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File #: 1836-2022    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 6/21/2022 In control: Economic Development Committee
On agenda: 7/11/2022 Final action: 7/14/2022
Title: To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., dba Experience Columbus, for the purpose of providing support to the organization in its efforts to market Columbus for sporting events, conferences, and convention planning activities in an amount up to $750,000.00; to authorize a transfer within the General Fund in an amount up to $750,000.00; to authorize an expenditure in an amount up to $750,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Attachments: 1. 1836-2022 Admin Exp Col PCMAConf of Mayors GF (Citywide Xfr)
Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., dba Experience Columbus, for the purpose of providing support to the organization in its efforts to market Columbus for sporting events, conferences, and convention planning activities and to authorize an expenditure in an amount up to $750,000.00.

Experience Columbus is an organization whose vision is to be the leading force in creating and revealing the best of the Columbus Experience to the world. The mission of Experience Columbus is to sell, market, and promote the “Destination Columbus” experience to visitors. Columbus is increasingly seen as a destination city and host candidate for major national conferences and conventions. These events result in tens of thousands of visitors to Columbus and millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending, supporting a significant number of jobs and businesses in Central Ohio

In 2023 Columbus will host the annual meetings for the Professional Management Convention Association (PCMA) and US Conference of Mayors.

PCMA is one of the world’s largest, most-respected, and most recognized network of business strategists. The organization helps members become industry leaders through education, networking, and conferences. PCMA’s 2023 annual Convening Leaders will welcome 4,500+ association, corporate, government and agency decision makers in-person with an additional 1,000+ digital attendee’s representing over 25 countries.

The US Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with a population of 30,000 and larger represented by their chief elected officials, over 1,400 mayors. 60% of attendees bring their families to the annual conference. The primary roles of the conference are advocacy, best practices, business connections, promote your city, and networking. Hosting this high-profile conf...

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