Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Development is proposing to enter into a Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement with Health Care DataWorks, Inc. (HCD) equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of personal income tax withheld on new employees for a term of three (3) years. HCD will make a fixed-asset investment of approximately $350,000.00 including, $250,000 in new machinery and equipment and $100,000.00 in renovation and leasehold improvements, create 33 new full-time permanent positions and retain 13 existing jobs, which will be new to the City of Columbus.
HCD is a privately-owned company co-founded by Jeffrey M. Wilkins, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. HCD pioneered the "Enterprise Data Warehouse in a Box" for healthcare provider organizations. HCD provides healthcare organizations with an opportunity to provide higher quality healthcare services while lowering their costs. The company began data warehousing and data mining efforts at The Ohio State University Medical Center in 1997 as a technology commercialization company. This technology is very unique as it is able to render data from multiple systems into one consolidated view and track different functions of the health care provider's business. The company's business intelligence applications have been recognized by American Medical Informatics Associations for their innovative approach in tracking, alerting, and reporting an organization's strategic and operational performance.
HCD is proposing to relocate its corporate headquarters and client support operations to the City of Columbus by entering into a 5-year lease agreement on a vacant office facility located at 1800 Watermark Drive to meet its increased growth and consumer demand.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement with Health Care DataWorks, Inc. equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of new income tax withheld on employees for a term of three (3) years in consideration of the company's proposed investment of $350,000.00 the creation of 33 new permanent full-time jobs and the retention of 13 existing jobs, which will be new to the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, the City desires to increase employment opportunities and encourage the creation of new jobs in the City in order to improve the overall economic climate of the City and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development has received a completed Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement Application from Health Care DataWorks, Inc. (HCD); and
WHEREAS, HCD is proposing to enter into 5-year lease agreement on a vacant office facility located at 1800 Watermark Drive, to accommodate the relocation of its corporate headquarters and client support operations; and
WHEREAS, HCD has indicated that a Jobs Growth Incentive is crucial to its decision to locate the aforementioned corporate headquarters in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to facilitate HCD's future growth at the project site; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of HCD's proposed investment of $350,000.00, creation of 33 new full time permanent jobs and the retention of 13 existing jobs which will be new to the City of Columbus; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of new income tax withheld on employees for a term of three (3) years with Health Care DataWorks, Inc.
Section 2. Each year of the term of the agreement with Health Care DataWorks, Inc., the City's obligation to pay the incentive is expressly contingent upon the passage of an ordinance appropriating and authorizing the expenditure of monies sufficient to make such payment and the certification of the City Auditor pursuant to Section 159 of the Columbus City Charter.
Section 3. That the City of Columbus Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement is signed by Health Care DataWorks, Inc. within 90 days of passage of this ordinance, or this ordinance and the credit herein shall be null and void.
Section 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.