Columbus enacts $10,000 emergency grant for Highland Youth Garden in the Hilltop
The upfront funding covers security monitoring and daytime staffing after criminal activity disrupted garden operations.
Columbus has enacted emergency legislation authorizing an advance payment grant of $10,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund to support security efforts at Highland Youth Garden, Inc.
The urban agriculture non-profit engages children and teenagers in sustainably growing fresh produce and distributing it to community members in the Hilltop neighborhood. In addition to agricultural education, the organization offers workforce development training to help participants as they grow older, according to reporting by WCMH-TV.
Garden leaders approached the city earlier this year about an increase in crime and security challenges, Columbus City Councilmember Melissa Green told WCMH-TV. Green reported that the property saw an increased presence of people who appeared to be unhoused alongside active illicit drug use on the premises as well as around the nearby school. According to city legislative records, a recent increase in criminal activity on the organization's property has interfered with normal operations for the non-profit.
The $10,000 grant provides funding for security services to monitor criminal activity and allows the organization to enhance staffing during work hours to increase safety for people working in the garden.
The legislation authorizes an upfront payment to Highland Youth Garden because the organization does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred. Under the measure, the city clerk is authorized to advance payment of the grant funds according to a predetermined schedule to be included in the grant agreement.
Following the intervention, Highland Youth Garden will track outcomes by measuring reductions in illegal activity and decreases in hours shut down due to crime.
City Council approved the emergency measure on Nov. 2, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther signed the legislation on Nov. 4, and the city clerk attested the ordinance on Nov. 5. City records show the measure was designated as an emergency to immediately provide additional security services for the safety of residents and staff.
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Supporting evidence (8)
Columbus has enacted emergency legislation authorizing an advance payment grant of $10,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund to support security efforts at Highland Youth Garden, Inc.
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To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Highland Youth Garden, Inc. in support of its security efforts; to authorize an expenditure of $10,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency ($10,000.00)
The urban agriculture non-profit engages children and teenagers in sustainably growing fresh produce and distributing it to community members in the Hilltop neighborhood.
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Highland Youth Garden involves youth and children in the process of sustainably growing significant amounts of fresh produce and distributing it to community members on the Hilltop.
According to city legislative records, a recent increase in criminal activity on the organization's property has interfered with normal operations for the non-profit.
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Recently, there has been an increase in criminal activity on the organization’s property that has interfered with normal operations for this important local non-profit.
The $10,000 grant provides funding for security services to monitor criminal activity and allows the organization to enhance staffing during work hours to increase safety for people working in the garden.
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Council is proposing $10,000.00 in assistance to allow security services to monitor criminal activity, as well as to enhance staffing during work hours to increase safety for those working in the garden.
The legislation authorizes an upfront payment to Highland Youth Garden because the organization does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
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This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to Highland Youth Garden to support these efforts, as it does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
Under the measure, the city clerk is authorized to advance payment of the grant funds according to a predetermined schedule to be included in the grant agreement.
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SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Highland Youth Garden, Inc. in support of its security efforts to address current criminal activity on the premises and to advance payment of grant funds per a predetermined schedule to be included in the grant agreement.
Following the intervention, Highland Youth Garden will track outcomes by measuring reductions in illegal activity and decreases in hours shut down due to crime.
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Highland Youth Garden will measure outcomes following the intervention through reduction in illegal activity and decrease in hours shut down due to crime.
City records show the measure was designated as an emergency to immediately provide additional security services for the safety of residents and staff.
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EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for Highland Youth Garden to immediately provide additional security services for the safety of residents and staff.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/columbus-nonprofit-garden-hit-crime-230000077.html
Supporting evidence (3)
In addition to agricultural education, the organization offers workforce development training to help participants as they grow older, according to reporting by WCMH-TV.
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The Highland Youth Garden in the city's Hilltop neighborhood teaches kids and teens about gardening. The produce grown and harvested is given to the community. There's also workforce development training to help participants as they get older.
Garden leaders approached the city earlier this year about an increase in crime and security challenges, Columbus City Councilmember Melissa Green told WCMH-TV.
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Green said the garden reached out earlier this year about an increase in crime and security challenges.
Green reported that the property saw an increased presence of people who appeared to be unhoused alongside active illicit drug use on the premises as well as around the nearby school.
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"What they had shared with us is that there was an increased presence of people who appeared to be unhoused, an increased presence of active illicit drug use on the premises as well as around the school, which is of course incredibly, incredibly concerning for us just given that it is a space for community members, it's a space for growing food and growing community," Green said.