Explanation
The Small Business Training Services Pilot Program provides free access to select citywide training opportunities for small business owners and their employees in Columbus. The program, which began accepting registrations in the third quarter 2013, has provided free training opportunities to well over 50 people representing over 25 organization. In order to continue accepting registrations, it is necessary to provide additional funding to the Small Business Training Program.
Council deems the Small Business Training Pilot Program a success and wished to allocate $15,000.00 in additional funding from the Jobs Growth Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $15,000.00 from the Jobs Growth Fund for the continuation of the Small Business Training Services Pilot Program; to authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Human Resources to continue implementation of the Small Business Training Services Pilot Program; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in early 2013, the Columbus City Council Small Business Roundtable recommended opening select citywide training opportunities to small business owners and their employees in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, This Council finds that making such training opportunities available will serve the public by strengthening our city's small businesses -- the backbone of our economy; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Human Resources began implementation of the Small Business Training Services Pilot Program in the third quarter of 2013, and since that time over 50 people representing over 25 small businesses and organization has utilized the training opportunities; and
WHEREAS, This Council wishes to provide an additional $15,000.00 from the unallocated balance of the Jobs Growth Fund to continue offering such services at no cost to qualifying participants; and
WHEREAS, An emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend funds to support the efforts of the Small Business Training Services Pilot Project, and for the 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 City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $15,000.00 in the Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015, to the Department of Human Resources, Division No. 46-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336, OCA Code 460015.
Section 2. That the Department of Human Resources, Citywide Training continue to manage and administer the Small Business Training Services Pilot Program with the purpose of providing free access to select citywide training opportunities for owners and employees of small businesses located in Columbus.
Section 3. That the Director of Human Resources be and hereby is authorized and directed to expend the funds appropriated herein to continue to administer the Small Business Training Services Pilot Program.
Section 4. That, for the purposes of the pilot program, small businesses will continue to be defined as independently-owned and operated businesses physically located in Columbus with no less than 5 or more than 50 employed staff members per year.
Section 5. That the Director of Human Resources or his/her designee may continue to promulgate rules to effect the purpose of this ordinance, including, but not limited to, the following: additional eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program; additional limitations on the definition of a small business so long as they do not conflict with Section 4 of this ordinance; application and registration processes; timelines for applying for classes; those classes which will be made available to participants, provided that the maximum practicable training opportunities should be made available; and the number of seats available to eligible small businesses for any given class.
Section 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that those transactions are properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the city's financial records.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.