Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (“CDDC”) to provide funding to support small businesses.
Small businesses make up the crux of the Downtown retail community, adding vibrancy and first floor activation to the streets. As Downtown Columbus continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City and CDDC share the goal of helping small businesses thrive. In furtherance of this shared goal, CDDC will provide certain administrative and outreach support services to stimulate the small business environment in Downtown Columbus as further described herein.
The City will enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (“CDDC”) in the total amount of $150,000 over three years in order to provide financing for a liaison for Downtown small businesses to the City of Columbus.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency legislation is required to allow for immediate execution of the grant agreement, which is necessary to avoid a delay in providing administrative and outreach support services to stimulate the small business environment in Downtown Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available in the Neighborhood Economic Development fund (2237).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation to support small businesses in an amount up to $150,000.00; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $150,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City seeks to enter into a three-year grant agreement in the total amount of $150,000 with CDDC in order to provide financing for a liaison for Downtown small businesses to the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, CDDC’s liaison will meet regularly with relevant stakeholders to fully understand current issues, perceptions, and realities of the small business environment of Downtown Columbus; and
WHEREAS, CDDC’s liaison will apply evidence-based best practices while understanding the specific nuances of Downtown Columbus to foster an environment conducive to small business success; and
WHEREAS, CDDC will develop an action plan to stimulate the small business environment of Downtown Columbus and implement short-term and long-term interventions; and
WHEREAS, CDDC will deliver to the Director of the City’s Department of Development semiannual reports, by June 30 and December 31 of each year, detailing CDDC’s activities in furtherance this agreement over the previous six months; 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 the agreement to avoid delay in providing administrative and outreach support services to stimulate the small business environment in Downtown Columbus, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and 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 in the amount of $150,000.00 with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (“CDDC”) to provide certain administrative and outreach support services to stimulate the small business environment in Downtown Columbus.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the sum of $150,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
Section 4. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
Section 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
Section 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which 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.