Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion in discretionary grant funding through its Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant (Community Change Grants) program. The Community Change Grants are intended to fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. This is the first and only funding round for this program. Eligible applicants are (1) a partnership between two community-based nonprofit organizations, or (2) a partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a federally recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education. The NOFO was released November 21, 2023. Applications are being accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through November 21, 2024
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to form a statutory partnership with a community-based nonprofit organization in Columbus. Department of Public Service, Columbus Public Health, and Sustainable Columbus staff have been working with Local Matters, a Columbus CBO, and the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge to develop a Community Change Grant application seeking more than $10 million to develop and support community resilience hubs, reduce waste, support a circular economy, and invest in workforce development programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This legislation will authorize the City of Columbus to support an application being prepared for the Community Grants Opportunity as a statutory partner of Local Matters. It also authorizes the execution of agreements with US EPA, Local Matters, or others in connection with the application for the grant, the award and subawards of the grant, the expenditure of grant funds, and the return of unused grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial participation is required at this time. City funds will be approved in the form of professional contracts, purchase contracts, and/or construction contracts that will be or have been submitted for Council's approval.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director with engagement from Columbus Public Health, to support a grant application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant program; to authorize the execution of grant and other requisite agreements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Local Matters, and other entities providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award or subawards on behalf of the City of Columbus; to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds and the refund of any unused funds and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) announced the first and only round of the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant (Community Change Grants) program, which is an opportunity to award discretionary funds on a competitive basis; and
WHEREAS, US EPA is accepting applications for the current funding round on a rolling basis through November 21, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to partner with other interested stakeholders, including Local Matters, to submit a funding application to develop and support community resilience hubs, reduce waste, support a circular economy, and invest in workforce development programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, the Local Matters will be the lead applicant, and the City of Columbus will be involved in the application process and the use of the funds if awarded; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to apply for and accept the grant funding; now, therefore and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation in the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to pass this ordinance because the the 30-day effective date of the ordinance is not conducive to the E.P.A.’s timeline for awarding grant funding for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Service Director hereby authorized to partner with Local Matters on a Community Change Program application for a grant from US EPA; to accept said grant, if awarded or subawarded; and to execute a grant agreement and any other documents necessary to effectuate said application, acceptance, or agreement on behalf of either the Department of Public Service or Columbus Public Health.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to execute agreements and documents necessary to accept US EPA funds and/or other funds if awarded.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to accept and expend the funds for the approved projects.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
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 its passage and approval by the Mayor or 10 days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.