Explanation
Background
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with The Masters Preparatory Academy in support of their UBUNTU x SIMBA Leadership & Workforce Institute.
The UBUNTU x SIMBA Leadership & Workforce Institute is designed to increase positive youth engagement, leadership development, workforce readiness, and long-term educational success for underserved youth in Columbus. Expected outcomes include:
• Increased youth participation in structured leadership programming
• Improved mentorship engagement and community connection
• Increased workforce and career exposure opportunities
• Increased college and career readiness
• Improved emotional wellness and confidence
• Reduced disengagement and high-risk behaviors
• Increased youth participation in community-based activities and leadership opportunities
Funds will support staffing, youth engagement activities, transportation, program materials, workforce exposure experiences, and community-based programming implementation.
As part of delivering programming, Masters Preparatory Academy will utilize a portion of the grant for distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Council deems the aforementioned distribution to serve a public purpose in that it encourages participation in the Leadership & Workforce Institute.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in initiating critically-needed services for the target constituencies.
Fiscal Impact: Funding in the amount of $50,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with The Masters Preparatory Academy in support of their UBUNTU x SIMBA Leadership & Workforce Institute; to authorize an expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the UBUNTU x SIMBA Leadership & Workforce Institute is designed to increase positive youth engagement, leadership development, workforce readiness, and long-term educational success for underserved youth in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, this grant will allow The Masters Preparatory Academy to increase participation, improve college and career readiness, and reduce high-risk behavior among target youths and sustain their engagement in the program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of Columbus City Council in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement in order to avoid any delay in initiating critically-needed services for the target constituencies; 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 Masters Preparatory Academy in support of their UBUNTU x SIMBA Leadership & Workforce Institute.
SECTION 2. That per the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the distribution of food and beverages associated with the execution of this grant agreement are deemed to be for a public purpose. Food and non-alcoholic beverage costs are authorized in an amount not to exceed the per-person, per-meal costs under the applicable per diem by meal established by location as set by the Department of Finance and Management.
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 ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereunto, where 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.