Explanation
Background: The Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission enters into a yearly grant agreement with Aspyr, formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio - (WDBCO), a not-for-profit organization, for the purposes of funding a portion of the EDGE Program. This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to establish the balance of the grant funding necessary for the EDGE Program. This grant will support the City’s partnership with Aspyr for the implementation of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program. The program will identify individuals, through Aspyr and their partnering agencies, to receive a myriad of programs and services including work experience opportunities, health assessment, and life and occupational skills training, etc., designed to assist participants with successfully transitioning back into the community and workforce. This partnership is necessary because the City of Columbus does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the success of this program. The term of this grant agreement will be for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through submission of an Agreement Closeout report by the Grantee.
Aspyr (formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio), Vendor #018152, (not-for-profit), Expires: 4/15/2026
The company is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: The Civil Service Commission respectfully requests this legislation be considered for emergency action to allow for the establishment of the additional funds needed for the balance of the grant expenditure.
FISCAL IMPACT: $150,000.00 is budgeted and available for the balance of the grant expenditure total amount of $300,000.00 within the Commission’s 2025 budget. Half of the total grant funds necessary, were already approved with Ordinance #2571-2025, passed 10/20/2025.
After the review of expenditures for the balance of 2025 it was determined that the additional funds still needed for the grant could come from the 2025 Operating Budget.
$300,000.00 has been spent to date in 2025
$300,000.00 was spent in 2024
$300,000.00 was spent in 2023
Title
To authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr for the purpose of administering the EDGE Program; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr (formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio - WDBCO) for the implementation of the EDGE Program; and
WHEREAS, the program will identify individuals, through Aspyr and their partnering agencies, to receive a myriad of programs and services including work experience opportunities, health assessment, and life and occupational skills training, etc., designed to assist participants with successfully transitioning back into the community and workforce; and
WHEREAS, this partnership is necessary because the City of Columbus does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the success of this program; and
WHEREAS, the term of this grant agreement will be for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through submission of an Agreement Closeout report by the Grantee; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of $150,000.00, or so much thereof, as is needed will be utilized for the establishment of the balance of funds needed for the 2026-2027 EDGE Program grant with Aspyr; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Civil Service Commission in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into said grant agreement with Aspyr for the establishment of the balance of funds needed for the 2026-2027 EDGE Program to provide for continued, uninterrupted services; all for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr, 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 110, Columbus, Ohio 43204, for an amount up to $150,000.00, for the establishment of the balance of funds needed for the EDGE Program.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000, General Fund, in object class 05 Other Expenses, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
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 and agreement modifications / renewals associated with this ordinance
SECTION 6. That for the reasons state 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.