Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with The Columbus Urban League in the amount up to $125,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding to the Columbus Region Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) for their Resiliency Focus Project for Minority & Women & Small Businesses to remediate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $125,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development fund.
The Columbus Urban League is the host of the Columbus Region Minority Business Assistance Center, servicing the needs of Ohio’s small, minority, and socially economically disadvantaged businesses. The Center provides important services including technical assistance, professional consulting, access to capital and assistance obtaining contract opportunities. A primary objective of the program is to identify emerging businesses and cultivate growth and sustainability. The realization of this objective will strengthen the minority business community, support job creation and further economic growth in Columbus as well as the State of Ohio. The Columbus Region Minority Business Assistance Center is committed to establishing a network of industry partners to ensure that MBAC clients receive the assistance needed to sustain and grow.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CUL/MBAC has created the Resiliency Focus Project for Minority & Women & Small Businesses to remediate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on small businesses owned by minorities and women. The City of Columbus and Franklin County are sponsoring this program. The new program will:
• provide access of immediate, personalized business counseling and technical assistance to eligible businesses through one on one and group counseling to identify strategies to remain operational and profitable during the COVID-19 crisis.
• identify specially targeted financial products (i.e. Zero-interest working capital loans and distress grants) that are available to small businesses owned by minorities and women.
To meet these added responsibilities, CUL will require the following supporting resource needs for the successful execution of the fund:
• updated website portal for online applications/review and approvals. A web-based tracking and reporting tool, to ensure the “real time” collection of RFP data.
• Additional staffing, including, but not limited to a program manager and administrative support.
Emergency action is requested to allow the Columbus Urban League to implement the new Resiliency Focus Project as soon as possible.
Contract Compliance: The vendor number is 006073 and expires 9/24/21.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available in the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with The Columbus Urban League in the amount up to $125,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding to the Columbus Region Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) for their Resiliency Focus Project for Minority & Women & Small Businesses to remediate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $125,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus seeks to enter into contract with the Columbus Urban League in an amount up to $125,000.00 for the purpose of supporting the Columbus Region Minority Business Assistance Center’s new Resiliency Focus Project for Minority & Women & Small Businesses to remediate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis; and
WHEREAS, the new Resiliency Focus Project program will provide access of immediate, personalized business counseling and technical assistance to eligible businesses through one on one and group counseling to identify strategies to remain operational and profitable during the COVID-19 crisis and identify specially targeted financial products (i.e. Zero-interest working capital loans and distress grants) that are available to small businesses owned by minorities and women; 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 contract with the Columbus Urban League to implement the new Resiliency Focus Project as soon as possible, such immediate action being necessary for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; 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 contract with the Columbus Urban League in the amount of $125,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding to the Columbus Region Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) for their Resiliency Focus Project for Minority & Women & Small Businesses to remediate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the sum of $125,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in object class 03 (Services) per the account 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 this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.