Explanation
BACHGROUND: The Central Ohio Minority Business Association (COMBA) is a non-profit agency founded in 1978. Through its programs and services, entrepreneurial development assistance and high-end business consulting to start-up and emerging business owners is provided. Services are provided at "no cost" to the client and all services are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.
During the last three years COMBA has provided one-to-one consulting services to over 3,166 existing and potential business persons. From these businesses, over 265 jobs were created and 493 jobs retained. The businesses were also awarded contracts in the amount of $23,447,185 and awarded loans in the amount of $7,219,586. Over 268 conferences and workshops were facilitated with over 7,333 participants in attendance.
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Minority Business Association for $37,500 for administrative costs associated with increased employment opportunities and business growth in the City of Columbus.
Emergency action is requested to allow COMBA to continue providing services to start-up and emerging businesses in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: $37,500 has been allocated from the 2011 General Fund for this initiative.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Minority Business Association for administrative costs associated with programs and services for start-up and emerging businesses; to authorize the expenditure of $37,500.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($37,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Minority Business Association (COMBA) is a non-profit agency founded in 1978; and
WHEREAS, COMBA provides entrepreneurial development assistance and high-end business consulting to start-up and emerging business through its programs and services; and
WHEREAS, COMBA services are provided at "no cost" to the client and all services are provided on a non-discriminatory basis; and
WHEREAS, $37,500 is available from the 2011 General Fund for administrative costs for COMBA; and
WHEREAS, COMBA desires to enter into an agreement with the City for administrative costs associated with programs and services for start-up and emerging businesses; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested to allow COMBA to continue providing services to start-up and emerging businesses in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend funds for administrative costs associated with COMBA, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Minority Business Association for administrative costs associated with start-up and emerging businesses.
Section 2. That the expenditure of $37,500 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Development Department, Economic Development Division, Division 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336, OCA 442030.
Section 3. 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 form and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.