Explanation
Background: The Department of Development is proposing to enter into a Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement with Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd.equal to twenty percent (20%) of the amount of personal income tax withheld on new employees for a term of four (4) years in consideration of Advanced Engineering Consultants' proposed investment of $200,000, the relocation/retention of 11 full-time permanent employees, which will be new to Columbus, and the creation of 14 permanent full-time jobs.
Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. specializes in electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fire protection designs of governmental, commercial, educational, institutional, industrial and health care facilities. The company was established in 1998, by founder and current president Lisa Huang. The company holds several certifications and is certified in several states. Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. has experienced a tremendous amount of growth and is currently looking to expand/relocate its corporate headquarters to meet the demand.
Emergency action is requested in order to allow Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. to begin investing and creating jobs as quickly as possible.
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 Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd; and to declare an emergency.
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 application for the Jobs Growth Incentive from Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd.; and
WHEREAS, Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. is proposing to enter into a 7-year lease, renovate and improve property located at 1310 Dublin Road, to accommodate expansion; and
WHEREAS, Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. has indicated that a Jobs Growth Incentive is crucial to its decision to locate the aforementioned consolidation/expansion in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to facilitate Advanced Engineering Consultants' future growth at the project site by the creation of new jobs; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of Advanced Engineering Consultants' proposed investment of $200,000, the relocation/retention of 11 full-time permanent employees, which will be new to Columbus and the creation of 14 permanent full-time jobs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a Jobs Growth Incentive agreement with Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. to allow investing and jobs creation to begin as quickly as possible, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; 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 percent (20%) of the amount of new income tax withheld on employees for a term of four (4) years with Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. beginning January 1, 2009.
Section 2. That each year of the term of the agreement with Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd. 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 for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.