Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement with Elevate Northland in an amount of up to $500,000.00, to advance the planning, design and construction of new community center space that will allow them to continue providing training and business incubation assistance to the Northland community.
Elevate Northland is a not-for-profit community development corporation in Columbus that brings together groups working on business development and building community bonds, with a mission to uplift people of diverse backgrounds and to create opportunities. Elevate Northland will provide the Northland community with a new community center that will feature training space and a business incubator (the “Northland Community Center”).
Grant funding will be used to pay for costs related to planning, designing and constructing the new community center space. Columbus City Council deems it to be a public purpose to invest in Elevate Northland’s community center with the establishment of new co-working space, commercial food preparation space, and overall improved economic development and small business development opportunities. Columbus City Council also previously approved this intended expenditure via approval of the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget.
Approval is also requested for reimbursement of construction costs expenses and professional services cost associated with the planning, design and completion of the permanent improvements incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting January 1, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACTS
Funding in the amount of $500,000.00 is available through the Department of Development’s 2022 Capital Improvement Budget within the Development Taxable Bonds Fund, Fund 7739. The funding will need to be authorized for expenditure from Fund 7739.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Vendor number is 031977 and compliance is pending.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement with Elevate Northland in an amount of up to $500,000.00, to advance the planning, design and construction of new community center space to continue providing training and business incubation assistance to the Northland community; and to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund and to allow for expenditures prior to the Purchase Order. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Elevate Northland is a non-profit community development corporation that seeks to uplift the Northland community, including its entrepreneurs and small business owners; and
WHEREAS, Elevate Northland is investing in a new community center that will include training space and a business incubator (the “Northland Community Center”) that will especially target disadvantaged small businesses, businesses owned by immigrants, refugees, women, people of color and business owners disadvantaged by other measures; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to promote jobs training and creating pathways toward economic stability through entrepreneurship; and
WHEREAS, the City made a commitment of $500,000.00 to provide Elevate Northland with a capital grant supporting the Northland Community Center; and
WHEREAS, construction cost expenses and professional services cost associated with the planning, design and completion of the permanent improvements incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting January 1, 2023, will be reimbursed; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate Northland in support of the new community center, in an amount of up to $500,000.00; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate Northland in an amount up to $500,000.00 in support of the Northland Business Center. Construction costs expenses and professional services costs associated with the planning, design and completion of the permanent improvements incurred prior to the execution of the purchase order, starting January 1, 2023, are hereby determined to be a valid public purpose and will be reimbursed.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bonds), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project 200021-100000 (Elevate Northland), in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, authorized for expenditure to carry out the purposes of this ordinance, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 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 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.