"TRANSCRIPT: Read Mayor Coleman's State Of City Speech" WBNS-10TV

Link: TRANSCRIPT: Read Mayor Coleman's State Of City Speech
WBNS-10TV
March 13, 2008

Max, thank you for that fine introduction! I wanted you all to meet Max… his mother is a City employee, and ever since I met him he's inspired me, his spirit is so strong, and that's the kind of spirit that makes Columbus great! Thank you to Michael DeAscentis, our host, as well as our Girl Scouts and the Fort Hayes High School Ensemble.

Let me acknowledge our partners for progress: City Auditor Hugh Dorrian, City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer, City Council President Michael Mentel, Members of City Council, Kevin Boyce, Charleta Tavares, Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, Priscilla Tyson, Andrew Ginther, and Hearcel Craig. Thank you to all the elected officials here tonight, and our partners in the County. Also thanks to all those from the suburbs and townships of Central Ohio, and from the Statehouse...

NetJets Inc. to Expand in Ohio

World-class campus to be built adjacent to Port Columbus as company seeks Ohio’s best and brightest, partners with Ohio State and begins aviation cluster

press release
COLUMBUS, OH (March 12, 2008) – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Lieutenant Governor Lee
Fisher and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman today joined NetJets Inc. Chairman and CEO
Richard T. Santulli, Ohio business leaders and hundreds of guests at the company’s hangar to
announce that NetJets and FlightSafety International have chosen Columbus, Ohio as the site
for a major expansion that will create at least 810 new jobs and more than double the size of
FlightSafety, thereby creating the largest flight training facility in the world.

For NetJets, this decision brings with it a bold vision for the future of Ohio’s aeronautical
industry, as championed by the Governor, Lt. Governor and Mayor. First, the company will
construct an over $200 million world-class campus in order to draw the best and brightest
talent from across the nation and help initiate a growing aeronautical cluster at Port
Columbus International Airport. Second, NetJets will embark on an unprecedented
partnership with The Ohio State University to attract college graduates, solve real world
business problems and develop existing talent in Ohio. Third, the company has decided to
take a leadership role in Ohio, including support for community and environmental initiatives.

"NetJets is already a worldwide leader in private jet aviation, and I am proud they are
making such a huge investment in their future right here in Ohio. This news speaks volumes
about Ohio's positive business environment as well as Ohio’s colleges and universities," said
Governor Strickland. “The partnerships among academic and business leaders, particularly
Dr. Gee and The Ohio State University, are sure to help NetJets continue to be successful in
Ohio and, together, allow us to achieve our ambitious plan for a vibrant and growing
aeronautical industry."

NetJets fractional aircraft ownership allows individuals and companies to buy a share of a
private business jet at a fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership. NetJets Inc. also
offers aircraft management, charter management and on-demand charter services through
its subsidiary, Executive Jet Management. NetJets began in 1964 as the first jet aircraft
charter company. Richard T. Santulli invented the concept of fractional ownership in 1986.
The market for fractional aircraft ownership is growing quickly. Over the past ten years, the
total number of owner shares has grown from approximately 1,500 to over 7,000 expected
this year. On average, the market has grown by 8.5% annually.

For the last two years, NetJets’ market share has been ~70 percent based on net value of
aircraft sold and leased. NetJets has flown more flights than all of its competitors combined
and manages more than 390,000 flights annually. As a Berkshire Hathaway company,
NetJets pursues the highest levels of safety, security, comfort, convenience and reliability.
“I am proud of our partnership with the State of Ohio, the City of Columbus and The Ohio
State University, as well as the heart of our company, our workforce,” said Richard T.
Santulli, Chairman and CEO, NetJets Inc. “Together we have engineered a truly innovative
collaboration that not only positions NetJets to continue as the worldwide leader in private
aviation, but more importantly makes NetJets and FlightSafety International the cornerstone
of Ohio’s effort to become the aviation innovation capital of the country.”

