Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus City Council has previously offered financial support to Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO), most recently to fund their acquisition of a van for program-related transportation needs (Ordinance 654-2025). The mission of the organization is to preserve and restore balance in the lives of Native Americans through traditional, cultural, educational, family, community, and wellness driven values and initiatives. Their focus areas are (1) Cultural Preservation/Restoration, (2) Social Development, and (3) Economic Development/Sustainability.
The NAICCO Outdoors initiative is an ongoing extension of NAICCO’s two previously implemented projects - both the Investing in Indianness to Ensure Our Future project and the Honoring Our Heritage to Ensure Our Future project were consecutively funded by Columbus City Council (December 2022 - January 2025). Notably, through participation in these projects, Native Americans from the NAICCO community have been able to develop a deeper connection to their Native American identity (individual, family, and community levels), attain invaluable cultural knowledge, develop important life skills, and grow more in their everyday lives (mind, body, and spirit). To date, NAICCO has been able to implement numerous programs in the focus area of what is better known as NAICCO Outdoors. Sustaining the success of this initiative is imperative to the lives of many Native Americans. As such, NAICCO must be able to continue engaging the local Native American community by meeting them where they are in their lives.
This year, NAICCO is seeking upfront funding to assist with program-related costs throughout 2026, which will include NAICCO operational expenses and NAICCO Outdoors supplies expenses. Of the $20,000 grant agreement, $7,500 will defray the cost of operational expenses like overhead costs, utilities, insurance, security, maintenance, etc. The remaining $12,500 will be used to purchase fis...
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