Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Columbus Department of Development is proposing to enter into a Columbus Downtown Office Incentive with Agility Partners, LLC.
Founded in January 2017, Agility Partners, LLC (Agility Partners) is an IT professional resourcing and consulting firm that connects leading corporations, startups, and nonprofit organizations with IT talent and solutions. Agility Partners is a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) headquartered in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The company’s services include: End-to-End Software Solutions, Direct Placement and Execute Search, Corporate Workforce Training and Consulting Services. Agility Partners customers include companies such as Net Jets, Safelight, Cardinal Health, Eli Lilly, Anthem and Wendy’s.
Agility Partners is proposing to invest a total project cost of approximately $135,000, which includes $15,000 in leasehold improvements, $60,000 in stand-alone computers, and $60,000 in furniture and fixtures to expand its corporate headquarters (HQ) in downtown Columbus. The company proposes to improve its existing office space consisting of approximately 3,176 square feet at 175 South Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (the “Project Site”), to accommodate its increased sales growth and consumer demands, and invest more in Information Technology/Software development. Additionally, Agility Partners will create 30 net new full-time permanent positions with an annual payroll of approximately $2,500,000 and retain 50 full-time positions with an annual payroll of approximately $4.48 million at the Project Site.
Agility Partners, LLC is requesting a Downtown Office Incentive from the City of Columbus to assist in the expansion of this project. This legislation is presented as 30-day legislation
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Columbus Downtown Office Incentive Agreement with Agility Partners, LLC.
Body
WHEREAS, the City desires to increase employment opportunities and encourage establishment of new jobs in the City in order to improve the overall economic climate of the City and its citizens; and,
WHEREAS, Resolution Number 0088X-2007, adopted June 4, 2007, authorized the Department of Development to establish the Columbus Downtown Office Incentive program as amended; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Development has received a completed application for the Columbus Downtown Office Incentive program from Agility Partners; and,
WHEREAS, Agility Partners is proposing to invest a total project cost of approximately $135,000, which includes $15,000 in leasehold improvements, $60,000 in stand-alone computers, and $60,000 in furniture and fixtures to expand its existing corporate HQ that consists of approximately 3,176 square feet at 175 South Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, (the “Project Site”), located in the Central Business District; and
WHEREAS, with this expansion, Agility Partners will retain 50 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of approximately $4.48 million and create 30 net new full-time permanent positions with a cumulative estimated annual payroll of approximately $2,500,000 at the Project Site; and
WHEREAS, Agility Partners has indicated that a Downtown Office Incentive is crucial to its decision to move forward with the expansion of its corporate HQ within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to facilitate the future growth of Agility Partners at the Project Site by providing a Downtown Office Incentive; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. Columbus City Council authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Columbus Downtown Office Incentive Agreement with Agility Partners, LLC pursuant to Columbus City Council Resolution Number 0088X-2007, for an annual cash payment equal to fifty percent (50%) of the amount of City withholding tax withheld on new employees for a term up to five (5) consecutive years on the estimated job creation of 30 net new full-time permanent positions with an annual payroll of approximately $2,500,000 to be located at 175 South Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
SECTION 2. Each year of the term of the agreement with Agility Partners, LLC that a payment is due, the City's obligation to pay the incentive is expressly contingent upon the passing 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 Downtown Office Incentive Agreement is signed by within 90 days of passage of this ordinance, or this ordinance and the credit herein shall be null and void.
SECTION 4. The City Council hereby extends authority to the Director of the Department of Development to amend the Agility Partners, LLC City of Columbus Downtown Office Incentive Agreement for certain modifications to the agreement requested in writing by the company and or the City and deemed appropriate by the Director of Development with these modifications being specifically limited to reductions in length of term, methods of calculating the incentive, or adding or deleting business entities associated with the employment commitments related to this incentive. All other requested amendments must be approved by City Council.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.