Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate Northland in an amount up to $500,000.00 in support of the Northland Business Center. Funding will be advanced to the agency on a predetermined schedule.
Elevate Northland is a non-for-profit Community Development Corporation in Columbus that brings together groups working on business development and building community bonds, with a mission to uplift people of diverse backgrounds and to create opportunities. The Elevate Northland Business Center will address the needs of the growing Northland area by providing education opportunities such as business basics, business English, and access to food for local entrepreneurs.
This grant will support entrepreneurs in the Northland area. Entrepreneurship is an important pathway for Northland residents to build generational wealth, create high-income jobs, and overcome the barriers that many living in the area face. Access to resources can be a struggle, which is where the Business Center bridges the gap. The Center will focus on supporting the outreach of social services agencies, providing professional services and small business startup resources that aid in capacity building. The Center will serve as both a business incubator and as a hub for nonprofits. Outreach and engagement will be marketed in French, Nepali, Somali, English, and Spanish to reach target constituencies throughout Northland.
The funding will support the Business Center as a physical space, supporting rent and utility costs, maintenance and repair costs, security, insurance, and other needs. The funding may also be used to support the personnel and services associated with the Center’s operations, including the business manager, kitchen supervisor, welcome navigator, and other support staff. Services such as marketing, legal, and accounting supports may also be supported by this grant.
Emergency action is requested to provide immediate support to the progress of the Elevate Northland Business Center in order that operations may commence. Elevate Northland is a relatively new non-profit that does not have the capacity to progress this project quickly with their own limited funds. Until the Business Center space is available, local nonprofits supporting Northland small businesses do not have a place to convene and provide streamlined services, hindering opportunities for stability and growth for families and businesses in that area.
Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting February 1, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available within the Job Growth subfund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number for Elevate Northland is 031977 and contract compliance is pending.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate Northland in support of the Elevate Northland Business Center; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund; to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Northland neighborhood in Columbus is home to thousands of New Americans, including those from the Bhutanese-Nepali, Somali, Ghanaian, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander communities; and
WHEREAS, Elevate Northland is a non-profit community development corporation that seeks to uplift the Northland community including its entrepreneurs and small business owners; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to promote good-paying jobs and training, creating pathways towards economic stability through entrepreneurship opportunities and through culturally appropriate entrepreneurial support for New American business owners; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate Northland in support of the Elevate Northland Business Center, in an amount of up to $500,000.00; and
WHEREAS, funding will be advanced to the agency on a predetermined schedule and expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting February 1, 2023, will be reimbursed; 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 a grant agreement with Elevate Northland to provide support to the progress of the Elevate Northland Business Center in order that operations may commence, such immediate action being necessary all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property,safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Elevate Northland in an amount up to $500,000.00 in support of the Northland Business Center, and is authorized to advance funds per a schedule to be included in the agreement. Expenses incurred prior to the execution of the purchase order, starting February 1, 2023, will be reimbursed.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $500,000,00 in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Subfund 100015 (Jobs Growth Subfund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in Object Class 05 (Other), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Subfund 100015 (Jobs Growth Subfund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in Object Class 05 (Other), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are 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 contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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.