Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute grant agreements with the following not-for-profit agencies: Goodwill Industries of Central Ohio, Inc. dba Goodwill Columbus, New Directions Career Center, and the United Way of Central Ohio, Inc., for operational support to integrate economic mobility accelerators with their economic mobility activities in an amount up to $82,800.00. To authorize the agreement to be effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. To authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule as well as authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of funds within the Income Tax Set Aside fund.
In today’s post-COVID economy, many Columbus residents are challenged with making ends meet, yet they continue to work hard to increase their income and attain economic stability. Challenges to achieving economic stability include stagnant wages and rising costs (e.g. housing, child care, and food). These conditional cash transfers to residents participating in economic mobility initiatives will accelerate their economic mobility.
By increasing financial security, individuals can experience improved health and well-being as stress, anxiety and depression are decreased. Stability in housing and employment enables better outcomes for children in health, education and social connection. Moving toward greater economic stability can shape one’s opportunities and aspirations with promises of a better future.
The public purpose of this agreement is to establish a partnership with Goodwill Columbus, New Directions Career Center, and the United Way of Central Ohio to integrate economic mobility accelerators with their economic mobility activities, to accelerate the economic mobility of individuals experiencing poverty in Columbus.
Accelerators are time-limited payments of unrestricted funds to individuals engaged in an economic mobility initiative that is supported by a non-profit organization. These three agencies will work with The Tony R. Wells Foundation which will make the payments directly to participants in the economic mobility activity.
These funds are organization-level funding that will be used to strengthen the capacity of each organization to fully support the success of Economic Mobility Accelerators. Funding will be advanced to each agency on a predetermined schedule. Advancement of funds is needed because many of the organizations do not have the funding available to be reimbursed for providing operational support. The first advance will occur after confirmation of the Purchase Order. Before the second advance is made, the agency shall provide reports and documentation indicating how the funds were used to fulfill the scope of services within the grant agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding of $82,800.00 is available within the Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund 100099.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor’s contract compliance numbers and expiration dates are as follows:
Goodwill Columbus CC-006071 Expires 01/17/2027
New Directions Career Center CC-004726 Expires 05/21/2026
United Way of Central Ohio CC-006101 Expires 03/07/2027
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute a grant agreements with the following not-for-profit agencies: Goodwill Industries of Central Ohio, Inc., New Directions Career Center, and the United Way of Central Ohio, in an amount up to $82,800.00 between the agencies to provide funding to integrate economic mobility accelerators (Accelerators) with their economic mobility activities; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $82,800.00 within the Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund; to authorize the agreements to be effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026; and to authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule. ($82,800.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into grant agreements with the following not-for-profit agencies: Goodwill Industries of Central Ohio Inc., New Directions Career Center, and the United Way of Central Ohio, in an amount up to $82,800.00 between the agencies to provide funding to integrate economic mobility accelerators (Accelerators) with their economic mobility activities; and
WHEREAS, to authorize the agreement to be effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026 and authorization to advance funds on a predetermined schedule is also requested; and
WHEREAS, many Columbus residents are challenged with making ends meet, yet they continue to work hard to increase their income and economic stability; and
WHEREAS, conditional cash transfers to residents participating in economic mobility initiatives will accelerate their economic mobility; and
WHEREAS, by increasing financial security, individuals can experience improved health, well-being, stability in housing, and employment which in turn enables better outcomes for children in health, education and social connection; and
WHEREAS, The Tony Wells Foundation, will make the payments directly to the individuals and will also provide each recipient with a 1099; and
WHEREAS, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $82,800.00 is authorized within the ITSA; and
WHEREAS, the grants will be used to provide operating support for the agencies to assure the success of the program; and 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 execute grant agreements with the following not-for-profit agencies: Goodwill Columbus, New Directions Career Center, and the United Way of Central Ohio, in an amount up to $82,800.00 between the agencies (for each agency amount see Exhibit A) to provide operating support which will help integrate economic mobility accelerators (Accelerators) with their economic mobility activities.
SECTION 2. That the agreement effective date begins January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026 and the request to advance funds on a predetermined schedule is also authorized.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $82,800.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized within Income Tax Set Aside Subfund (100099), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
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 the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 7. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.