Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Urban League in support of the organization’s Building Futures and Driving Futures training programs.
Building Futures and Driving Futures are workforce development programs administered by the Columbus Urban League in partnership with the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council. The programs benefit residents who have been traditionally underserved, underemployed, or economically disadvantaged and creates paths to the middle class.
Building Futures is a 12-week program that provides the skills necessary to begin a career in the region’s booming construction industry. No experience in the construction industry is necessary or required to apply. This career pathway will provide participants with a great starting wage, health benefits, and retirement benefits. Successful conclusion of the Building Futures program provides a pathway to a registered apprenticeship program in a wide variety of affiliated trades.
Driving Futures is an 8-week program through which previously incarcerated and underemployed people receive training and career placement after earning their Class A Commercial Driver’s License. This program helps fill critically needed positions while creating true economic mobility for participants. After the 8-week program, drivers embark on a career with one of many affiliated trades employers - all providing a great starting wage, health, and retirement benefits.
This grant agreement will support the continued renovation of the Building Futures and Driving Futures training facility, including a technical classroom for Building Futures and a traditional classroom for Driving Futures. A dedicated training space for participants and staff will allow for the highest level of training with advanced technology and innovative instructional delivery.
Emergency action is necessary to ensure the timely funding is available for the provision of the Driving Futures program and the continued renovation of the training facility.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Job Growth subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Urban League to support the organization’s Building Futures and Driving Futures programs; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Urban League promotes workforce development through the Building Futures and Driving Futures programs and connects participants to partner employers; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Urban League is updating and renovating a training facility to improve service delivery to participants in both workforce development programs; and
WHEREAS, Columbus and the nation at-large is experiencing a critical need for employees with Commercial Driver’s Licenses; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Urban League is committed to creating pathways to career stability and economic mobility; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Urban League to ensure the continued provision of the Building Futures and Driving Futures programs and the continued renovation of the training facility, for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; 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 Columbus Urban League in support of their Building Futures and Driving Futures programs.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $400,000.00 in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $400,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 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 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.