Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Green Columbus to support Earth Day programming and Private Property Tree Planting.
Green Columbus is a sustainability-focused nonprofit and strives to activate volunteer engagement, grow equitable tree canopy coverage, and foster resilient communities.
Earth Day Columbus is the largest annual volunteer-driven Earth Day event in the country. In April 2026, Green Columbus provided $50,000 free native seeding trees to the community for reforestation projects. Over 20 different community gardens benefited from free soil, mulch, and compost to start food gardens for the growing season.
This grant will provide support to Green Columbus, in partnership with the MORPC critical home repair program, for Over 150 community worksites, the planting of 50,000 trees, thousands of volunteers engaged, and a community celebration at Scioto Audubon Metro Park for tree planting on private property to increase tree canopy and benefit public health.
Emergency action is required because due to unlimited unrestricted funds, upfront funding is needed to ensure that the program can be effectively implemented without financial constraints for operations and supplies.
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 Green Columbus to support Earth Day programming and Private Property Tree Planting; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($95,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Green Columbus provides the necessary support to grow equitable tree canopy coverage, improve public health, and foster resilient communities; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to support Columbus’ residents across all neighborhoods, and the organization’s mission furthers those goals; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists ...
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