Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R. Wells Foundation to extend the end date from February 28, 2025 to December 31, 2025 to prevent a disruption in services, to provide fiscal management and other services as a partner in the City of Columbus Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program.
Original Agreement $500,000.00 Ordinance 2499-2023 PO412619
Amendment $ 0.00 Ordinance 2827-2023 change to grant agreement
Modification No. 1 amount $ 0.00
Total contract amount $500,000.00
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. No additional funds are required by this ordinance.
2. The need for additional services was unforeseen at the time the initial contract was awarded, but a legislative modification is required by operation of C.C. 329.09(a).
3. It is in the City’s best interest to continue with the Tony R. Wells Foundation current contract as they provide fiscal management and other services as a partner in the City of Columbus Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program.
The Department of Development and Tony R. Wells Foundation entered into a grant agreement in October 2023 with an award of $500,000.00 to assist the City of Columbus with creating the Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program, a pilot grant program to support small businesses at a stage of growth. The program is designed to target businesses who need cash assistance to support the purchase of one or more tangible, durable assets that will further them on the path to elevating their business to the next level. To be eligible, businesses must:
• Be in good standing with the City of Columbus;
• Have a physical presence (business address) in the City of Columbus;
• Have no more than five (5) employees, including the business owner(s);
• Be positioned for or in a stage of growth;
• Not have received any financial assistance from the City of Columbus at any time on or after January 1, 2022; and
• Be actively counseled by a pre-approved entrepreneurial service provider.
Emergency action is requested to prevent a disruption in services, and to expend all of the funds original appropriated for the City of Columbus Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: There will be no additional cost for the program.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R. Wells Foundation to extend the end date to December 31, 2025 to prevent a disruption in services, and to declare an emergency. (0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Department of Development and Tony R. Wells Foundation entered into a grant agreement in October 2023 with an award of $500,000.00 to assist the City of Columbus with creating the Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program, a pilot grant program to support small businesses at a stage of growth; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R. Wells Foundation to extend the end date to December 31, 2025 so the program/department wouldn’t experience a breakdown in operations, to provide fiscal management and other services as a partner in the City of Columbus Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program; 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 modify a grant agreement with the Tony R. Wells Foundation in order to quickly respond to needs within the Columbus small-business community and to avoid confusion and gaps in anticipated funding for small business owners; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R. Wells Foundation to extend the end date to December 31, 2025, in order to expend all of the funds original appropriated for the City of Columbus Small Business Capacity-Building Micro Grants Program. There will be no additional cost for the program.
SECTION 2. 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.