Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Bronzeville Food Co-op (BFC) to support design planning, predevelopment activities (feasibility study and site analysis), capacity building, and education and outreach activities for a planned physical location in the City's Near East Side Neighborhood.
Bronzeville Food Co-op is a group of community members and local nonprofits working to establish a co-op grocery store in the Near East Side neighborhood that strives to empower the community through a cooperative model that offers affordable, nutritious food while enhancing community interaction and ownership.
Bronzeville Food Co-op (BFC) is at a crucial stage where a dedicated staff person is essential to coordinate various processes. This grant will provide support to BFC to strengthen internal operations through capacity building, a clear physical plan, and stronger community relationships.
With support from the City, BFC will conduct a feasibility study and site analysis to be clear on a viable store location in the City's Near East Side Neighborhood. Given a specific site BFC can then develop a comprehensive business plan, including projected services and build-out cost that are tailored to the actual needs of the community. During this period BFC will also focus on developing relationships with local urban agriculturalists and cottage industry vendors to ensure strong partnerships for the actual store. BFC will also continue to expand community education and outreach through tabling and speaking at local events, meeting with key stakeholders and investigating areas of mutual concern with other businesses, with the goals of generating a substantial increase in volunteers, donors and in-kind supporters.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested in order to ensure a timely issuance of grant funds in support of the program, which will begin on August 03, 2026.Upfront funding is needed to ensure that the program can be effectively implemented without financial constraints for operations and supplies.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this grant agreement is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Bronzeville Food Co-op (BFC) to support design planning, predevelopment activities (feasibility study and site analysis), capacity building, and education and outreach activities for a planned physical location in the City's Near East Side Neighborhood; to authorize an expenditure and appropriation within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Brozeville Food Co-op (BFC) empowers the community through a cooperative model that offers affordable, nutritious food while enhancing community interaction and ownership; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to support Columbus’ residents across all neighborhoods, and the organization’s mission furthers those goals; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Clerk to enter into a advance payment grant agreement with Bronzeville Food Co-op (BFC) to support in design planning, predevelopment activities (feasibility study and site analysis), capacity building, and education and outreach activities as imminent and City support is needed in order to award the funds, all 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 Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Bronzeville Food Co-op (BFC), in the amount of $100,000, to support in design planning, predevelopment activities (feasibility study and site analysis), capacity building, and education and outreach activities for a planned physical location in the City's Near East Side Neighborhood.
SECTION 2. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the appropriation of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That funds shall be paid in advance to the Bronzeville Food Co-op (BFC) in order for the organization to have the resources necessary for a timely support for design planning, predevelopment activities (feasibility study and site analysis), capacity building, and education and outreach activities.
SECTION 5. That the distribution of food and beverages associated with the execution of this grant agreement are deemed to be for a proper public purpose.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the 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.