Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation seeks authorization from Columbus City Council for the Director of the Development Department to apply for and accept grant funds from the Ohio Department of Development for the Local Government Services and Regional Collaboration Grant Program. Created in the 2008-2009 Ohio Biennium Budget, the program is designed to provide grants to local governments interested in investigating the possibility of combining the provision of local government services with those of other local governments.
The purpose of our Local Government Services and Regional Collaboration Grant application is to investigate the feasibility of establishing a multi-jurisdictional development corporation for Central Ohio to focus specifically on building upon the region's strength in the aviation industry/aviation services cluster. The Cities of Columbus, Gahanna and Whitehall; Franklin County; Mifflin and Jefferson Townships; the Columbus Regional Airport Authority and Ohio State University will partner together to study how to create an effective economic development entity that will (1) execute the economic development and real estate strategies in a proposed Airport Economic Development District, as outlined by joint planning efforts already underway; and (2) leverage and advance the existing aviation industry cluster located in and around Port Columbus Regional Airport. A successful multi-jurisdictional entity, focused on a regional economic strength, can serve as a model for other industry clusters in other regions throughout Ohio. The grant request will not exceed $60,000.
It is requested that this legislation be declared an emergency so that the grant application can be submitted by its July 29, 2008 deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to apply for and accept grant funds from the Ohio Department of Development's Local Governm...
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