Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Fashion Initiative (CFI), in an amount up to $300,000.00, towards efforts to unify and strengthen the Columbus fashion ecosystem focusing on the Franklinton community.
Columbus Fashion Alliance’s mission is to build a community and ecosystem that supports the launch and growth of fashion-based businesses and to lower the barriers of access for anyone looking to get into the business of fashion. Prior to the pandemic, more than 31,000 Central Ohioans are employed by the fashion and apparel sector with an average hourly wage of more than $44. With the current concentration of corporate apparel headquarters and employment of 8,300 individuals, Columbus sits as the top city among large U.S. metropolitan areas. The Columbus market includes many of the world’s foremost brands, branding and creative agencies, consumer research companies, and retail design firms. With greater access to the U.S. population than any other metro area-46 percent within a 10-hour drive-Columbus also ranks third in the country for the concentration of designers who live and work here: roughly 100 designers, 100 independent small business fashion entrepreneurs, and more than 1,000 models call Columbus home. CFI looks to advance Columbus’ position as a fashion capital by supporting the entire fashion ecosystem-from fabric and printmakers, to suppliers and distributors; from boutique retailers to large retail chains; from large scale brands and manufacturers to individual makers; from teaching artists to up-and-coming designers and students. CFI achieves this through the following initiatives:
· Small batch production.
· Training, education, and workforce development.
· Building a talent pipeline.
· Supporting infrastructure, logistics, and fulfillment.
· Leveraging partners across the fashion ecosystem to increase investment for fashion-based businesses.
As the program and ...
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