Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks to enter a contract with Red, White & Boom, Inc. as a presenting sponsor to assist in defraying the costs associated with organizing, promoting, and executing Red, White & BOOM! 2025
For over 40 years, Red, White & Boom, Inc. has united the Columbus community as the largest fireworks event in the Midwest, attracting 450,000+ attendees annually and celebrating the spirit of patriotism, togetherness, and civic pride.
The event generates $15M+ in annual economic benefit, has contributed $200M+ to Columbus and Franklin County over its history, and creates employment for 3,000+ workers on event day
Red, White & Boom, Inc. provides a free, safe, and family-friendly experience, fostering a sense of shared tradition and cultural connection while reinforcing Columbus's reputation as a premier destination for large-scale community events.
Despite being privately funded with millions of digital impressions and Ohio's highest-rated summer TV broadcast, the event faces rising costs and requires additional city funding to ensure its continued success as a Columbus tradition worth investing in
This ordinance appropriates funding for event support in 2025 only, and does not represent a commitment to provide financial support in any future year. However, in receiving this one-time payment, Red, White & Boom, Inc. understands the value and importance the City attributes to this annual event, and Red, White & Boom, Inc. has committed to making all reasonable efforts to ensure the event continues to be staged in downtown Columbus in the future.
Principal Parties:
Red, White & Boom, Inc.
774 South Roosevelt Ave
Bexley Oh. 43209
Shawn Verhoff - shawn@elmwoodllc.com
Contract Compliance Number: 004781
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested as it is immediately necessary to transfer and appropriate funds necessary and make expenditure in time for summer event schedule.
FISCAL IMPACT: $125,000 is available for expenditure in the City of Columbus general fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks to enter into a presenting sponsor contract with Red, White & Boom, Inc. for the purpose of planning, promoting and executing Red, White & BOOM! 2025; to authorize the transfer of $125,000.00 from the general fund to Recreation and Parks operating fund; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $125,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks operating fund; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, over the last 40 years Red, White & Boom, Inc. has become a signature event for the City of Columbus and a staple of the Independence Day celebration throughout central Ohio and the Midwest; and
WHEREAS, this day-long event attracts more than 450,000 people, including 100,000 visitors from outside the region, making it the largest single-day event in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, over the last decade, Red, White & Boom, Inc. has grown significantly, generating an estimated annual economic impact of $15 million; and
WHEREAS, Red, White & Boom, Inc. 2025 will involve approximately 3000 workers, 130 vendors, and 100 volunteers over eight days; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the transfer and appropriates funding for support of Red, White & BOOM! 2025 only, and does not represent a commitment to provide financial support in any future year; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Red, White and Boom, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $125,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks in that it is immediately necessary to authorize transfer and appropriate funds for necessary expenditures in time for the summer event 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 City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer and appropriate $125,000.00 in the City General Fund, fund 1000, to the Department of Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285 in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Red, White & Boom, Inc. in the amount of $125,000.00 as a presenting sponsor to provide operational support for the 2025 event.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance:
SECTION 4. 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 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 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.