Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement in an amount up to $75,000.00 with Ohio Housing Innovation Partnership (OHIP) to provide support to the organizations efforts in establishing a Workforce Housing Partnership, and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $75,000.00 within the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund as well as advance the funds on a predetermined schedule.
OHIP has developed a Workforce Housing Partnership Program that will leverage funding from various sources to produce up to 1,000 units of new workforce housing rental units. This program along with the various funding sources will be a long-term investment that will reduce housing costs for residents and create a revenue stream to support other affordable housing initiatives.
Emergency Action is necessary to ensure funding is in place to provide operating support that will allow the program to begin leveraging private and public partnerships for the establishment of workforce housing rental units.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount up to $75,000.00 will be funded from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: vendor contract compliance number 055435 and expires 06/09/2028
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Housing Innovation Partnership for the purpose of providing support to the organization’s efforts to establish a Workforce Housing Partnership Program in an amount up to $75,000.00; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $75,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; to advance funding per a predetermined schedule; and to declare an emergency. ($75,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ohio Housing Innovation Partnership (OHIP) is a nonprofit intermediary advancing workforce and mixed income housing across Ohio.
WHEREAS, the organization’s vision is to create and preserve middle-income housing opportunities that serve the “missing middle” Central Ohio’s workforce, families, and seniors; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus would like to provide support to OHIP in its efforts to establish a Workforce Housing Partnership Program; and
WHEREAS, this legislation will authorize the Director of Development to enter into grant agreement in an amount up to $75,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund to provide support to the organization’s efforts in establishing a Workforce Housing Partnership Program; and
WHEREAS, to authorize an appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $75,000.00 from and within the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; and
WHEREAS, to authorize funding be advanced to the organization on a predetermined schedule; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Housing Innovative Partnership for the purpose of providing support to the organization in its efforts establishing the Columbus Workforce Housing Partnership program, so that funding can be distributed as soon as possible to provide operating support to establish the program that will leverage public and private partnerships in producing up to 1,000 units of new workforce housing rental units, all for the immediate 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 Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a grant agreement in an amount up to $75,000.00 with Ohio Housing Innovative Program for the purpose of providing operational support to the organization’s efforts in establishing a Workforce Housing Partnership Program; and to authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $75,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-02 (Administration), in Object Class 05 (other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $75,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development Division), in object class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code.
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 establish such accounting codes as necessary, to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all agreements, contracts, or modifications associated with this Ordinance.
SECTION 7. That for 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.