Explanation
This ordinance authorizes a contract for $20,000.00 between Columbus City Council and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University.
Columbus City Council will partner with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to conduct a pilot program, wherein students and faculty from The Ohio State University will work with a pair of local businesses and non-profit organizations to provide management analysis, market research, and recommendations for organizational growth and expansion.
To further diversify the economic development of the city, Columbus City Council intends to promote entrepreneurship and small business development, particularly among female- and minority-owned enterprises. These small businesses often struggle to access the kind of industry analysis, expertise, and financial tools that are readily available to larger businesses. The intention of this pilot program is to provide access to those kinds of services to businesses that would otherwise face challenges in making the organizational decisions necessary to achieve strong growth.
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University facilitates entrepreneurial and innovation-based learning and experiences that will impact the global economy by assisting in new company formation and the development of new products and services within existing businesses. By virtue of being an academic center, the office is able to utilize resources throughout the university, creating an interdisciplinary environment that fosters creative approaches to commercial development.
The funding will provide the resources necessary for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to assemble the team of students and faculty, derive a process for interacting with the organizations in the pilot iteration, and develop the materials necessary for executing the pilot phase.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available in the Jobs Growth subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in initiating the program and in providing service to the organizations identified for the pilot program.
Title
To authorize a contract between Columbus City Council and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Ohio State University for the purpose of providing market research, organizational analysis, and management recommendations to small enterprise; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 within the Jobs Growth subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the growth and development of small business is integral to the economic strength and stability of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, many small businesses, particularly female- and minority-owned enterprises, struggle with access to quality business analysis, market research, and organizational consultation; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Ohio State Univeristy is able to convene an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty that can provide the kinds of services that will help small businesses achieve substantial growth and development; and
WHEREAS, this Council deems it to be an effective use of funds to support the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in their effort; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the city in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a contract with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in order to more rapidly implement the pilot program; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into contract with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University for the purpose of providing market research, organizational analysis, and management recommendations to local small businesses and organizations.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $20,000.00 in the Jobs Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the Columbus City Council, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2582-2016 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Jobs Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2582-2016 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble here to, 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.