Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2007, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Columbus City Council established the Create Columbus Commission, an organization of over 30 young professionals dedicated to identifying and implementing selected strategies and tactics that will help Columbus attract and retain young and talented individuals. Next Generation Consulting (NGC) was hired to study the current trends of young people in Columbus. As part of the contract they also provided an action plan to retain and attract young professionals to the area. To date, the research has been completed, the recommendations have been presented and approved, and successful program implementation is ongoing.
In order to continue the implementation of said action plan, the City of Columbus will contract with the United Way of Central Ohio to administer the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program. The mission of the Create Columbus grants program is to support initiatives by and for young professionals that make Columbus the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Each applicant can request any amount up to $10,000, keeping in mind the goal of the program is to provide strategic funding for innovative efforts with broad reach.
There are three goals of the YP Grants Program:
1. Encourage and support residents to launch innovative, community based initiatives with a specific young professionals component;
2. Provide strategic financial support for one-time costs for events, initiatives or programs that impact young professionals, and/or
3. Improve the young professional experience in the following areas: (1) Careers, (2) Culture, Arts, Sports, and Entertainment, (3) Neighborhoods, and (4) Transportation.
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the United Way of Central Ohio for $100,000 as funding to support the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program, a component of the attraction and retention initiative. The United Way will provide fiscal oversight of the grants program.
Emergency action is requested to allow the United Way to maintain this grant opportunity.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this contract are provided from the FY 2014 General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the United Way of Central Ohio to support the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Next Generation Consulting (NGC) was hired to pursue an economic development strategy to attract and retain young professionals in the Columbus area; and
WHEREAS, to date, NGC completed the attraction and retention research, the recommendations have been presented and approved, and implementation needs to continue; and
WHEREAS, the Young Professionals initiative has been very successful; and
WHEREAS, the United Way of Central Ohio and the City of Columbus desire to continue the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus will provide up to $100,000 to fund grants to qualified Young Professional initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the United Way of Central Ohio will provide Fiscal Management of the Young Professionals Grants Program; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is necessary to allow the United Way of Central Ohio to continue the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program without interruption; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department to enter into an agreement with the United Way of Central Ohio to support the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter an agreement with the United Way of Central Ohio to support the Create Columbus Young Professionals Grants Program.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Development Department, Economic Development Division, Division 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA 440314.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 5. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.