Explanation
Over the past year, City Council created a Jobs and Economic Development Committee devoted to job creation and economic growth. Council also set aside a $2 million Job Growth Initiatives Fund in the 2005 budget with the purpose of actively seeking key job creation investment opportunities that employ Columbus workers and strengthen the City's income tax revenues to pay for critical city services.
At the same time, the private and public sector leadership of Columbus are cooperating on initiatives to accelerate the region's economic growth, aiming to make the region one of the nation's more recognized centers of economic opportunity. One means to achieve this objective is to embrace the tenets of an inclusive community. Columbus is home to an increasingly diverse community. Racial and ethnic minorities accounted for half of the total population growth in Columbus over the past decade. To achieve its goal of continued economic growth and prosperity, Columbus must develop and implement a strategy that captures the talent and skills of this increasing diverse population.
To that end, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Columbus State Community College are partnering to create a website and database of certified minority businesses. The project will make it easier for governments and private businesses to identify and hire minority firms. The electronic database is intended to replace prior multiple systems used by potential employers to "register" minority firms. Moreover, it will expand employment opportunities for minorities by using a broader definition of what constitutes a "minority" business than is often employed with existing hard-copy systems. The website will also links to the Internet home of the Columbus Chamber Entrepreneurship Steering Committee, another public/private partnership, that can offer an array of startup services to new or growing minority firms.
City Council deems it an appropriate use of Jobs Growth fund to support this effort. The entire project is budgeted at $310,000, of which one-third comes from the City of Columbus, with the balance privately funded.
Contract Compliance #: 31-4152950 (non profit)
Funding: The City contribution comes from City Council's $2 million Jobs Growth fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $105,000 to the Development Department within the Jobs Growth Fund; to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a contract with the Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce to support its efforts to assist in the growth and success of minority business; to authorize the expenditure of $105,000 from the Jobs Growth Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($105,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, City Council amended the 2005 budget to create a $2 million Job Growth Initiatives Fund; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies, including the latest by the Brookings Institute, report that job creation investments pay great dividends; and
WHEREAS, one such investment is being undertaken by the Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Columbus State Community College, to create a website and database of certified minority businesses, thereby embracing the tenants of an inclusive community and expanding economic development opportunities for minority business; and
WHEREAS, the website and data base will enable prospective employers to better identify and hire minority businesses, as well as provide startup advice and support for new minority firms looking to locate or expand in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Council deems it an appropriate use of the Jobs Growth Fund to support of that effort, and
WHEREAS, in addition to $105,000 of City financial support, the project will be funded with $205,000 in private funds; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into the contract with the Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce to support its efforts to expand economic development opportunities within minority businesses and for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $105,000 in the Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015 to the City Clerk, Division No. 20-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200115.
Section 2. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of creating a website and database designed to promote economic development opportunities within the minority business community.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $105,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the City Clerk, Division No. 20-01, Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200115.
Section 4. That this contract is awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.