Explanation
This ordinance modifies an existing grant agreement with Columbus Urban League originally ordained via ordinance 0472-2021 and amended via ordinance 1490-2021 to increase the funding amount to support additional residents.
Ordinance 0472-2021 continued the Right to Recover program, a Council initiative to provide emergency financial relief to low-income residents afflicted with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Since its creation in late 2020, the program has provided assistance to almost a thousand Columbus residents, and while the city’s positivity rate has declined significantly, the need remains to provide these types of social supports in order to achieve complete recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ordinance 1490-2021 extended the use of existing funds remaining from ordinance 0472-2021 until December 31, 2021 and included new provisions to help residents access vaccination.
The modified grant agreement will provide Columbus Urban League with the funding necessary to further support full vaccination for low-income residents.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Recovery fund.
Emergency action is requested in order to immediately modify the grant agreement and deploy additional resources through the Vaccine Green program.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to modify a grant agreement with Columbus Urban League originally authorized under ordinance 0472-2021 and amended under ordinance 1490-2021; to authorize an expenditure within the Recovery fund; and to declare an emergency. ($220,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in disproportionate public health impacts in communities of color and low-income communities across the nation; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funding to support vaccine incentives will address the significant inequities in public health outcomes in the City of Columbus’ most distressed neighborhoods caused by the COVID-19 public he...
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