Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity (Women’s CEO) in support of the Aspire Business Accelerator.
WCEO’s 2026 Aspire Economic Mobility Initiative advances business growth and economic mobility for low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs in Columbus, with a longstanding focus on women while remaining open to all in compliance with federal guidelines. Through cohort-based business development, mentorship, visibility-building, and research-informed support, WCEO helps entrepreneurs strengthen revenue systems, improve capacity, and move toward job creation and retention. In 2026, WCEO aims to serve 4,000 entrepreneurs and support 50 jobs created or retained through membership learning, cohort programs, and engagement pathways. Funding will help sustain delivery of the Amplify CEO Leadership Development and Mentoring program including structured learning, facilitation, mentoring, capital access and technology-enabled business support, while also strengthening the operational systems required for high-quality implementation at scale. The initiative is designed to help under-resourced entrepreneurs overcome barriers to capital, networks, contracting, and practical skill-building needed for long-term business stability and growth.
This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to the Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity to support the execution of Aspire Business Accelerator. The Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested as the business accelerator program began in April, and thirty-day legislation would significantly delay the City Clerk’s ability to begin reimbursing eligible expenses incurred by the Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with The Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity in support of their Aspire Business Accelerator program; to authorize the reimbursement of qualifying expenses incurred prior to the creation of the purchase order; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to support entrepreneurs in the city of Columbus who are on a pathway of growth and investing in their businesses through efforts to upskill and seek mentorship and networking opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity supports aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in the opportunities available in high-growth industries; and
WHEREAS, entrepreneurship in high-growth industries is supportive of wealth generation, job creation, and economic growth; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the office of the City Clerk in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity in support of their Aspire Business Accelerator program which began April, in an amount of up to $40,000.00; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with The Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity in support of their Aspire Business Accelerator, for a grant term beginning on April 1, 2026, in an amount of up to $40,000.00, and that the City Clerk is authorized to reimburse qualifying expenses incurred prior to the creation of the purchase order.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $40,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund to Columbus City Council in 05-Other per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $40,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 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.