Explanation
The Small Business Training Services Program provides free access to select citywide training opportunities for the owners and employees of small businesses located in Columbus. This program last received funding via ordinance 1056-2015. Council deems this project an appropriate use of $25,000.00 from the Jobs Growth subfund within the General Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $25,000.00 within the Jobs Growth subfund for the Small Business Training Services Program; to authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Human Resources to implement the Small Business Training Services Program; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council Small Business Roundtable made the recommendation to open select citywide training opportunities to owners and employees of small businesses located in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, this Council finds that continuing to make such training opportunities available will serve the public by strengthening our city's small businesses -- the backbone of our economy; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Human Resources will continue to manage the Small Business Training Services Program; and
WHEREAS, this Council wishes to provide such services at no cost to qualifying participants; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Human Resources in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend funds to support the efforts of the Small Business Training Services Project, for the preservation of 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 City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $25,000.00 in the General Fund, Jobs Growth Subfund, Fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the Department of Human Resources, Division No. 46-01, in Object Class 03 Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Human Resources be and hereby is authorized and directed to expend the funds appropriated herein to continue the Small Business Training Services Program.
SECTION 3. That, for the purposes of the program, small businesses will be defined as independently-owned and operated businesses physically located in Columbus with no more than 50 employed staff members per year.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Human Resources or her/his designee may promulgate rules to effect the purpose of this ordinance, including, but not limited to, the following: additional eligibility criteria for participation in the program; additional limitations on the definition of a small business so long as they do not conflict with Section 3 of this ordinance; application and registration processes; timelines for applying for classes; those classes which will be made available to participants, provided that the maximum practicable training opportunities should be made available; and the number of seats available to eligible small businesses for any given class.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.