Explanation
This ordinance authorizes a grant agreement between the Department of Development and The Harmony Project.
The Harmony Project is a non-profit organization created to connect communities across social divides through art, education, and volunteerism. The organization provides opportunities for individuals of different cultures, religions, ages, affiliations, and orientations to work together, with the intention of fostering a stronger, more inclusive community.
The Harmony Project shares its name and purpose with its 220-plus member choir (and additional 300+ voices in afterschool, shelter, and prison programs) which blends diversity, philanthropy and music. The arts programs are open to anyone, and have attracted diverse participants from throughout central Ohio. Since its founding, The Harmony Project has been successful in meeting its mission and has made exceptional contributions to the Columbus community through hands-on volunteerism, and through charitable fundraising. Among these contributions, The Harmony Project, through performances and fundraising efforts, cleaned and refurbished Blackburn Recreation Center for After-School All-Stars, cleaned and mulched beds and playgrounds for Beatty Recreation Center, collected 4000+ toys and gift cards for children and teens in Central Ohio, collected 500+ bicycles for children and teens of Franklin County Children Services, adopted families through Center for Healthy Families and answered wish lists, cleaned Livingston Avenue, created public art murals on the South Side and in Franklinton, built teen study stations for Boys and Girls Club in Franklinton, planted 500+ trees, and was awarded the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Artistic Excellence Award for its One Neighborhood Project.
Support from the City of Columbus will assist Harmony Project to administer a number of experiential arts, education and community service programs and initiatives, all of which target vulnerable populations and communities.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is submitted as emergency to grant monies to The Harmony Project as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with The Harmony Project; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project connects communities across social divides through art, education, and volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, The Harmony Project’s 220-plus member choir blends diversity, philanthropy, and music; and
WHEREAS, each year, hundreds of Harmony Project volunteers contribute thousands of hours of community service and contribute to fundraising efforts; and
WHEREAS, this Council deems it an effective use of funds to provide support to The Harmony Project in order to help the organization sustain its mission to connect communities through art and service; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with The Harmony Project in order to provide support to help the organization sustain its mission to connect communities through art and service, for the public safety, health 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 into a grant agreement with The Harmony Project.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $50,000.00 to the Department of Development within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, within Object Class 03 - Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That in regard to the action authorized by SECTION 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $50,000.00 is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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.