Explanation
Background:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into a grant agreement with Student Success Stores, a non-profit corporation with the goal to meet the basic needs of students from economically disadvantaged communities, and to remove barriers to learning that can be created when life necessities are unavailable.
Student Success Stores has been providing students with free school supplies, personal hygiene products, nutritional food, school-code clothing, and more since 2016. Currently, there are two Student Success Stores that are serving the Envision Hilltop plan area at Wedgewood and Hilltonia Middle Schools. In addition to these two schools, the Student Success Store team has found success in distributing school supply and hygiene kits at elementary schools and libraries to provide additional levels of support for Hilltop students and families beyond the middle school level.
Funding from the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods will be used to support Goal 4 of the Envision Hilltop community plan. Goal 4 of the plan is to “Position schools as community hubs and expand on-site wraparound services.” By providing funding for the two existing Student Success Stores on the Hilltop and for the distribution of school supply and hygiene kits beyond the middle school level, the City has an opportunity to directly support the basic needs of children on the Hilltop.
This support is in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 that relate to not-for-profit service contracts. The services included in this agreement cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current responsibility and capacity to provide.
Contract Compliance: Student Success Stores - CC-047399 - 11-29-23 - 11-29-25
Fiscal Impact: Funding in an amount up to $10,000.00 is available in the General Fund
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow for immediate execution of this agreement in order to avoid any delay in providing the resources necessary to support the community.
Title
To authorize the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into a non-profit grant agreement with Student Success Stores; to authorize the expenditures up to $10,000.00 from the Department of Neighborhoods General Fund 1000; to authorize the payment of expenses starting November 1, 2024; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Student Success Stores is working in alignment with the Envision Hilltop Community Plan to improve the quality of life for Hilltop residents.
WHEREAS, funding is needed to provide free school supplies, personal hygiene products, nutritional food, school-code clothing in order to remove barriers to learning that can be created when life necessities are unavailable for students who attend Hilltop area schools.
WHEREAS, an emergency exists such that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into a grant agreement with Student Success Stores to avoid any delay in providing the services and resources to serve residents, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peach, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement effective November 1, 2024 with the Student Success Stores in support of projects that align with the Envision Hilltop Community Plan to improve the quality of life for residents.
SECTION 2. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of an amount up to $10,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to nonprofit service contracts.
SECTION 4. That 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 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.