Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Ohio Collective, a not-for-profit Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c)(3) entity, in an amount up to $100,000.00 to support The Ohio Black Expo (OBE) and other programming.
The Ohio Black Expo (OBE) in partnership with the Ohio NAACP Conference of Branches and the State of Ohio Collective will host the Ohio Black Expo Riverfront Culture Fest. This cultural celebration seeks to inspire thousands of Black citizens, families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the state who are seeking to celebrate Black culture. This innovative, one of a kind statewide gathering leverages multiple businesses, partnerships, seminars, and events to educate and inspire by showcasing Black excellence. It is through this effort and year-round programming that the partnership works to improve the quality of life for Ohio’s citizens with several initiatives designed to address areas that are key to the success and well-being of African Americans in Ohio. OBE is statewide humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Ohio’s African American citizens, by establishing and encouraging an independent self-help approach to problem solving.
Events will include: small business, wellness, veterans, and senior workshops and resources; the Riverfront Culture Fest (a multi-generational cultural celebration at Genoa Park); the State of Black Ohio (a series of racial equity focused panel discussions exploring solutions to crucial current issues in the areas of economic development, education, health, and housing); and the Youth & College Build Black Better Sessions (business sessions focused on black businesses, wealth, capacity building, and organizational sustainability).
Other initiatives around workforce development that will be supported include the Dream Path program, where experienced educators and counselors guide students through career exploration based on their interests. High school students receive assistance and guidance on college planning, career options, career pathways, financial aid for college or trade schools and the option for seed money at the completion of an intense entrepreneurship program. The State of Ohio Collective is also working with Black tech organizations to help youth and adults become certified in tech related specialties. This is key to giving African Americans in Central Ohio the opportunity to benefit from the presence of large tech companies like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Intel.
The State of Ohio Collective implements strategies and plans to solve institutional, structural, and systematic racism across the State of Ohio. Their mission is to respond to the identified issues and problems of African Americans based on racism and to engage the resources necessary to provide answers and positive outcomes to those issues.
Stat of Ohio Collective. Inc. EIN# 85-2593162, CC#
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested due to the time sensitive deadlines of event sponsorship.
Fiscal Impact: Funding for this agreement is included in the 2023 General Fund Budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to contract with the State of Ohio Collective in support of the Ohio Black Expo Week Events and other programming; to authorize the transfer of $25,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize an appropriation within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus understands the positive cultural and economic impact that comes from supporting and encouraging educational, wellness, career pathways, business development and existential programs showcasing Black culture and the success and well-being of African Americans in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Business Expo OBE is a statewide humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Ohio’s African American citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Black Expo series of events is a cultural celebration designed to inspire thousands of Black citizens, families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the state who are seeking to celebrate Black culture; and
WHEREAS, the city believes that an investment in support of the Ohio Black Expo will yield economic, cultural, and education benefits to the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Collective is a non-profit organization that implements strategies and plans to solve institutional, structural, and systematic racism across the State of Ohio and whose mission is to respond to the identified issues and problems of African Americans based on racism and to engage the resources necessary to provide answers and positive outcomes to those issues; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion; in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract to have funding available for necessary expenditures due to the time sensitivity of event sponsorship, 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 Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Ohio Collective, a not-for-profit IRC 501(c)(3) entity, in an amount up to $100,000.00 to support The Ohio Black Expo (OBE) and other programming.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $75,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $25,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the General Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000 in object class 03 Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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.