FlightSafety is a sister company of NetJets through Berkshire Hathaway and is the world’s
largest provider of aviation training, educating more than 75,000 pilots annually across 43
Learning Centers in the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

Over the coming years, NetJets and FlightSafety will grow from a campus of approximately
19 acres to potentially over 120 acres, investing over $200 million, while retaining 2,022
positions in central Ohio and adding at least 810 high-wage jobs. FlightSafety will more than
double the number of its existing simulators, creating its largest concentration of simulators
in the country and attracting large numbers of pilots on a daily basis from outside Ohio for
training. These simulators will support NetJets’ commitment to have the best-trained flight
crews in the world while also helping to train other national aviation companies’ personnel.

“We have worked hard to build this winning partnership with NetJets and Governor
Strickland’s team, and I believe the company’s decision to grow and invest in Columbus will
be a catalyst for job growth that benefits us for years to come,” said Mayor Coleman. “We
are committed to NetJets’ long-term success and to the elevation of the aviation industry in
the Port Columbus area. I am confident that our growth package will pay off with many new
jobs for our community.”

The State of Ohio, City of Columbus, Franklin County, and the Columbus Regional Airport
Authority have offered a combined growth package that includes workforce development, job
credits, tax abatements and other direct assistance valued at $67.6 million, including $37.4
million from the state, $22 million from the city and county, and $8.2 million from the
airport. These figures do not include approximately $30 million in incentives related to area
site improvements, loans and marketing.

“We want to thank all of our partners who were instrumental in bringing the resources to the
table that were fundamental to this project, and help us build upon Ohio’s aviation cluster.
Most importantly, we want to thank NetJets, which challenged us to put together a
partnership to accomplish what no one party could achieve alone,” said Lt. Governor Fisher,
who also serves as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “They challenged
us to build a partnership that would align our educational institutions with their efforts to
attract the best talent in the country. Recognizing the great importance of NetJets to
Columbus, the entire team joined in the name of a vision and a plan that will move NetJets,
our state and our community forward."

In 2007, NetJets worldwide…

• Flew over 390,000 flights, 237,000,000 miles to more than 173 countries
• Employed nearly 7,300 worldwide (3,957 pilots, 400 flight attendants)

In the U.S. NetJets fractional program alone:

• Spent over $34 million on catering
• Arranged more than 100,000 cars and limos
• Landed at over 1,500 airports
• Spent $66 million on pilot training at FlightSafety International
• Required over 1.8 million maintenance work hours

In the state of Ohio in 2007, NetJets directly spent nearly $300 million.

About NetJets
NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the worldwide leader in private aviation and
provides the safest and most secure private aviation solutions. NetJets fractional aircraft
ownership allows individuals and companies to buy a share of a private business jet at a
fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership, and guarantees availability 365 days a year
with just a few hours’ notice. The NetJets programs worldwide offer the largest and most
diversified fleet in private aviation, which includes 15 of the most popular business jets in the
world. Access to the NetJets fleet is also available in the form of a short-term lease, sold on
an all-inclusive, pre-paid basis in 25-hour increments, through an exclusive alliance with
Marquis Jet Partners. NetJets Inc. also offers aircraft management, charter management, and
on-demand charter services through its subsidiary, Executive Jet Management. More
information on NetJets, the Marquis Jet Program, and Executive Jet Management is available
at www.netjets.com.

"Ohioanna All-Star Market coming to Short North" the Columbus Underground

Link: Ohioanna All-Star Market coming to Short North
the Columbus Underground
March 5, 2008

Ohioanna All-Star Market will be a small New York City "bodega style" urban market catering to our currently underserved downtown-dwelling demographic. We chose the name "all-star" as a nod to our own local favorites; we plan to emphasize local produce, cheeses, coffee, beer and other locally grown and produced sundries to nourish our neighbors.

Ohioanna Market will feature fresh flowers, produce, bagels, breads, coffee and deli items. Columbus "All-Stars" will be featured including Stauf's Coffee, Amish cheeses, dairy items from Happy Chicken Farms, and carry-out items from Betty's, Surly Girl Saloon, and Tip Top Kitchen. We are taking suggestions for items now. Baked goods, cupcakes, bread, beer, wine and the usual sundries will be available as well...

