Explanation
BACKGROUND:
In Ordinance No. 0740-2025, the Department of Development sought to renew a contract, Renewal No. 1, with Columbus Compact Corporation in an amount not to exceed $178,501.87 to administer small business advising services for the Downtown Ground Floor Growth Initiative (formerly the Downtown Commercial Marketplace program). However, the renewal was not executed before expiration of the original agreement. This legislation will authorize the repeal of Ordinance 0740-2025.
This legislation seeks to authorize the Department of Development to enter into a new not-for-profit service contract in an amount up to $178,501.87. The contract authorized by this legislation also includes a broader scope than the attempted renewal authorized in 0740-2025.
The City of Columbus seeks to support small businesses in downtown Columbus to support the stimulation of downtown commercial activity. As a downtown business advisor, Columbus Compact Corporation assists the business in achieving financial success, measured through profit and loss statements through planning, counseling, and connecting businesses with other business development resources.
For the original agreement, the Department utilized the Request for Proposals (RFP) process in accordance with City procurements standards to solicit proposals. Proposals were submitted in response to RFQ024861 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. After careful review, the Proposal Evaluation Committee selected Columbus Compact Corporation to administer advising services to small businesses downtown. RFQ024861 authorized up to two renewals. This legislation seeks to enter into a new not for profit services contract that updates the scope of services and that clarifies that Columbus Compact shall serve all downtown small businesses.
Columbus Compact aims to support businesses and economic development by creating assets. Currently, this is executed by providing small business development services for local business owners and supporting central city revitalization by investing in the stabilization of real estate. Their overall objective as an organization is to assist in the capacity of small businesses and empower them to achieve quantifiable and sustainable growth.
As a non-profit, since 1995, the Columbus Compact dba Columbus Empowerment has a history of working with small businesses in general, a portion of which have been in the retail industry and a portion of which have been located downtown. Restructured in 2019, the Organization has continued to be an ESO providing direct services to small businesses throughout the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and contiguous counties through 1-1 advisement, including assessment, plan of action development, and workshops for starting, scaling, obtaining sustainability and expansion. Services include but are not limited to strategic business planning, obtaining financial resources, relocation, and private and public sector market expansion.
Further, this legislation seeks to allow for the reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the PO date but not before March 31, 2025; to allow for a contract term of 18 months; and to allow for up to two 18-month renewals.
Emergency Designation: This legislation seeks to declare an emergency to ensure that there are no gaps or delays in the provision of advising services to small businesses in the downtown neighborhood in light of the expired initial contract.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available within the within the Department of Development, Economic Development Division’s 2025 General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Compact Corporation dba Columbus Empowerment Corporation in an amount up to $178,501.87 for a period not to exceed 18 months; to authorize the expenditure of $178,501.87 from the 2025 General Fund budget; to allow for the reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the date of the purchase order but not before March 31, 2025; to allow up to two 18-month renewals of this contract; to repeal Ordinance 0740-2025; and to declare an emergency. ($178,501.87)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus seeks to support small businesses in Downtown Columbus in order to stimulate downtown commercial activity; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, utilized a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to identify and assess qualified firms for the original contract; and
WHEREAS, proposals for the original contract were submitted in response to RFQ024861 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, and Columbus Compact Corporation received the highest overall score from the RFP committee; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Development seeks to enter into a new contract with Columbus Compact Corporation dba Columbus Empowerment Corporation for a business advisor to administer advising services to small businesses in the downtown neighborhood Initiative in an amount up to $178,501.87; and
WHEREAS, the Department seeks to authorize an expenditure in an amount up to $178,501.87 from the Department of Development General Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Department seeks to authorize up to two 18-month renewals of this contract; and
WHEREAS, the Department seeks to authorize the reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the date of the purchase order but not earlier than March 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it is now necessary to repeal Ordinance 0740-2025; 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 not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Compact Corporation dba Columbus Empowerment Corporation to ensure that there are no gaps or delays in the continuation of business advising services downtown due to the expired initial contract, 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 Ordinance 0740-2025, passed by City Council on March 24, 2025, authorizing a not-for-profit service contract of $178,501.87 from the department’s 2025 General Fund budget is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract in an amount up to $178,501.87 and for a period of time not to exceed 18 months from March 31, 2025 with Columbus Compact Corporation dba Columbus Empowerment Corporation, to provide business advising services to small businesses in the downtown neighborhood.
SECTION 3. That the contract authorized by this legislation may be renewed for up to two 18-month periods.
SECTION 4. That expenses incurred prior to the date of the purchase order but in no event before March 31, 2025, are reimbursable.
SECTION 5. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $178,501.87, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated, 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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.