Board of Estimate and Contract:
RESOLVED, that an Ordinance adopted by the City Council on August 12, 2026, and signed by the Mayor on August 13, 2026, authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for the Acceptance and Administration of a $20,000.00 Grant for the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau's EmpowerMED Program - (the grant revenue in the amount of $20,000.00 shall be recorded in Revenue Code A3389.1 and appropriated and expended, subject to the terms and conditions of the grant agreement and applicable laws, rules, and regulations, among the following budget codes:
• A7340.104 - Salaries
• A7340.402 - Travel
• A7340.405 - Contracted Outside Services
• A7340.407 - Leasing & Printing
• A7340.458 - Miscellaneous
• A7340.467 - Program Supplies
• A7340.803 - FICA
; 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 ACCEPTANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF
A $20,000.00 GRANT FOR THE MOUNT VERNON
YOUTH BUREAU’S EMPOWERMED PROGRAM
Whereas, in correspondence dated August 4, 2026, the Executive Director of the Youth Bureau requested authorization for the Mayor of the City of Mount to enter into an agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (“OCFS”), and to execute any and all documents reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, for the acceptance and administration of grant funds in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau's EmpowerMED Program; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon, through its Mount Vernon Youth Bureau (“MVYB”), seeks to provide educational, workforce development, and career exploration opportunities to the youth of the City of Mount Vernon; and
Whereas, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (“OCFS”) has made available funding in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) to support the MVYB's EmpowerMED Program; and
Whereas, the EmpowerMED Program is scheduled to commence in February 2027 and will be conducted by the MVYB in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Bronx location; and
Whereas, the purpose of the EmpowerMED Program is to expand participating students' awareness and understanding of the diverse career opportunities available within the medical and healthcare fields, including, but not limited to, surgeons, radiologists, epidemiologists, clinical laboratory scientists, respiratory therapists, hospital administrators, and other technical, professional, and supportive healthcare positions; and
Whereas, the Program will provide participating students with meaningful exposure to healthcare professionals and an immersive understanding of the education, skills, training, and career pathways associated with healthcare professions; and
Whereas, the MVYB, in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, intends to provide a structured experience for twelve (12) high school juniors and seniors, designed to increase their confidence, knowledge, vocabulary, and understanding of the medical and healthcare fields; and
Whereas, the EmpowerMED Program is intended to help reduce barriers to career exploration and professional opportunities, particularly for first-generation and minority students, by providing access to information, mentorship, professional interaction, and exposure to high-demand and high-growth healthcare careers; and
Whereas, the funding provided by OCFS will be administered as a reimbursable grant and will require no local matching obligation; and
Whereas, the grant revenue is proposed to be accounted for under Revenue Code A3389.1, with corresponding appropriations in the following budget codes: A7340.104 (Salaries), A7340.402 (Travel), A7340.405 (Contracted Outside Services), A7340.407 (Leasing & Printing), A7340.458 (Miscellaneous), A7340.467 (Program Supplies), and A7340.803 (FICA); and
Whereas, the Common Council of the City of Mount Vernon finds that acceptance and administration of the grant funds and implementation of the EmpowerMED Program will promote the educational, career-development, and economic opportunities available to the youth of the City and are in the best interests of the residents of the City of Mount Vernon;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Authorization to Enter into Agreement. The Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into an agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (“OCFS”), and to execute any and all documents reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, for the acceptance and administration of grant funds in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau's EmpowerMED Program.
Section 2. EMPOWERMED Program. The grant funds authorized pursuant to this Ordinance shall be used to support the MVYB's EmpowerMED Program, scheduled to commence in February 2027, including the development and implementation of educational, career exploration, mentoring, professional exposure, travel, program supplies, contracted services, and other eligible activities associated with the Program.
The Program shall be implemented in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Bronx location and shall serve approximately twelve (12) high school juniors and seniors.
Section 3. Purpose of Program. The EmpowerMED Program shall seek to broaden participating students’ understanding of career opportunities within the medical and healthcare sectors by exposing students to a diverse range of healthcare professions, including clinical, technical, administrative, scientific, and supportive occupations.
The Program shall further seek to provide participating students with the knowledge, confidence, professional vocabulary, and practical understanding necessary to explore and pursue healthcare-related educational and career pathways.
Section 4. Grant Revenue and Appropriations. The grant revenue in the amount of $20,000.00 shall be recorded in Revenue Code A3389.1 and appropriated and expended, subject to the terms and conditions of the grant agreement and applicable laws, rules, and regulations, among the following budget codes:
• A7340.104 - Salaries
• A7340.402 - Travel
• A7340.405 - Contracted Outside Services
• A7340.407 - Leasing & Printing
• A7340.458 - Miscellaneous
• A7340.467 - Program Supplies
• A7340.803 - FICA
The Commissioner of Finance, or such other appropriate City fiscal officer as authorized by law, is hereby directed to establish, amend, or otherwise make the necessary accounting entries to reflect receipt and expenditure of the grant funds in accordance with this Ordinance and the applicable grant agreement.
Section 5. Reimbursable Grant; No Matching Funds. The grant authorized herein shall be administered as a reimbursable grant. The City shall have no local matching-fund obligation in connection with the acceptance of the $20,000.00 grant, except as may otherwise be expressly required by the final grant agreement or applicable law.
Section 6. Compliance with Grant Requirements. The Mayor, the Executive Director of the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, the Commissioner of Finance, the Corporation Counsel, and other appropriate City officials are hereby authorized to take such actions as may be necessary to comply with the terms, conditions, reporting requirements, reimbursement procedures, and other applicable requirements of OCFS relating to the grant.
Section 7. Acceptance of Funds. Upon execution of the agreement and satisfaction of all applicable legal and administrative requirements, the City of Mount Vernon is authorized to accept the grant funds and administer such funds through the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau for the purposes set forth herein.
Section 8. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable.
Section 9. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract.