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File #: 1516-2017    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 6/2/2017 In control: Economic Development Committee
On agenda: 7/10/2017 Final action: 7/12/2017
Title: To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a dual-rate Jobs Growth Incentive with devVenture, LLC and devVenture Holdings, LLC for a term of up to five (5) consecutive years in consideration of investing a combined $240,000.00 to improve and equip new office space, retaining and relocating 24 full-time permanent positions, and creating 35 new full-time permanent positions within the next three years.
Attachments: 1. ORD1516-2017 devVenture, LLC (dba AutoSweet) - Map, 2. ORD1516-2017 devVenture, LLC (dba AutoSweet) - Fact Sheet
Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Columbus Department of Development is proposing to enter into a dual-rate Jobs Growth Incentive Agreement with devVenture, LLC and devVenture Holdings, LLC in an amount equal to (i) twenty-five percent (25%) of the City of Columbus income tax withheld on the Columbus payroll of new employees and (ii) thirty percent (30%) of the City of Columbus income tax withheld on the Columbus payroll of new employees, who are also City of Columbus residents at the end of each calendar year, both for a term of up to five (5) consecutive years.

Starting in 2007, devVenture, LLC, doing business as AutoSweet, has been developing, maintaining, and selling its proprietary software to help thousands of car dealerships market their inventory online. In one Sweet of software, AutoSweet’s Inventory Marketing Hub bundles everything dealers need to effectively market and manage new and pre-owned inventory in a simple-to-use interface. The software provides features to collect, manage, and publish inventory to every marketing channel dealers work with (e.g. classifieds, local, and social selling sites like Craigslist, Backpage, YouTube, and Facebook). The company also offers related services including on-lot inventory services and an automated, strategic e-mail marketing campaign service. Due to its success, the company has operations in Columbus, Houston (TX), and New Orleans (LA), with the majority of its workforce located in Columbus.

devVenture, LLC intends to relocate the operations from 3240 W. Henderson Road, Suite C Columbus, Ohio 43220 in the coming months to support projected employment growth as the current site is at capacity. An affiliated company, devVenture Holdings, LLC, will lease and renovate approximately 8,083 square feet of now warehouse space into creative, tech-friendly office space to be occupied by devVenture, LLC, at 2260 W. Henderson Road, Suite 220 Columbus, Ohio 43220 (“Project Site”), where the company is expected to enter i...

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