Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Columbus is home to an increasingly diverse community. In 2006, in recognition of the need to develop a strategy that captures the talent and skills of this increasing diverse population, the City of Columbus contracted with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to support the Chamber's minority business development initiative to create job opportunities and increase the wealth in the minority community. It is believed that as minority businesses grow they will offer the minority community additional jobs and career options. Therefore, a vibrant minority business sector will strengthen the minority community and the overall economic well being of greater Columbus.
The Chamber is developing a Diversity Bridge Web portal to further its efforts to assist minority businesses at various stages of the business cycle: micro, early, life style and growth, by providing a link to other Chamber sites that assist business owners and address the many challenges growing businesses face. The Chamber has requested additional City support. City funds will partially fund: 1) the completion of the building of the minority business website and related expenses-training of stakeholders regarding the use of the website, outreach and marketing of the website; 2) assessment of minority business capital needs; 3) creation of one-stop certification process; 4) creation of meaningful networking opportunities; and 5) facilitate enhancement of delivery of services to minority/women owned businesses.
$68,000.00 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)
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $68,000 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 Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce to partially fund its development of a Diversity Bridge Web portal; to authorize the expenditure of $68,000 from the Jobs Growth Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($68,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, for the third successive year in 2007 City Council amended the budget to allocate funds to its Job Growth Initiatives Fund to promote economic development project with good potential to increase City revenues by creating new, high paying jobs; and
WHEREAS, an important partner with the City in this effort is the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, whose efforts include the promotion of minority-owned businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Chamber is currently investing in several improved web-based programs and tools to support private sector job growth initiatives working to build jobs in central Ohio and Columbus, one of which involves the creation of a Diversity Bridge Web portal to specifically make information on minority businesses available to potential contracting entities, public and private; 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 support its effort to create a Diversity Bridge Web portal to promote the use of minority-owned businesses 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 $68,000 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 its effort to create a Diversity Bridge Web portal.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $68,000.00 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.