Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Dress for Success Columbus, a non profit entity, to provide capacity building resources.
In response to ever increasing demand, Dress for Success Columbus is proposing the following:
• Expansion of the Mobile Career Center: The need to expand the reach of the Mobile Career Center has grown significantly since the onset of the pandemic. In 2023, Dress for Success Columbus' goal is to serve at least 500 women via mobile career center appointments. The organization plans to operate the unit 2-3 days per week, 40 weeks out of the year, serving approximately 10 clients on each outing.
• A Second Year of the Level Up Summit: 2023 will mark the second year of the Level Up Summit, a one-day personal and professional development conference designed to build skilled leaders and equip women for long-term career success.
• Expanded Hours and Targeted Outreach: Beginning in 2023, Dress for Success Columbus will offer after-hour and weekend appointments to better meet varying levels of client need. In addition to expanded service hours, the organization is also preparing to conduct targeted outreach to better engage specific communities next year - for example, to hold special suiting days and popup events for veterans, college students, the Latina community, and young professionals among other groups in 2023.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide Dress for Success Columbus with the resources necessary to accomplish organizational expansion and capacity building.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Dress for Success Columbus in support of organizational expansion; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($75,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Dress for Success Columbus was established on a mission to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help them thrive in work and in life; and
WHEREAS, as Dress for Success Columbus celebrates 15 years of service to the Central Ohio community, the organization is celebrating all of the women who have walked through its doors, claimed their worth, and changed their lives; and
WHEREAS, the organization continues to experience increasing demand and a need to expand capacity to be responsive to more residents; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Dress for Success in order to provide Dress for Success with the resources necessary to expand capacity to serve additional residents; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Dress for Success Columbus in support of organizational expansion.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $75,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000,subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council in 03-Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $75,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same. That this ordinance shall take effect at the earliest date allowable by law.