Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this legislation is to authorize an advance payment grant agreement with Greater Community Foundation in support of their Soulful Steps Program. The Soulful Steps Program aims to encourage healthy lifestyles, particularly in the Linden community of Columbus, Ohio, through engaging and enjoyable physical activity. By combining fitness with fun, this initiative will address health disparities in a food desert where residents often lack access to fresh and nutritious food, contributing to high obesity rates and related health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Through bi-monthly line dancing sessions, Soulful Steps will provide a safe and supportive space to improve cardiovascular health, promote weight loss, and foster community well-being.
The Linden Community continues to be a food desert, meaning it has limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Residents often rely on fast food, gas stations, and corner stores for meals, which exacerbates health challenges such as obesity and chronic diseases. Despite the high prevalence of health issues, there are few accessible programs to encourage regular physical activity. Soulful Steps will fill this gap by offering an engaging, culturally relevant, and consistent fitness program tailored to the community’s needs. Specifically, the Program will:
1. Promote physical activity;
2. Offer health education; and
3. Provide monthly transportation to full-service grocery stores.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $7,500.00 is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018.
REASON FOR EMERGENCY: Soulful Steps programming occurs on a rolling basis and therefore, costs associated with programming are ongoing. The organizers are in need of financial assistance to continue providing services.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Clerk to enter an advance payment grant agreement with Greater Community Foundation in support of the Soulful Steps Program; to authorize an expenditure in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($7,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Greater Community Foundation's mission is to "deepen and widen the local community's ability to improve and prosper by eliminating inhibitors to progress;" and
WHEREAS, Greater Community Foundation's Soulful Steps Program offers line dancing lessons, health education, and transportation to full-service grocery stores; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council previously authorized support for Greater Community Foundation's Soulful Steps Program through Ordinance 1205-2026;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's office insofar as Greater Community Foundation requires upfront financial support to continue providing services to the community, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk here hereby authorized and directed to enter an advance payment grant agreement with Greater Community Foundation in support of the Soulful Steps Program.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $7,500.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018, per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all grant agreements or modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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.