...Our first shop will be located two doors north of Surly Girl Saloon. We will occupy the space currently held by Mary Catherine's Antiques...

"Good vibrations expected to follow NetJets" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Good vibrations expected to follow NetJets
Paul Wilson
The Columbus Dispatch
March 13, 2008

The decision by NetJets Aviation to expand in Columbus could put Ohio at "the epicenter of an industry cluster" for aerospace and aviation, a top state official said yesterday.

It also means central Ohio will be home to the world's largest flight-training operation.

The company's announcement yesterday was trumpeted as the biggest economic-development news in Columbus in more than a decade. NetJets, which sells fractional ownerships of business jets that work much like a timeshare, will create more than 800 jobs in Columbus and retain about 2,000...

The Mile on High, Columbus' Newest Official Downtown District

Of course I didn't waste any time in creating a new Urban Neighborhood section on RetroMetro for Columbus' newest official downtown district as announced in Mayor Coleman's 2008 State of the City Address: The Mile on High District:

...The High Street Corridor was once a bustling boulevard where people came to shop, visit and live. Times have changed, and so has High Street. High Street is the spine of our City… and for our City to work best, our backbone must be strong. Today, there is 152,000 square feet of vacant retail space in the High Street corridor and 12 acres of vacant lots and surface parking. These vacancies scar this corridor, and its made worse by the space of City Center. The High Street Corridor needs a 21st Century make-over, like we've begun at the corner of Broad and High. So today, I am proposing a new district downtown - The Mile on High District. This new district will increase our focus on rebuilding the High Street Corridor with active retail, office and housing, bringing more people and new investment back to the area. The Mile on High District will include a specific plan and a toolbox of aggressive incentives, working capital loans, façade improvement grants, new parking requirements and better transit and pedestrian options. It will also require special zoning changes to increase development density. That means getting retail back into downtown for visitors, downtown workers and residents...

Say "Hello" to The Mile on High...

"Civic officials question streetcar plan" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Ack. The questioning and the understanding of the streetcar system has a ways to go before everyone is one the same page.

The concern about other projects being put on the back burner for an initiative that has the potential to create significant investment and long-term "economic development" in the downtown area shows that there is a rather big disconnect in with regards to understanding the big picture of the streetcar system.

Transit aside for a moment, the proposed streetcar system is poised to lead to more significant long-term tax revenue generation by attracting development and new businesses downtown, which will in turn generate a significant and growing amount of new tax dollars which would allow Columbus to fund many more of those "back-burner" projects in the long run, as opposed to cutting those projects because of potentially stagnated economic growth of the city as a whole.

I just see comments like the following as pretty clear signals that we need to figure out a better way to communicate how the city and it's budget depend on tax dollars and what types of things we need to do to generate more of those tax dollars...which is ultimately what the streetcar system is aiming to do: 

Link: Civic officials question streetcar plan
Gary Seman Jr.
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
March 13, 2008

Leaders of several neighborhood groups aren't quite on board with a multi-million dollar streetcar system proposed by the city of Columbus.

They say other infrastructure needs -- sidewalks, road-widening projects, and park and recreation facilities, to name a few -- are going unmet. The streetcar line would run along High Street from Ohio State University to German Village. The estimated cost is between $64-million and $154-million.

"What's the point here?" said John Best, president of the Far Northwest Civic Coalition (FNWCC). "We just want to say we have that service here in Columbus? I'm not sure what the point is."...

Report on Potential Funding Mechanisms for Proposed Columbus Streetcar Scheduled for March 27th

Link: TRANSCRIPT: Read Mayor Coleman's State Of City Speech
WBNS-10TV
March 13, 2008

