Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., dba Experience Columbus, for the purpose of providing support to the organization in its efforts to market Columbus for sporting events, conferences, and convention planning activities and to authorize an expenditure in an amount up to $650,000.00.
Experience Columbus is an organization whose vision is to be the leading force in creating and revealing the best of the Columbus Experience to the world. The mission of Experience Columbus is to sell, market, and promote the “Destination Columbus” experience to visitors. Columbus is increasingly seen as a destination city and host candidate for major national conferences and conventions. These events result in tens of thousands of visitors to Columbus and millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending, supporting a significant number of jobs and businesses in Central Ohio. In 2019, Columbus was the host to the American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting & Exposition. This event attracted more than 5,000 visitors. $500,000 will be used to support Experience Columbus in serving as a key partner in marketing Columbus as a destination city and in attracting conferences and conventions to Central Ohio.
In 2023 Columbus will host the annual meetings for the Professional Management Convention Association and US Conference of Mayors. $150,000 will support the development and planning efforts of both conferences.
PCMA is one of the world’s largest, most-respected, and most recognized network of business strategists. The organization helps members become industry leaders through education, networking, and conferences. PCMA’s 2023 annual Convening Leaders will welcome 4,500+ association, corporate, government and agency decision makers in-person with an additional 1,000+ digital attendee’s representing over 25 countries.
The US Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with a population of 30,000 and larger represented by their chief elected officials, over 1,400 mayors. 60% of attendees bring their families to the annual conference. The primary roles of the conference are advocacy, best practices, business connections, promote your city, and networking. Hosting this high-profile conference will elevate Columbus’ image nationally and globally.
Emergency legislation is requested in order to prevent interruption in the delivery of program services.
Fiscal Impact: The funding for this grant is available in the Administration Division’s 2021 General Fund budget.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 006014 and valid through 1/7/2022.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., dba Experience Columbus, for the purpose of providing support to the organization in its efforts to market Columbus for sporting events, conferences, and convention planning activities in an amount up to $650,000.00; to authorize an expenditure in an amount up to $650,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($650,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Experience Columbus serves as a key partner in marketing Columbus as a destination city and in attracting conferences and conventions to the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, events such as the American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting & Exposition, of 2019, attracted over 5,000 visitors; and
WHEREAS, Experience Columbus would like to continue to serve as a key partner in marketing Columbus as a destination city and in attracting conferences and conventions to the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus would like to continue providing support to Experience Columbus in its efforts to market the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the City of Columbus will host the annual conferences for the Professional Management Convention Association and the US Conference of Mayors; 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 Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, dba Experience Columbus; to authorize the Auditor to appropriate and expend said funds for Experience Columbus in order to prevent interruption of services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property and safety; 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 enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., dba Experience Columbus, for the purpose of providing support to the organization’s efforts to market Columbus for sporting events, conferences and various convention planning activities.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $650,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all grants or grant 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 the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.