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File #: 2733-2025    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 10/7/2025 In control: Economic Development & Small and Minority Business Committee
On agenda: 10/27/2025 Final action: 10/29/2025
Title: To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a grant agreement with Always With Us Charities in support of entrepreneurship programs, to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
Attachments: 1. 2733-2025 Appropriation Template, 2. SOS Always With Us

Explanation

 

Background: This ordinance authorizes the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a grant agreement with Always With Us Charities a local registered non-profit organization for the listed amount.

 

The purpose of this funding request is to empower our non-profit organizations to expand its capacity, strengthen its technical infrastructure, and amplify the impact of entrepreneurship in key communities across the City of Columbus. This critical support will enable organizations to operate more efficiently, deliver targeted technical assistance to community partners, and scale the city’s small business ecosystem. Through this investment, the organization will be better equipped to fulfill its mission and achieve sustainable, community-centered outcomes.

The services included in this grant agreement cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the city’s current responsibility and capacity to provide.

Award Amount and Grantee:

$25,000.00 Always With Us Charities (A.W.U. Charities) Vendor ID#018333

Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $25,000.00 from the General Fund for entrepreneurship programs. This funding is budgeted and available in the General Fund.

Emergency action is requested to ensure that funding can be disbursed as soon as possible to ensure no disruption to operations for this non-profit organization.

 

Title

 

To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a grant agreement with Always With Us Charities in support of entrepreneurship programs, to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)

 

Body

 

WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is looking to invest in our community partners that are so vital to the success of our local businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Office of Diversity and Inclusion desires to enter into a grant agreement, to help fund entrepreneurship programs; and

WHEREAS, this investment provides critical support that allows organizations to operate more effectively, offer tailored technical assistance to community partners, and expand the city’s small business ecosystem, equipping them to fulfill their mission and deliver sustainable, community-driven outcomes; and

WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into grant agreements to allow funding to be disbursed as soon as possible to ensure no disruption to operations for this non-profit organization, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:

SECTION 1: That the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion be and is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreement in the amount of $25,000 with Always With Us Charities the respective listed registered non-profit organization for entrepreneurship programming opportunities for an amount not to exceed $25,000.00.

SECTION 2.  That the expenditure of $25,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000 in Object Class 05 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.

SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.

SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6.  That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.