Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute grant agreements with numerous not-for-profit, social service agencies for Year 2 of the department’s Elevate! 2.0 program. See Exhibit A for the list of 4 of the 64 not-for-profit social services agencies included in this ordinance, other agencies were listed on prior ordinances 0655-2024 and 0656-2024 which was approved by Columbus City Council on April 8, 2024. The term of each grant shall be for a 12- month period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The total amount awarded to the agencies within this ordinance is $250,000.00.
Columbus, renowned as America's Opportunity City, remains a beacon of potential and hope for its residents. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the population faces challenges stemming from personal, societal, structural, and economic factors, which impede their full participation in the city's myriad of opportunities. Acknowledging the complexity of these challenges, the City is committed to implementing a comprehensive solution and is responsible for driving transformative changes to establish equitable opportunities for all residents.
The Elevate! Initiative plays a pivotal role in this transformative change. This initiative allocates funding to support 112 distinct non-profit organizations categorized into two programs, denoted as 1.0 and 2.0, collectively addressing 16 of the 21 aspirations outlined in The Mayor’s Opportunity Rising. Through various means, the Elevate! Initiative promotes and provides opportunities for collaboration, learning, and resource-sharing among member agencies, ensuring that every community member they serve can access the services needed based upon their unique circumstance.
The Elevate! 2.0 NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) was made available to local not-for-profit organizations from September 12, 2022, to October 3, 2022. The Department received 142 applications, requesting a total funding of $14,050,000.00, which were reviewed by a 24-member team. Sixty-four programs were selected for funding in 2023, marking the inaugural year of the three-year Elevate! 2.0 program. Four community agencies are listed within this ordinance, the other agencies were approved by Columbus City Council in prior ordinance submissions. The Grant Agreements for the second year will be distinct from the first year, although the overarching purpose remains consistent. Awards anticipate renewal in FY2025, contingent on funding availability and program performance as per agreements with each agency.
Funding will be advanced to each agency on a predetermined schedule. Advancement of funds is needed because many of the organizations do not have funding available to be reimbursed for program expenses. 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 in the grant agreement. Additionally, these programs/grant agreements may include reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages for participants of the programs (e.g. Mid-Ohio Foodbank) which the expenditure is hereby deemed to be a valid public purpose in that such purchase will address the immediate needs of program participants.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the agreements are within the Emergency Human Services Fund 2024 budget (Fund 2231), up to $100,000.00, and the Administration Division’s 2024 General Fund budget, up to $150,000.00 (Fund 1000).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: See attached Exhibit A for a list of social services agencies and the vendor registration and contract compliance data.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute grant agreements with numerous not-for-profit, social service agencies in an amount up to $250,000.00 for Year 2 of the department’s Elevate! program; to authorize the provision of services for a 12 month period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024; to authorize the payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages for participants of programs included in the grant agreements; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the agreement; to authorize the expenditure of up to $150,000.00 from the Hotel Motel Tax Fund and up to $100,000.00 from the General Fund. ($250,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development issued a NOFA in September 2022 to request applications from not-for-profit organizations to provide services in the following areas: Infant Vitality, Homelessness, Housing Stability, Finance Security, Workforce Development, Violence Elimination, Re-entry, Neighborhood Building, and Chronic Disease Prevention. All of the focus areas are tied to Mayor Ginther’s Equity Agenda/Opportunity Rising; and
WHEREAS, the Department received 142 applications with requests for funding totaling $14,050,000.00, of which 64 programs were selected for funding in 2024 of which 4 are listed in this ordinance the funding for the other agencies was authorized via Ordinances 0655-2024 and 0656-2024 ; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreements will be funded with a combination of Emergency Human Services Funds and General Funds; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreements will include advance payments to the organizations and some programs will provide food and non-alcoholic beverages to participants; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is authorized to execute grant agreements with numerous not-for-profit, social service agencies in an amount up to $250,000.00 for the Elevate! 2.0 Program; to authorize the provision of services for a 12 month period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024; to authorize payment for food and non-alcoholic beverages for participants of programs included in the grant agreement; and to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the grant agreement.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in Fund 2231 (Hotel Motel Bed Tax Fund), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Payments are expressly contingent upon the availability of sufficient monies in the Hotel Motel Bed Tax Fund (Fund 2231) to cover the obligation set forth in these agreements and in no case shall payments exceed available cash in this fund. In this event that there is not sufficient cash in the fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract, the City Auditor shall have the authority to make all necessary adjustments at her discretion.
SECTION 5. Under the authority of Columbus City Code Chapter 111.14, the Department of Development is authorized to execute grant agreements for the purpose as stated in Section 1.
SECTION 6. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That Columbus City Council acknowledges and defines as operating costs inherent to the mission of this non-profit the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or food insecurity. Any or all of the expenditure authorized by this ordinance may be spent toward payment of food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses for such populations. Expenses incurred prior to the creation of a purchase order may be reimbursed. However, in no case may food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses incurred prior to the effective date of this ordinance be reimbursed. City Council declares that the expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses authorized by this ordinance to be for a proper public purpose.
SECTION 9. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.