, ETSS is an independent nonprofit agency serving immigrants, refugee families and low income individuals in Central Ohio. ETSS is unique in its ability to provide culturally-appropriate services in both English and other languages for youth and adults; and
WHEREAS, ETSS has cultivated many partnerships with local government agencies and community organizations to help them achieve their mission, vision and goals; and
WHEREAS, ETSS' experience and knowledge is designed to specifically address the challenges that New Americans face as they transition and integrate to life in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into an agreement with ETSS to allow the continued delivery of services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the grant application of Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services ("ETSS") seeking financial assistance to address an emergency human service need pursuant to Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby approved.
Section 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with ETSS for the provision of education, training, supportive services, and workforce-development assistance to immigrants, refugee families and low income individuals in Central Ohio.
Section 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the Emergency Human Services Fund, and from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, the sum of $40,000.00 be and is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Department No. 44-01, Fund 232, Object Level One -03, Object Level Three -3337, OCA Code 499043.
Section 4. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $40,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Emergency Human Services Fund, Department of Development, Department No. 44-01, Fund 232, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 499043.
Section 5. That the expenditure authorized herein is in accordance with Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 6. Payments are expressly contingent upon the availability of sufficient monies in the Emergency Human Services Fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract and in no case shall payments exceed available cash in this fund. In this event that there is not sufficient cash in the fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract, the City Auditor shall have the authority to make all necessary adjustments at his discretion.
Section 7. That from the unappropriated monies in the Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending December 31, 2012, the sum of $40,000.00 is hereby appropriated to the City Council, Division No. 44-02, Object Level One -10, Object Level Three -3337, OCA 440215.
Section 8. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $40,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Jobs Growth Fund, Department of Development, Department No. 44-02, Fund 015, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440215.
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.