Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to enter into a non-profit service contract with Impact Community Action to implement the Empowered! program and support energy efficient, sustainable neighborhoods in line with the City’s Columbus Climate Action Plan. Empowered! is a new clean-energy jobs program geared toward Columbus residents ages 18-24. The program will provide training and on-the-job experience for careers in the clean-energy sector and focus on recruiting participants from communities of color and women in Opportunity Neighborhoods. These services cannot be provided by current city employees.
Funding will support three cohorts of program participants over the next year, providing training to establish the skills and knowledge needed to be a competitive candidate for full-time employment within the clean-energy sector. Training will also highlight career exploration; digital literacy; diversity, equity and inclusion; and wraparound services.
Additionally, Empowered! participants will receive on-the-job experience as Energy Advocates, helping residents navigate and better understand energy efficiency and the range of energy programs available to them. They will also perform low-level energy audits and simple energy upgrades such as LED-bulb replacement. Participants will be paid $17 per hour as Energy Advocates and receive compensation for their training.
Upon completion of the program, Empowered! graduates will be placed in pre-apprenticeships or apprenticeships, or directly employed in fields such as weatherization, construction, utilities, solar installation and manufacturing. The Empowered! Program will advance both the Columbus Climate Action Plan and environmental justice by supporting those communities most impacted by climate change.
This funding will also support the expansion of IMPACT’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which will provide home energy conservation assistance including housing unit inspections; attic, wall and basement insulation; and access to energy-efficient applications to help lower home energy costs and reduce environmental pollutants for customers who are between 200-300% FPL. The funding also includes support for energy-efficient appliance upgrades for traditional WAP participants (below 200% of the FPL).
This contract(s) will include program expenses beginning January 1, 2022.
Impact Community Action, FID 205536173, CC#CC001447, expires 11/17/2023
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested so that program implementation can begin as quickly as possible.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes a transfer and appropriation of $3,000,000.00 from the General Fund to the Sustainable Columbus Fund and the expenditure of $2,756,092.00 $2,536,092.00 from the Sustainable Columbus Fund, to Impact Community Action for implementation of the Empowered! program and neighborhood energy efficiency measures.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a non-profit service contract with Impact Community Action for implementation of the Empowered! Program, a new clean-energy jobs program and neighborhood energy efficiency measures; to authorize the transfer of $3,000,000.00 from the General Fund to the Sustainable Columbus Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $3,000,000.00 within the Sustainable Columbus Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $2,756,092.00 $2,536,092.00 from the Sustainable Columbus Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,756,092.00 $2,536,092.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Empowered! is a new clean-energy jobs program geared toward Columbus residents ages 18-24; and
WHEREAS, the Empowered! program will provide training and on-the-job experience for careers in the clean-energy sector and focus on recruiting participants from communities of color and women in Opportunity Neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Impact Community Action is a non-profit organization with a mission to fight poverty by providing hope inspiring help and real opportunities for self sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, Impact Community Action will provide career readiness, training, and placement for youth in Opportunity Neighborhoods, while simultaneously increasing the sustainability and resiliency of housing for families in Opportunity Neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, IMPACT Community Action will provide expanded Weatherization Assistance programming for residents between 200%-300% of the Federal Poverty Line; and
WHEREAS, IMPACT Community Action will provide energy efficient appliance replacement and upgrades for residents below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line; and
WHEREAS, this contract is awarded pursuant to provisions relating to non-profit services of City Code Chapter 329.30; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Impact Community Action to provide career readiness, training, and placement for youth in Opportunity Neighborhoods so that program implementation can begin as quickly as possible, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into a non-profit service contract with Impact Community Action to implement the Empowered! Program.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $3,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the General Fund to the Sustainable Columbus Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 1104-2022 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the appropriation of $3,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the Sustainable Columbus Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 1104-2022 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $2,756,092.00 $2,536,092.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the Sustainable Columbus Fund 2260 in object class 03 Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 1104-2022 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 5. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.30 relating to awarding not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 9. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.