Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Numerous studies have pointed to a strong correlation that exists between cities that have experienced job and income level growth and the number of young persons choosing to reside in those cities. The Columbus metropolitan area has an overall student population in excess of 100,000 from a variety of public and private post-secondary colleges and schools. Add to that number the amount of persons living in Columbus that are between the ages of 20-39 and the number increases to over 250,000. In 2006, the City of Columbus and the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce ("The Chamber ") entered into a contract to pursue an economic development strategy to market to, and help attract and retain these young professionals (less than 40 years old)/college-age residents. To date, the Chamber hired Next Generation Consulting to study the current trends of young people in Columbus, and produce recommendations and an action plan.
Another important effort that the Chamber is pursing to attract and retain young professionals is the development of a Web-based internship clearinghouse that will be utilized by universities, students and local businesses. After an extensive search (including eight technology providers) and determining the feasibility of developing the Web site internally, the Chamber contracted with eCampusRecruiter, an international company headquartered in Florida. The company has been in business since 1998 and serves 35 schools in Ohio, and 375 in the U.S. and Canada. They also are the technology provider for the local Central Ohio Consortium of Career Counselors. The selection process was rigorous and thorough.
A multi-faceted approach to marketing and outreach will take place for the internship Web site portal. The site will "soft launch" to employers at an event hosted by Nationwide and sponsored by Columbus State Community College on October 10th. After that, the Chamber will implement various means to communicate to employers the opportunity to host interns. Tactics will include a direct mail and letter-writing program, media relations and targeted e-mail campaign. The Chamber will also host events highlighting the importance of internships, how to structure meaningful internships, and the bottom-line value of internships.
To help us reach college students, the Chamber will engage the services of a local marketing firm to facilitate the access of local employers to college students by using social networking technology to connect to groups, such as student chapters of professional associations, Greek chapters and residence halls, which already exist on campus. The marketing firm will help the Chamber link to students "where they are" in an authentic voice. As appropriate, the Chamber will supplement this outreach with more traditional marketing efforts, such as pizza parties and t-shirt giveaway.
$65,000.00 from the Job Growth Initiatives Fund will be allocated to the Chamber to partially cover costs of this important project.
Contract Compliance #: 31-4152950 (non profit)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding for this contract will come from the Job Growth Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $65,000 to the Development Department within the Jobs Growth Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Columbus Chamber to support the development of a Columbus internship Web portal; to authorize the expenditure of $65,000 from the Jobs Growth Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($65,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, City Council amended the budget for a third successive year to create a $2 million Job Growth Initiatives Fund; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies have pointed to the strong correlation that exists between cities that have experienced job and income growth and the number of young persons choosing to reside in those cities; and
WHEREAS, one such investment is the development of a Web-based internship clearinghouse that will be utilized by universities, students and local businesses; and
WHEREAS, Council deems it an appropriate use of the Jobs Growth Fund to support this effort, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into the contract with the Columbus Chamber to provide a critical link between local employers and students wishing to obtain an internship while attending one of the Columbus metropolitan area's numerous public and private post-secondary colleges and schools for the immediate 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 $65,000 in the Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015 to the Development Department, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440215.
Section 2. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Columbus Chamber to support the development of a Columbus internship Web portal.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $65,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Department of Development, Economic Development Division No. 44-02, Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440215.
Section 4. That this contract is awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.