Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Executive Director of the Equal Business Opportunity Office (EBOCO) to apply to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Division of Minority Business Development Agency for a grant to establish a Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) in the City of Columbus. The MBEC is expected to provide client services in the following areas: Global Business Development, Access to Capital and Finance Management, Access to Contracts, Access to Markets, Strategic Business Consulting.
The EBOCO of Columbus will work collaboratively with the Columbus Urban League, a financial institution and a number of other agencies who support the growth and development of minority owned businesses to submit a grant application that will facilitate and implement the MBEC goals.
The Department of Commerce, Division of Minority Business Developments will be seeking applications in July - August 2015. The grant amounts will range from $300,000 to $500,000 annually over a three year cycle. The award will be made at the end of 2015 to begin in 2016. The City of Columbus, Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office will serve as the lead applicant and will identify additional industry partners as necessary.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency measure in order to meet the grant application deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Executive Director of the Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office to apply to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency to establish a Minority Business Enterprise Center in 2016 in the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office, the Columbus Urban League and other industry partners desire to complete and submit an application for a Minority Business Enterprise Center; and
WHEREAS, City of Columbus, Equal Business Opportunity Commission Offi...
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