...The costs of living keeps rising, especially the cost of just going to work, gas prices, parking, oil changes and maintenance. I was listening to a guest on the Wall Street Journal Reports the other day who said "don't be surprised if gas prices may reach $9.00 a gallon in America." That's right, $9.00 a gallon. Yesterday, I saw a gas station selling gas for $3.60 a gallon. Let me do the math on this, if you fill your 20 gallon tank once a week with $9.00 gas, you will pay an average of $180 a week, that's $8,640 a year! $9.00 per gallon. No way! The cost of gasoline in Great Britain in February was $8.52 per Gallon, in the Netherlands, $9.42 a gallon. Our city is not prepared even for $4.00 a gallon, which is right around the corner, and will force families to make tough choices. We must begin to move towards better transit in this city or our residents won't make it to work, our businesses will wither and our city's future will be in jeopardy. Every President of the United States of America and every Congress for the past 25 years have said our country is too dependent on foreign oil. Well, the time has come for Columbus to declare our independence. It's time to start with a 21st Century streetcar in in Columbus. Electrified, sleek, modern streetcars that operate alongside cars on High Street, and connect downtown with the Short North, Italian Village, Ohio State's campus. A study by the Danter Group projected that streetcars in Columbus would help spur thousands of new jobs, new housing, new hotel rooms, new visitors, and most importantly, about half a billion dollars in new economic development. Streetcars will help us connect people to our stores, our restaurants, the life downtown and neighborhoods to each other. Most of all it will give the working man and woman the freedom to get to work without digging ever deeper into their pockets for gasoline. On March 27, I invite you to join me at City Hall, to hear from the financial experts and planners on how we can build and operate the first rail transit system in our city in generations...

The John R. Maloney Health Center to serve as First Anchor at Former Schottenstein’s Department Store on Parsons Avenue

press release
(Columbus)  When the John R. Maloney Health Center closed in August 2006, Mayor Michael B. Coleman, City Councilmember Charleta Tavares, Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long and the Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers promised South Side residents that it would be replaced.  Today, residents learned that the new Maloney Center will be the anchor tenant at the redevelopment of the former Schottenstein’s Department Store site, located at 1887 South Parsons Avenue, and that the site of the temporary center, located at 3781 South High Street would be made permanent, doubling the access to health care for area residents. 

“The families living on the South Side will now have two places to receive quality health care when the new Maloney Center opens by 2012,” said Mayor Coleman.  “This new Health Center will not only offer great services, it will also serve as one of the anchors for the Greater Parsons Avenue Vision Plan we created with area residents, bringing more businesses and jobs to this commercial corridor.”

The Mayor has set aside $750,000 to begin design work on the new Maloney Center, which will serve as a catalyst in the revitalization planned for the Parsons Avenue area and at the site of former Schottenstein’s Department Store.  The City of Columbus and Columbus Urban Growth have been active in advancing the plan, by purchasing 47 properties along Parsons Avenue for $2.7 million.  Controlling the properties is a key element in beginning redevelopment. 

“Our health care clinics in Columbus serve as a lifeline for families that have either been priced out of the traditional health care system or are members of our growing immigrant community,” said Councilmember Charleta B. Tavares, chair of the Health, Housing and Human Services committee.  “The investment in the Maloney Center and others around the city ensure vital medical services will continue for years to come.”

As one of five Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers, the South High Street site offers quality health care, including family practice, prenatal care, nutrition services, OB/GYN, immunizations and pediatric services.  The Center also houses Columbus Public Health’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program which offers nutrition education, nutritious foods and breastfeeding education and support to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and infants and children under 5 years of age. 

"We deeply appreciate the City's efforts to bring the full range of primary care services to our back yard, and appreciate their commitment to make the ‘temporary’ Maloney Center on South High a permanent facility. It fills a serious need for our community members in the far southern corner of our region", said Kathleen Gmeiner, South Side Health Advisory Committee Co-chair .

"This new permanent center is an example of how great community leaders, healthcare and city leadership can work together to help bring high quality primary care to our residents. Because of their efforts, we can help women, children – and all people – live healthier lives,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long.

The former Schottenstein’s Department Store closed in 2005.  The City and Columbus Urban Growth Corporation worked with South Side residents through 2006 on an extensive public input process where the Greater Parsons Avenue Vision Plan was created.  Goals listed in the Plan include economic revitalization, enhanced community policing efforts and housing redevelopment.

