Explanation
Background:
This ordinance is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $1,500,000.00 of Community Development Block Grant funding for the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into a funding agreement with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective for the development of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective Wheatland Farm. The City’s Community Development Block Grant investment in the Mid-Ohio Food Collective Wheatland Farm will assist in the transformation of a City of Columbus Land Bank property into a smart farm and neighborhood facility for the purpose of educating and engaging the community through urban agriculture and healthy foods programming.
This investment is aligned with goals established by the community as part of the Envision Hilltop community plan. The proposed project is also aligned with the Hilltop Land Use Plan which recommends an agricultural use for the property.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an appropriation and expenditure of up to $1,500,000 from funding provided to the City of Columbus from federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Fund 2248, through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow for the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible to ensure immediate funding can be provided through the execution of an agreement in order to advance community plan implementation and begin project construction as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective to provide funding to develop the Mid-Ohio Food Collective Wheatland Farm, located at 116 N. Wheatland Avenue; to authorize the Director to execute other agreements with Mid-Ohio Food Collective that are deemed necessary for the development of the project and use thereof; to authorize the transfer, appropriation and...
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