Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $50,000 from the Emergency Human Services Fund. These funds represent a match from the City for the Columbus Workforce Alliance's research and demonstration project, 'Meeting the Needs of Unemployed and Underemployed Job Seekers.' The objective of this project is to determine and highlight best practices for helping low-income unemployed and/or underemployed individuals residing in the Empowerment Zone area to find jobs.
The Ohio Governor's Workforce Policy Board has approved a grant to the Alliance of $450,000.00 for the project, and requires a match from other entities. In addition to the City of Columbus, additional funds have been secured from the United Way, The Columbus Foundation and National City Foundation.
Research stemming from the pilot project will benefit not only job seekers, but also employers and State workforce development systems by providing an analysis of barriers that prevent gainful employment and a strategy for removal of those barriers.
The Salvation Army of Greater Columbus will serve as fiscal agent on behalf of the Columbus Workforce Alliance for the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds will be allocated from the FY2005 Emergency Human Services Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $50,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Emergency Human Services Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with The Salvation Army of Greater Columbus; to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 from the Emergency Human Services Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Director of the Department of Development to appropriate funds from the unappropriated balance of the Emergency Human Services Fund and to contract with The Salvation Army of Greater Columbus on behalf of the Columbus Workforce Alliance; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Workforce Alliance will use appropriated funds to conduct the research and demonstration project 'Meeting the Needs of Unemployed and Underemployed Job Seekers'; and
WHEREAS, this pilot project will provide an analysis of barriers to the gainful employment of persons residing in the Empowerment Zone area of Columbus and a strategy for how best to remove the barriers; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate said funds and to enter into a contract with the Salvation Army of Greater Columbus on behalf of the Columbus Workforce Alliance to allow work on this vital project to begin immediately, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. 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, 2005, the sum of $50,000.00 be and is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Department No. 44-05, Fund 232, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 445205.
Section 2. That the Director of the Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to contract with The Salvation Army of Greater Columbus on behalf of the Columbus Workforce Alliance to fund the research and demonstration project 'Meeting the Needs of Unemployed and Underemployed Job Seekers'. The project will provide an analysis of barriers to the gainful employment of persons residing in the Empowerment Zone area and a strategy for removal of those barriers.
Section 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $50,000.00 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. 44-05, Fund 232, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 445205.
Section 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, as amended
Section 5. 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.