Columbus Continues Fighting for Jobs
Columbus
Continues Fighting for Jobs
Council
Supports 1,026 New Full-Time Jobs and $88.4 Million in New Private Investment
[COLUMBUS, OH] Columbus continues to compete aggressively with
the nation’s top regions for economic development, job creation and new private
construction. City Council tonight voted to advance 18 ordinances projected
to directly bring $59,876,224 million in net new payroll, 1,026 new full-time
jobs and $88.4 million in private capital investment. Ordinances supporting
Economic Development Agreements could increase the total invested to more than
$581 million in private investment in coming years for commercial and
industrial space, jobs and new housing.
"We are working to bring long-term investment in the people
and infrastructure of Columbus," said Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy,
chair of the Economic Committee. "People want jobs that pay a living wage.
People also want to know these jobs will be there for years to come."
Under Council's new incentive policy, each of the net new jobs
created must have a minimum base salary of $15 an hour to qualify.
"I am bullish on the future of Columbus," said Mayor
Andrew J. Ginther. "Our economic development team has worked tirelessly and
strategically to bring in new and expand existing businesses to the City. The
projects before City Council tonight lay the groundwork for prosperity for our
residents for years to come."
The legislative package passed by Council includes ordinance
1839-2019 for Williams Lea Inc., projected to create 550 new full-time jobs
with a capital investment of $6 million, and ordinance 1938-2019 for a new
downtown office for Chipotle, which is expected to bring 274 new full-time
jobs, retain 90 and invest $3.7 million with the relocation of its corporate
back-office functions from New York and Denver to Columbus.
Economic Development Agreements include:
- Arena District EDA: $210 million in private investment
- North Market Mixed-Use EDA: $192 million in private investment
- Gravity 2 EDA:
$120 million in private investment
"These are the hard numbers that detail how we are fighting
for jobs and mix-used developments within the City," Remy continued.
"By replacing surface parking lots and blighted sites with retail, commercial
and housing options, we are driving positive impacts in Columbus for decades to
come. Tonight, we set the stage to endorse transformative development projects
that put Columbus residents to work, and offers vibrant places to live and
raise a family."
Since January 1, 2019, the City of Columbus Department of
Development has negotiated projects driving:
- More
than $1.15 billion in new private investment;
- 3.9
million square feet of renovated or newly built space filled;
- 4,433
newly created jobs;
- 3,646
jobs retained; and more than
- $6.9
million in new, annual income tax revenue to the City.
“The future of Columbus is a bit brighter tonight,” said
Councilmember Remy.
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