*Authorize a grant to Venture Portland to fund its work with the PDX Recovery + Events Activation Table to support community events that activate spaces across the City in amount not to exceed $100,000

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: Portland is home to approximately 23,000 neighborhood businesses that provide approximately 300,000 jobs, many of which have been reduced or eliminated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic crisis. Venture Portland is a non-profit organization based in Portland that promotes the strategic growth of the unique neighborhood business districts across the City. In early 2021, Venture Portland developed and implemented COVID-19 relief grants to support spring and summer activities in neighborhood business districts across the City. Venture Portland has worked, and continues to work, in partnership with many of the City of Portland’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, including, but not limited to the Economy Recovery Task Force and the PDX Recovery + Events Activation Table. Venture Portland’s efforts are consistent with Council desire to prioritize investments on relief and stabilization activities and actions that will enable Portland to emerge a more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable city. The FY 2020-21 budget includes funding in Special Appropriations for the above grant. The City now desires to grant to Venture Portland in an amount not to exceed $100,000. The City's Comprehensive Financial Management Policies, FIN 2.04-Budget, states that grants should be issued after a competitive application process, unless Council waives the policy in the grant ordinance. Since Venture Portland is uniquely able to provide the services contemplated by this grant, Council waives the requirement for a competitive application process for this grant. NOW THEREFORE, the Council directs: The Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Bureau of Revenue & Financial Services is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement, as outlined in a form substantially in accordance with the agreement attached as Exhibit A, in an amount not to exceed $100,000. The City Council waives the competitive application process required in FIN 2.04-Budget. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because a delay in funding would delay Venture Portland’s ability to respond to the needs of event organizers, venue operators, community leaders; therefore, this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by Council.