Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus City Council has previously offered financial support to Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO), most recently to fund their acquisition of a van for program-related transportation needs (Ordinance 654-2025). The mission of the organization is to preserve and restore balance in the lives of Native Americans through traditional, cultural, educational, family, community, and wellness driven values and initiatives. Their focus areas are (1) Cultural Preservation/Restoration, (2) Social Development, and (3) Economic Development/Sustainability.
The NAICCO Outdoors initiative is an ongoing extension of NAICCO’s two previously implemented projects - both the Investing in Indianness to Ensure Our Future project and the Honoring Our Heritage to Ensure Our Future project were consecutively funded by Columbus City Council (December 2022 - January 2025). Notably, through participation in these projects, Native Americans from the NAICCO community have been able to develop a deeper connection to their Native American identity (individual, family, and community levels), attain invaluable cultural knowledge, develop important life skills, and grow more in their everyday lives (mind, body, and spirit). To date, NAICCO has been able to implement numerous programs in the focus area of what is better known as NAICCO Outdoors. Sustaining the success of this initiative is imperative to the lives of many Native Americans. As such, NAICCO must be able to continue engaging the local Native American community by meeting them where they are in their lives.
This year, NAICCO is seeking upfront funding to assist with program-related costs throughout 2026, which will include NAICCO operational expenses and NAICCO Outdoors supplies expenses. Of the $20,000 grant agreement, $7,500 will defray the cost of operational expenses like overhead costs, utilities, insurance, security, maintenance, etc. The remaining $12,500 will be used to purchase fishing supplies (i.e., fishing poles, waders, fishing vest, net, terminal tackle, etc.); foraging and gathering supplies (outdoors clothing, hat, gloves, gathering basket, compass, noise maker, field guide, poncho, bug repellent, waterproof bag, towel, etc.); cultural supplies (i.e., arts and crafts materials, ceremonial paraphernalia, herbs and medicines, wood, blankets, etc.); and NAICCO Outdoors incentives (i.e., t-shirts, coffee mugs, water bottles, window decals, etc.) Upon receiving grant funding, NAICCO will (1) track and document the use of all funding throughout the grant cycle by maintaining thorough financial records (e.g., monthly profit and loss statements) and (2) track and document the implementation of all NAICCO Outdoors programming (i.e., events, activities, classes, etc.) throughout the grant cycle by maintaining thorough attendance records.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Clerk to enter a grant agreement with Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio to provide upfront support for their outdoor programming; and to authorize an expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO) exists to preserve and restore balance in the lives of Native Americans through traditional, cultural, educational, family, community, and wellness driven values and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, NAICCO's outdoor programming enables Native Americans to develop a deeper connection to their Native American identity (individual, family, and community levels), attain invaluable cultural knowledge, develop important life skills, and grow more in their everyday lives (mind, body, and spirit); and
WHEREAS, NAICCO is seeking financial support for fishing and foraging supplies, as well as other equipment and goods to support their outdoor programming; 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 a grant agreement with the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio to provide upfront financial support for their outdoor programming initiatives.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $20,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.