Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative (CFI), in an amount up to $375,000.00 in support of the organization’s mission to support the growth and unity of fashion-based businesses in Columbus.
The mission of the Columbus Fashion Initiative is to move fashion forward. Further, CFI seeks to enhance Columbus’s culture into one that equips, fosters, and supports emerging designers and brands in the ultimate quest to become and sustain Columbus as a regionally, nationally, and even internationally respected fashion hub. By cultivating education, community, imagination, and opportunity, CFI strives to become a fashion manufacturing and innovation leader while building an alliance of stakeholders from across all domains of the fashion and retail ecosystem. While open and accessible to all, CFI emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion within the sector by intentionally engaging existing and emerging designers, producers, and artists of color. The Columbus market is a leader in fashion design, making it essential to support small business fashion entrepreneurs.
CFI achieves this through the following initiatives:
• Training, education, and workforce development.
• Infrastructure for a co-working space, small batch production, and a library of educational resources
• Workshops and collaborations with local partners to encourage innovation in the industry
• Pop-up retail markets
Emergency action is necessary to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of program services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available within the Jobs Growth Subfund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 031541 and contract compliance expires 8/27/2023.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative, in an amount up to $375,000.00, towards efforts to grow and unify the Columbus fashion ecosystem; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Jobs Growth SubFund; to allow for reimbursement of expenses beginning January 1, 2022; and to declare an emergency. ($375,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is a top priority of Columbus City Council to support efforts that build strong neighborhoods, promote the creation of good-paying jobs, and develop pathways out of poverty; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Fashion Initiative seeks to provide the community opportunities in the fashion industry through education and training programs, access to equipment, production space, and financial capital; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative towards efforts to unify and strengthen the Columbus fashion ecosystem focusing on the Franklinton community; 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 enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative and make funding available to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of program services, hereby preserving 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 Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative in an amount up to $375,000.00 towards efforts to grow and unify the Columbus fashion ecosystem; to allow for reimbursement of expenses beginning January 1, 2022.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $375,000.00 in the Jobs Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the Department of Development, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $375,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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.