BACKGROUND:
The American Rescue Plan was passed by Congress on March 10, 2021 and signed into law on March 11, 2021. The Plan established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, and authorized the U.S. Treasury to make payments from that Fund to states and eligible units of local government, including the City of Columbus, to respond to the COVID 19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. The American Rescue Plan funds will be available for use through December 31, 2024.
The American Rescue Plan requires that the payments from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund be used to cover expenses that respond to the COVID 19 public health emergency, or its negative economic impacts, including but not limited to, providing assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries, such as tourism, travel, and hospitality; respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID 19 pandemic by providing premium pay to eligible workers of the City of Columbus performing essential work or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers; provide government services, to the extent COVID 19 caused a reduction of revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year; or make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
In 2014, the White House, under President Barack Obama, launched the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. The work of MBK is rooted in 6 milestones that are predicative to student success. In responding to the call to action, the Department of Neighborhoods established the My Brother’s Keeper Village to be the hub of all work throughout the City of Columbus.
Funding will support the work of non-profit agencies to extend MBK Round 3 grants for a period of 12 months to expand the collective work of addressing Milestone three to improve graduation and matriculation outcomes.
This legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $286,000.00 from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds; Fund 2209; and authorizes the Interim Director of Neighborhoods to enter into grant agreements with African American Male Wellness Agency, Always With Us Charities, Heart of JOB and Ice Mentors in an amount up to $286,000.00 to provide in-school and after-school academic based interventions. Grant funding for programming including the purchase of food and/or beverage items, which serve the public for the purpose of administering programming. Food and/or beverage purchases will be subject to what is allowable in the respective grant agreements. Costs will not exceed $15 per person and any purchase of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to ensure that students can benefit from in-school and after-school programming for the 2024-2025 academic school year.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is provided to the City of Columbus from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund passed by Congress on March 10, 2021 and signed into law on March 11, 2021.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor’s vendor number are:
African American Male Wellness Walk 008384 compliant thru 4/11/2026
Always With Us Charities 018333 compliant thru 1/24/2025
Heart of JOB Foundation 041659 compliant thru 4/23/2026
ICE Mentors 042295 and is pending
Title
To authorize the expenditure of $286,000.00 in the Department of Neighborhoods from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund; to authorize the Interim Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into grant agreements with the African American Male Wellness Walk, Always with Us Charities, Heart of Job Foundation, ICE Mentors in an amount up to $286,000.00 to add needed capacity to address COVID-19 specific services for boys and young men of color; to authorize the payment of reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses; to authorize the payment of expenses starting August 1, 2024; and to declare an emergency. ($286,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, My Brother’s Keeper Village work is rooted in six key life milestones that research shows are especially predictive of later success, and where interventions can have the greatest impact; and
WHEREAS, the following entities: African American Male Wellness Agency, Always With Us Charities, Heart of JOB and Ice Mentors all align with the efforts of My Brother’s Keeper Village effort to improve outcomes under milestone three; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in learning loss and additional needs for academic support; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and City Council are committed to the mission and work of the My Brother’s Keeper; and,
WHEREAS, expenditure of American Rescue Plan funding is necessary to address unforeseen needs within the population of boys and young men of color caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Neighborhoods in that it is immediately necessary to authorize grant agreements with the African American Male Wellness Walk, Always with Us Charities, Heart of Job Foundation, ICE Mentors, to allow it to begin providing additional COVID-19 specific services to its members and the nonprofit sector; and,
WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan was passed by Congress on March 10, 2021 and signed into law on March 11, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, and authorized The U.S. Treasury to make payments from this Fund to states and eligible units of local government, including the City of Columbus, to respond to the COVID 19 public health emergency, and its negative economic impacts; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2024 Budget;
WHEREAS, an emergency exist in the usual daily business of the city in that it is necessary to authorize a grant agreements for MBK Round 3; now therefore,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the Interim Director of Neighborhoods is hereby authorized to enter into agreement with the following organizations to allow them to begin providing additional COVID-19 specific services to its members and the nonprofit sector in an amount up to $286,000.00 effective August 1, 2024.
African American Male Wellness Agency $100,000.00
Always With Us Charities $100,000.00
Heart of JOB Foundation $43,000.00
ICE Mentors $43,000.00
SECTION 2: That the expenditure of $286,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2209 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, Dept-Div 48-01, in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: 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 4: 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 legislation.
SECTION 5: That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the process for awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 6: That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.