Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute grant agreements with numerous not-for-profit, social service agencies for the third and final year of the department’s Elevate! 2.0 program. See attached Exhibit A for the list of 60 not-for-profit social services agencies included in this ordinance. The total amount awarded to these agencies is $4,570,000.00. The term of each Grant Agreement shall be a 12-month period beginning January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. This legislation authorizes the transfer and expenditure in an amount up to $3,492,000.00 within the Emergency Human Services Fund and the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $1,078,000.00 within the Income Tax Set Aside Fund for these agreements.
Columbus, renowned as America's Opportunity City, remains a beacon of potential and hope for its residents. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the population faces challenges stemming from personal, societal, structural, and economic factors, which impede their full participation in the city's myriad opportunities. Acknowledging the complexity of these challenges, the City is committed to implementing a comprehensive solution and is responsible for driving transformative changes to establish equitable opportunities for all residents.
The Elevate! Initiative plays a pivotal role in effecting this transformative change. This initiative has allocated funding to support 112 distinct non-profit organizations categorized into two programs, denoted as 1.0 and 2.0, collectively addressing 16 of the 21 aspirations outlined in The Mayor’s Opportunity Rising. Through various means, the Elevate! Initiative promotes and provides opportunities for collaboration, learning, and resource-sharing among member agencies, ensuring that every community member they serve can access the services needed based upon their unique circumstance.
The Elevate! 2.0 NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) was made available to local not-for-profit organizations from September 12, 2022, to October 3, 2022. The Department received 142 applications, requesting a total funding of $14,050,000.00, which were reviewed by a 24-member team. Sixty-four programs were selected for funding in 2023, marking the inaugural year of the three-year Elevate! 2.0 program. For the third and final year Sixty programs have been selected for funding.
Funding will be advanced to each agency on a predetermined schedule. Advancement of funds is needed because many of the organizations do not have funding available to be reimbursed for program expenses. The first advance will occur after confirmation of the Purchase Order. Before the second advance is made, the agency shall provide reports and documentation indicating how the funds were used to fulfill the scope of services in the grant agreement. Additionally, these programs/grant agreements may include reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages for participants of the programs (e.g., Mid-Ohio Foodbank) which the expenditure is hereby deemed to be a valid public purpose in that such purchase will address the immediate needs of program participants.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for these agreements have been allocated within the Emergency Human Services Fund 2025 budget (Fund 2231), up to $3,492,000.00, and the Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund 100099, in an amount up to $1,078,000.00.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: See attached Exhibit A for a list of social services agencies and the vendor registration and contract compliance data.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute grant agreements with numerous not-for-profit, social service agencies in an amount up to $4,570,000.00 for the Elevate! 2.0 Program; to authorize the provision of services for 12-month periods beginning January 1, 2025; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the agreement; and to authorize the transfer between object classes and the expenditure in an amount up to $3,492,000.00 within the Emergency Human Services Fund, and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of funds an amount up to $1,078,000.00 within the Income Tax Set Aside Fund. ($4,570,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS Elevate! 2.0 NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) was made available to local not-for-profit organizations from September 12, 2022, to October 3, 2022, on the City’s Website (Department of Development webpage), the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County’s website, and by press release; and
WHEREAS, the City received 142 applications, requesting $14,050,00000. Sixty-four programs were selected for 2023, marking the inaugural year of the three-year Elevate! 2.0 program; and
WHEREAS, 60 organizations are included in this piece of legislation with their agreements starting January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreements will be funded with a combination of Emergency Human Service Fund and the Income Tax Set Aside Fund; and
WHEREAS, the transfer of $3,492,000.00 is necessary between object classes and the expenditure in an amount up to $3,492,000.00 is necessary within the Emergency Human Services Fund, and the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $1,078,000.00 is necessary within the Income Tax Set Aside Fund; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreements will include advance payments to the organizations; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $3,492,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2231 (Emergency Human Services Fund), from Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), object class 03 (Services) to Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 4, the expenditure of $3,492,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in Fund 2231 (Emergency Human Services Fund), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $1,078,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 Subfund 100099 (Income Tax Set Aside), within Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Development is authorized to execute grant agreements with numerous not-for-profit, social service agencies in an amount up to $4,570,000.00 for the Elevate! 2.0 Program; to authorize the provision of services for a 12-month period beginning January 1, 2025; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the grant agreement.
SECTION 5. Payments are expressly contingent upon the availability of sufficient monies in the Emergency Human Services Fund (Fund 2231) to cover the obligation set forth in these agreements and in no case shall payments exceed available cash in this fund. In this event that there is not sufficient cash in the fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract, the City Auditor shall have the authority to make all necessary adjustments at her discretion.
SECTION 6. Under the authority of Columbus City Code Chapter 111.14, the Department of Development is authorized to execute grant agreements for the purpose as stated in Section 4.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.