Explanation
Background
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Foundation to provide programming support for the Community Garden Grant Project.
The Columbus Foundation seeks to provide financial and material resources to organizations that aim to re-purpose underused land to create, continue, or expand community gardens and green spaces.
The Garden Grant is administered by The Columbus Foundation with support from Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan for the past 15 years. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, City of Columbus, and Franklin County utilize a single application to maximize funding and material resources to gardens. A coordinated network of urban agriculture can provide food system education, increase access to affordable local produce, and create jobs.
Central Ohio is a thriving hub for community gardening and urban agriculture. The average grant award in 2024 was $1,162 and funded raised bed and garden supplies. Typically, 75 gardens apply for the grant each year, with a 57% increase in applications following the COVID-19 pandemic. Production Outcomes from previously awarded grants, include:
Total produce harvested: 41,375 pounds
Community donations: 32,012 pounds (77.4% of total)
Number of meals provided: 34,153
Families fed: 2,050 for 205 days
Net number of volunteer hours per growing season: 25,151
This grant will support initiatives that increase healthy, affordable, and local food access and education, particularly for people in under-resourced neighborhoods; Connect individuals to the life-enhancing benefits of community gardens and green spaces, including health and wellness, environmental, community building, and beautification.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this grant agreement is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Foundation to provide programming support for the Community Garden Grant Project; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Columbus Foundation provides financial and material resources to organizations that aim to re-purpose underused land to create, continue, or expand community gardens and green spaces; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to support Columbus’ families across all neighborhoods, and the Columbus Foundation’s mission furthers those goals; and
WHEREAS, the City has found it necessary for the safety, health and welfare of the public to increase healthy, affordable, and local food access and education, particularly for people in under-resourced neighborhoods; Connect individuals to the life-enhancing benefits of community gardens and green spaces, including health and wellness, environmental, community building, and beautification; and 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 Foundation to provide programming support for the Community Garden Grant Project.
SECTION 2. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the appropriation of $20,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $20,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect at the earliest date allowable by law.