What: Grant agreements and contracts paid from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, usually sponsored by one or more members and often for advance (upfront) payment. In June 2026 Council approved dozens, nearly all 9-0.
Approved after separate votes 6/29/2026: Our Helpers, Central Ohio Rapid Response Network, $50,000 (sponsors Barroso De Padilla, Day-Achauer, Green, Wyche and Hardin); Greater Columbus Irish Cultural Foundation, 2027 St. Patrick's Day parade, $20,000 (sponsor Dorans); A Seat at Our Table, WorkSpace program, $15,000; Libby V & Associates, Getting Grant Ready Academy, $100,000 with bidding waived (sponsor Day-Achauer); Epic Youth, Youth Programming Summit, $100,000; Short North Alliance public safety programming, $60,000 (sponsors Ross, Hardin and Remy); Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, trash removal, safe storage and hygiene for unsheltered residents, $125,000 (sponsor Green; postponed from 6/22, amended as submitted to the Clerk, then approved as amended).
Consent 6/29/2026: Besa Community, $95,000; Bronzeville Food Co-op, $100,000; Star House drop-in center, up to $50,025; Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District urban agriculture grants, $75,000; ICANDO South Side Family Farms, $15,000; National Night Out with 48 organizations, $35,080.25; Latino Heritage Month programming, $120,000; Riverview International Center, $10,000; Engage GPC IGNITE summer camp, $20,000; Women2Women conference, $12,500; Community Mediation Services, $30,000; A Kid Again, $16,000; Food Leads, $6,000; and others.
6/22/2026: Epic Youth Girls Will! Summit, $35,000, and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum September 11th Day of Service, $90,000, approved 9-0; Enterprise Community Partners housing initiative, up to $148,000, approved 9-0; consent grants to South Side Thrive Collaborative ($267,000), A Step in the Right Direction ($10,000), Girls on the Run ($21,000) and Community Development for All People ($25,000).
Consent: Stonewall Columbus 2026 Pride Festival and Parade, $10,000; Ohio Women's Alliance She Leads program, $10,000 (sponsor Ross); Huckleberry House Teen Crisis Program and Shelter, $100,000 (sponsors Green and Dorans); Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio reentry project, $165,000 (sponsor Dorans). First reading: Girls on the Run of Central Ohio, $21,000 (approved on consent June 22). Second reading: A Step in the Right Direction hygiene program, $25,000, approved 9-0 (Day-Achauer / Ross). Minutes: https://legistar3.granicus.com/Columbus/meetings/2026/6/6190_M_Columbus_City_Council_26-06-08_Minutes_-_Final.pdf
Second reading, 9-0: The Ohio Historical Society America 250 programming, $50,000 (1482-2026, sponsor Day-Achauer); advance payment to the Columbus Board of Education for the Northland Community School Pilot Program, $90,000 (1600-2026, sponsors Dorans and Hardin). Consent: Stonewall Columbus, $10,000 (0945-2026); Warriors Karate Academy summer camps, $5,000 (1378-2026); Africentric Personal Development Shop, $25,000 (1625-2026); The Masters Preparatory Academy leadership and workforce institute, $50,000 (1626-2026); Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging Housing Assistance Program, $75,000 (1616-2026, sponsors Green and Ross). Minutes: https://legistar3.granicus.com/Columbus/meetings/2026/6/6187_M_Columbus_City_Council_26-06-01_Minutes_-_Final.pdf
Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio outdoor programming, $20,000 (0921-2026, sponsors Barroso De Padilla, Day-Achauer and Green), amended as submitted to the Clerk and approved as amended, 7-0; Nexstar Broadcasting (WCMH) marketing for the Cleaner Columbus Initiative, $75,000, bidding waived (1389-2026, sponsor Remy), 7-0. Consent: Tech Corps Ohio hackathon, $20,000 (1376-2026, sponsor Wyche). Minutes: https://legistar3.granicus.com/Columbus/meetings/2026/5/6184_M_Columbus_City_Council_26-05-18_Minutes_-_Final.pdf
First reading of 0921-2026 ($20,000.00 for the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio). Approved 8-0: the age-in-place village grants, see Age-in-Place Village Grants.
Consent, 8-0: 1283-2026 (R.O.O.T.T. grant increase, Bankston), 1280-2026 (Women's Center for Economic Opportunity, Aspire Business Accelerator) and 1059-2026 (Urban Land Institute housing forum sponsorship, Hardin).