Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City owns and leases a longstanding public market on Franklin County Auditor Tax Parcel No. 010-054645 (the “North Market”) to the North Market Development Authority, Inc., an Ohio nonprofit corporation (NMDA, hereinafter the “Grantee”). The North Market is an incubator and innovator of small businesses providing residents and visitors with local products and cultural vibrancy. Construction activities on the adjacent parcels of the North Market’s parking lot (the “Merchant Building”) began in the autumn of 2023. In accordance with Ordinance Nos. 2137-2023, 0804-2024, and 2777-2025, the Director of the Department of Development entered into with the Grantee the Grant Agreement dated December 12, 2023, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Grant Agreement dated November 6, 2025, for the advancement and reimbursement of funds for the Grantee’s operation of the North Market to help mitigate the business disruption to the North Market and the small businesses operating there during calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025 caused by the Merchant Building construction. As the contractual completion date was scheduled to be September 28, 2026 for the Merchant Building, but the current projected substantial completion date is May 3, 2027 for the Merchant Building, the Grantee has requested up to one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) for calendar year 2026. This ordinance authorizes the transfer and expenditure of up to $125,000.00 from the General Fund for the new grant. This ordinance also authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a new grant agreement with the Grantee.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for North Market Development Authority, Inc. is 034112 and contract compliance expires 10/22/27.
FISCAL IMPACTS
This legislation authorizes the transfer within and the expenditure of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) from the 2026 General Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement with North Market Development Authority, Inc. for the purpose of providing operational support to the nonprofit organization and/or small businesses operating within the North Market as a result of construction of the adjacent Merchant Building during calendar year 2026; to authorize the transfer and expenditure of up to $125,000.00 from the General Fund pursuant to the Grant Agreement; to allow for the advancement and reimbursement of funds for the grantee’s operation of the North Market during calendar year 2026 including operations and expenses incurred prior to any purchase order for this grant pursuant to that Grant Agreement. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City owns and leases a long-standing public market on Franklin County Auditor Tax Parcel No. 010-054645 (the “North Market”) to the North Market Development Authority, Inc., an Ohio nonprofit corporation (NMDA, hereinafter the “Grantee”); and
WHEREAS, the North Market is an incubator and innovator of small businesses providing residents and visitors with local products and cultural vibrancy; and
WHEREAS, the construction activities on the adjacent former North Market parking lot (the “Merchant Building”) that began in autumn 2023 have impacted the ability for patrons to access the North Market by ways of limiting parking and entrance into the North Market; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance Nos. 2137-2023, 0804-2024, and 2777-2025, the Director of the Department of Development entered into with the Grantee the Grant Agreement dated December 12, 2023, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Grant Agreement dated November 6, 2025, to help mitigate the operational impact of the Grantee and/or the small businesses operating within the North Market during calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025 due to the construction of the Merchant Building; and
WHEREAS, as the contractual completion date was scheduled to be September 28, 2026 for the Merchant Building, but the current projected substantial completion date is May 3, 2027 for the Merchant Building, the Grantee has requested an additional up to one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) for calendar year 2026; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes a transfer and expenditure within the General Fund in an amount up to $125,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this grant will allow for the continual operation of the North Market by the Grantee during the construction of the Merchant Building through 2026 by advancing and reimbursing funds including operating expenses incurred by the Grantee prior to the execution of the purchase order starting January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary in the usual daily operations of the Department of Development to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Grantee to provide the funds from the City to support the Grantee’s operations during construction of the Merchant Building in calendar year 2026; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development, or his or her authorized designee, on behalf of the City, is authorized to enter into the Agreement presently on file with the Department of Development, along with any changes or amendments thereto not inconsistent with this Ordinance and not substantially adverse to the City and which shall be approved by such director and the City Attorney, provided that the approval of such changes and amendments thereto, and the character of those changes and amendments not being substantially adverse to the City, shall be evidenced conclusively by the execution and delivery thereof, that such changes are not inconsistent or adverse to the City.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $125,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept.-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), object class 03 (Services) to object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 4. That for the purposes herein and under the Agreement including, but not limited to, for the advancement and reimbursement of funds for the Grantee’s operation of the North Market during calendar year 2026 including operating expenses incurred prior to any purchase order for this grant starting January 1, 2026, the expenditure of $125,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept. 44-02 (Economic Development), in Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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.