Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute contracts with numerous profit, not-for-profit, and social service agencies to assist the Department of Development in administering the Accelerate Columbus 2026 program through December 31, 2026.
Through Accelerate Columbus, the City seeks to nurture a pipeline of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit organizations that reflects the talent, services, and diversity of Columbus. The ultimate objective of Accelerate Columbus is to provide structured, qualitative, and quantitative measurable programs for Columbus entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits that strengthen the City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. In alignment with the Columbus Small Business Agenda, Accelerate Columbus seeks to further assist businesses in low- to moderate-income areas.
In 2019, the City of Columbus launched the Accelerate Columbus program as part of a branded set of small business training, technical assistance, mentoring, and advisement programs targeting aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. Initially offered as a pilot program, the purpose was to provide structured, on-demand training, one-on-one advisement, and technical assistance to both aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and small businesses by addressing gaps identified in the City’s Small Business Ecosystem Assessment and the resulting Columbus Small Business Agenda.
The Department of Development advertised a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)/Request for Proposal (RFP) from June 5, 2025, through June 27, 2025, on the City’s Vendor Services and Bonfire websites. The City received forty (40) proposals. Proposals were evaluated and scored in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. The Director of Development desires to enter into a service contract with 14 of the 40 offerors. Of these 14, five are non-profit agencies and nine are for-profit companies. All contractors shall provide a range of small-business training and technical assistance programs under Accelerate Columbus.
Emergency action is requested to avoid any delay in administering the Accelerate Columbus 2026 program service.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for these contracts has been allocated within the Economic Development Division’s General Fund budget, up to $889,739.50, and the Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund, in an amount up to $428,579.72.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: See attached Exhibit A for a list of the for-profit, not-for-profit, and social service agencies and the vendor registration and contract compliance data.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute contracts with numerous for-profit, not-for-profit, and social service agencies in an amount up to $1,318,319.22 for the purpose of assisting the Department of Development to administer the Accelerate Columbus program; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of funds an amount up to $428,579.72 within the Income Tax Set Aside Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $889,739.50 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,318,319.22)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2019, the City of Columbus launched the Accelerate Columbus program as part of a branded set of small business training, technical assistance, and mentoring programs targeting aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the program is to provide structured training and technical assistance to both aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits that strengthen the City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, programs and services to be offered under Accelerate Columbus are aimed at nurturing a pipeline of entrepreneurs and small businesses that reflects the talent and diversity of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, for the 2026 program, the Department advertised a NOFA/RFP and received 40 responses, of which the Director of the Department of Development requests to enter into a service contract with 14, with numerous for-profit and not-for-profit; and
WHEREAS, all contractors shall provide different small business training and technical assistance programs under Accelerate Columbus 2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into 14 service contract with numerous for-profit companies, and not-for-profit agencies to avoid any delay in administering the Accelerate Columbus 2026 program service, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is authorized to enter into a service contract with numerous for-profit and not-for-profit entities in an amount up to $1,318,319.22 for the Accelerate Columbus 2026 program; to authorize the provision of services through December 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $889,739.50 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1., the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $428,579.72 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Income Tax Set Aside Subfund (100099), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 03 (Professional Services) per the account 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 for the 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.