Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes a grant agreement in the amount of $125,000 between Columbus City Council and Columbus Fashion Initiative for the provision of business development services.
Columbus Fashion Initiative will receive funding for small business development services and place-based economic development that will include work-based collaboration, training, and career and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Columbus Fashion Initiative was established to address the changing landscape in fashion and retail while creating greater opportunity for Columbus residents to participate in the industry. However, COVID-19 has resulted in significant cutbacks, layoffs, and other employment impacts for professionals in the fashion and retail industries. Many Columbus fashion retailers have had to permanently layoff thousands of employees. Across the industry, entire departments have been eliminated, and many small brick-and-mortar stores have had to close for good. This has left many professionals in the fashion and retail industry unemployed.
Support of this initiative aligns with Columbus City Council’s priorities of building strong neighborhoods, promoting the creation of good-paying jobs, and developing pathways out of poverty.
Emergency action is necessary due to the time-sensitive deadlines for the start of operations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this appropriation is available within the CARES Act fund.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative for the provision of business development services; to authorize a transfer of appropriations and an expenditure of $125,000.00 within the CARES Act fund; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is a top priority of Columbus City Council to support efforts that build strong neighborhoods, promote the creation of good-paying jobs, and develop pathways out of poverty; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Fashion Initiative has submitted a grant application seeking financial assistance for fashion-related economic development; and
WHEREAS, City Council is authorized to allocate funds annually to assist agencies in the City with the operating costs of delivering programs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize Council to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative and appropriate said funds to have funding available for necessary expenditures due to the time-sensitive deadlines of the initiative, for the public health, safety and welfare;
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant cutbacks, layoffs, and other employment impacts for professionals in the fashion and retail industries; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding to reskill, upskill, and provide other training and economic development services is necessary to address the employment impacts caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement with the Columbus Fashion Initiative to avoid any delay in initiating programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; 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 a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative for the provision of business development services.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer appropriations within the CARES Act fund, fund 2207, subfund 220702, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $125,000 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the CARES Act fund, fund 2207, subfund 220702, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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.