.Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Fashion Initiative, a non-profit organization, in an amount up to $450,000.00 in support of the organization’s Made to Grow youth workforce development and education programming, and to authorize the payment of expenses starting July 1, 2024.
The Columbus Fashion Initiative’s mission is to create, connect, and move fashion forward. By cultivating education, community, imagination, and opportunity, Columbus Fashion Initiative strives to become a fashion manufacturing and innovation leader while building an alliance of stakeholders from across all domains of the fashion and retail ecosystem.
Columbus City Schools (CCS) students currently do not have access to skills-based curriculum in the fashion industry, and many fashion and retail programs at colleges and universities are financially out-of-reach for CCS graduates. Columbus Fashion Initiative seeks to address this gap and catalyze economic development and through the creation and sustainability of fashion and retail businesses and by convening members of the industry ecosystem. Columbus Fashion Initiative has demonstrated a deep commitment to the ecosystem by investing more than $1.5 million in programs and initiatives including but not limited to stipends to youth participating in workforce development and education programs and micro-grants to emerging entrepreneurs.
The Made to Grow (MTG) workforce development and education program serves transition age youth (ages 16-24) who are Columbus residents and Columbus City School (CCS) students. The goal is to provide career exposure, training, credentials, and mentorship that support initial placements, career advancement as well as related post-secondary educational pathways.
This grant agreement will support the implementation and expansion of Made to Grow. MTG is designed to help low-to-moderate income youth to obtain vital and transferable job skills and access to postsecondary education opportunities. MTG will serve up to 30 graduates over the course of the academic year. The program includes four track options for participants, which are selected after a two-week orientation that includes a customer service training credential. The tracks are: retail, production, design, and entrepreneurship. In addition to those tracks, all participants are supported to pursue post-secondary degrees and receive support in identifying and visiting schools, completing admissions and scholarship applications.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding amount of $450,000.00 is available within the 2024 Jobs Growth Subfund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance number is 031541 and expires 8/31/2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative, in an amount up to $450,000.00, in support of the Made to Grow workforce development and education program; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the agreement; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Jobs Growth Subfund; and to authorize the payment of expenses starting July 1, 2024. ($450,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is a top priority of Columbus City Council to support efforts that build strong neighborhoods, promote the creation of good-paying jobs, and develop pathways out of poverty; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Fashion Initiative ("CFI") seeks to provide the community opportunities in the fashion industry through education and training programs, access to equipment, production space, and financial capital; and
WHEREAS, the Made to Grow workforce development and education program is designed to help low-to-moderate income youth to obtain vital and transferable job skills and access to postsecondary education opportunities in the fashion ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative to operate the Made to Grow workforce development and education program; NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative, in an amount up to $450,000.00, in support of the Made to Grow workforce development and education program; and is authorized to advance of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the agreement, and authorized to make payment for expenses starting July 1, 2024.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the sum of $450,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Subfund 100015 (Jobs Growth Subfund) Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of up to $450,000.00, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Subfund 100015 (Jobs Growth Subfund), Dept. 44-02 (Economic Development), in Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code related to awarding grants.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.