Board of Estimate & Contract:
RESOLVED, that an Ordinance adopted by the City Council on January 14, 2026, and signed by the Mayor on January 15, 2026, authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for the Funding of the Youth Bureau’s EmpowerMED Program - (the Comptroller is hereby authorized to record said funds in Revenue Code A3389.1 and to appropriate and expend such funds from the following budget codes: A7340.101, A7340.402, A7340.405, A7340.407, A7340.458, A7340.467, and A7340.803 - this grant is reimbursable and requires no local matching funds, and no additional financial obligation shall be incurred by the City beyond the amount reimbursed by OCFS); be, and the same is hereby approved.
City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES FOR THE FUNDING OF THE
YOUTH BUREAU’S EMPOWERMED PROGRAM
Whereas, in correspondence dated December 30, 2025, the Executive Director of the Youth Bureau formally requested authorization for the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to accept grant funds in the amount of $30,000.00 for the purpose of implementing the Youth Bureau’s EmpowerMED Program; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon, through its Youth Bureau, seeks to provide meaningful educational and career exploration opportunities to the City’s youth, particularly those from underserved communities; and
Whereas, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (“OCFS”) has made available grant funding in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to support youth development programming; and
Whereas, the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau has been awarded said funds to implement the EmpowerMED Program, an initiative designed to expand students’ awareness of a broad range of careers in medicine and healthcare beyond traditionally visible roles; and
Whereas, the EmpowerMED Program is scheduled to commence in February 2026 and will be implemented in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx location; and
Whereas, the EmpowerMED Program will provide an immersive educational experience for twenty-four (24) high school juniors and seniors, exposing participants to professionals across the medical and healthcare spectrum, including but not limited to surgeons, radiologists, epidemiologists, clinical laboratory scientists, respiratory therapists, and healthcare executives; and
Whereas, the program is intended to equip participating students with the confidence, vocabulary, and foundational understanding necessary to navigate careers in the medical field, thereby helping to reduce barriers for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minority students; and
Whereas, the grant funds are reimbursable, require no matching funds, and are to be recorded in Revenue Code A3389.1, with appropriations to the following budget codes:
• A7340.101 - Salaries
• A7340.402 - Travel
• A7340.405 - Contracted Outside Services
• A7340.407 - Leasing & Printing
• A7340.458 - Miscellaneous
• A7340.467 - Program Supplies
• A7340.803 - FICA; and
Whereas, the OCFS award letter is dated August 11, 2025, but was not received by the Youth Bureau’s Executive Director until December 2025, resulting in the referral being submitted at this time; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that acceptance of this grant and implementation of the EmpowerMED Program is in the best interests of the City of Mount Vernon and its youth;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON:
Section 1. Authorization to Enter into Agreement. The Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to accept grant funds in the amount of $30,000.00 for the purpose of implementing the Youth Bureau’s EmpowerMED Program.
Section 2. Acceptance and Use of Funds. The grant funds shall be accepted and utilized solely for the operation and administration of the EmpowerMED Program in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth by OCFS and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Section 3. Budgetary Authorization. The Comptroller is hereby authorized to record said funds in Revenue Code A3389.1 and to appropriate and expend such funds from the following budget codes: A7340.101, A7340.402, A7340.405, A7340.407, A7340.458, A7340.467, and A7340.803.
Section 4. No Local Match Required. This grant is reimbursable and requires no local matching funds, and no additional financial obligation shall be incurred by the City beyond the amount reimbursed by OCFS.
Section 5. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this Ordinance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate & Contract.