Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Somali Cultural Festival to provide upfront funding support for programming associated with the 2025 Somali Cultural Festival. The Festival is a two-day event taking place on June 28th and 29th, and is designed to strengthen community ties, empower immigrant populations, and provide economic opportunity through cultural celebration. Hosted by the Somali Cultural Alliance of Ohio, this event is free to the public and brings together over 15,000 attendees from across Columbus, with a focus on engaging youth, small businesses, and immigrant families.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018.
REASON FOR EMERGENCY: Somali Cultural Festival does not currently have the reserve capital necessary to front the full cost of a large-scale, multi-day cultural festival. They are requesting upfront funding to be provided as quickly as possible, considering the event is less than one month away.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Somali Cultural Festival; to authorize an expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Somali Cultural Festival is dedicated to preserving and promoting Somali heritage, empowering Somali-American communities, and fostering cultural understanding through education, arts, and civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, the Somali Cultural Festival is a two-day event planned for June 28th and 29th of this year to strengthen community ties, empower immigrant populations, and provide economic opportunity through cultural celebration; and
WHEREAS, the event is free to the public and brings together over 15,000 attendees from across Columbus, with a focus on engaging youth, small businesses, and immigrant families; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's office insofar...
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