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 $1,000,000.00 in support of the renovation and construction of the organization’s building at 161 N. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215. Approval is also requested to advance funding per a pre-determined schedule to be included in the agreement and to allow for expenses incurred prior to purchase order creation, starting October 1, 2025.
Phase 1 of this project will focus on a couple of key floors of the building to build out office space, meeting rooms, the innovation lab, and other amenities such as restrooms.
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.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: To ensure that there are no delays in the construction timeline emergency action is requested.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance number is 031541 and is pending.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $1,000,000.00 is available in 2025 Capital Improvement Budget, Development Taxable Bond fund. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Budget is required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute a grant agreement with the Columbus Fashion Initiative, in an amount up to $1,000,000.00; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,000,000.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the payment of funds on a pre-determined schedule; to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the purchase order; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Fashion Initiative provides the community opportunities in the fashion industry through education and training programs, access to equipment, production space, and financial capital; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Fashion Initiative looks to create opportunities to connect artists with retail professionals and find opportunities that are mutually beneficial; and
WHEREAS, 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 $1,000,000.00 in support of the renovation and construction of the organization’s building; and
WHEREAS, these funds will allow for the building at 161 N. Grant Ave. to house an innovation lab, meeting spaces, and tenant spaces that will support entrepreneurs and the Columbus fashion community; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to establish sufficient authority for this project; and
WHEREAS, to authorize the transfer and expenditure within the Development Taxable Bond Fund in an amount up to $1,000,000.00; and
WHEREAS, payments will be made per a pre-determined schedule to be included in the agreement and reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to purchase order creation, starting October 1, 2025, is permitted; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Fashion Initiative to ensure there are no delays in construction, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and 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 the Columbus Fashion Initiative, in an amount up to $1,000,000.00, in support of the construction and renovation of Columbus Fashion Initiative’s space at 161 N. Grant Ave. and is authorized to pay funds on a pre-determined schedule and to allow for expenses incurred prior to purchase order creation, starting October 1, 2025.
SECTION 2. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7739 / P440104-100024 / Strategic Acquisition Fund (Unvoted Carryover 2024) / $1,746,212.00/ $500,000.00 / $1,246,212.00
7739 / P200044-100000 / Columbus Fashion Alliance (Unvoted Carryover 2024) /$500,000.00/ $500,000.00/ $1,000,000.00
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond fund), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond fund), from Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. The expenditure of $1,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Development Taxable Bonds Fund, Fund (7739), in Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), Project P200044-100000 (Columbus Fashion Alliance), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code related to awarding grants.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies no longer required for said project.
SECTION 9. 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 10. 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 its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.