"Maloney medical center to anchor Parsons revitalization effort" Business First of Columbus

Link: Maloney medical center to anchor Parsons revitalization effort
Business First of Columbus
March 13, 2008

The rebirth of the south side Parsons Avenue corridor will be a rebirth of sorts for a health center that shut down in 2006, city officials said Thursday.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced that the anchor tenant at the former Schottenstein's department store site will be a new John R. Maloney Health Center. Structural problems had forced the center, one of five facilities in nonprofit Columbus Neighborhood Health Center Inc.'s network, to shut down in August 2006 and later be demolished. A temporary center at 3781 South High St. will be made permanent, he said.

The city has allotted $750,000 to begin design work on the new center, Coleman said, which will take the place of the Schottenstein's store that closed in 2005 and sparked more than two years of talks involving area residents, the city and Columbus Urban Growth Corp., a Columbus-affiliated nonprofit development company...

"NetJets plans to expand in Columbus" The Columbus Dispatch

This is huge news for the city and a great big plus on keeping and creating jobs:

Link: NetJets plans to expand in Columbus
Marla Matzer Rose
The Columbus Dispatch
March 12, 2008

After considering at least three other cities for potential expansion, NetJets Aviation has decided to stay in Columbus and is expected to increase its work force by more than 800 people over the next several years.

The private jet company, controlled by billionaire Warren Buffett, said it will invest $200 million to expand its presence at Port Columbus. State and local governments will provide incentives of close to $100 million. The expansion will allow the company to concentrate its 2,022 central Ohio employees at one site while providing space to accommodate hiring plans...

"NetJets to stay, expand in Columbus" Business First of Columbus

Link: NetJets to stay, expand in Columbus
Adrian Burns
Business First of Columbus
March 12, 2008

Columbus has vanquished Raleigh, N.C., and other suitors to land a $200 million expansion by NetJets Inc.

Wooed by state and city incentives valued at $67.6 million, NetJets decided to consolidate its Easton offices into an expanded campus surrounding its maintenance, operations and training facility at Port Columbus International Airport.

The project is expected to bring more than 800 jobs to Central Ohio over the next six years, said CEO Richard Santulli...

"Orchestra at center of cultural appeal" The Columbus Dispatch

This editorial piece from the Dispatch strengthens my theory and concept, in part anyways, that downtown's long-term success lies in ensuring is remains and continues to grow as a regional destination with unique venues and events that people can experience anywhere else in Central Ohio. Which Grandview Yard in Grandview on the drawing boards, we can pretty much factor downtown as a retail destination in my opinion. Why would we create to "malls" within a couple of miles of eachother.

Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Entrepreneurialism...that's where downtown's future is at:

Link: Orchestra at center of cultural appeal
Letter to the Editor
The Columbus Dispatch
March 12, 2008

We have lived in Meigs County on a farm for more than 30 years, a peaceful and pastoral environment that we cherish. We are educated, love the arts and are not poor.

We visit Columbus about 10 times a year to enjoy the more urban amenities not available where we live. These trips are always centered on performances by the excellent Columbus Symphony Orchestra. (Such is our delight with its quality that we have included a substantial bequest for it in our wills if it survives.) We stay in a Downtown hotel, dine in good to excellent restaurants and shop at the North Market and at upscale retail establishments. We spend more than $500 on each visit. We also visit other cultural venues...

Mayor Announces $1.45 Million Investment for Neighborhood Cameras

press release
(COLUMBUS)  Looking to protect residents and prevent crime with high tech tools, Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s 2008 State of the City Address will include a proposal for $1.45 million for the first round of neighborhood safety cameras, in addition to $200,000 set aside by Councilmember Priscilla Tyson for adding cameras and other security enhancements at recreation centers.  The pilot safety camera initiative is a recommendation of a task force of local residents, the Division of Police, Recreation and Parks, and the Department of Technology. 

“Safety cameras will prevent crime and provide an important investigative tool for Police Officers to solve crimes,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “Technology tools such as cameras are one more innovative way our comprehensive strategy is adapting in the 21st Century.  While we continue hiring more officers, and working our Police Strike Force, we also will test tools that make the job of Officers easier by serving as force multipliers.”

The City’s plan will also add mobile safety cameras and camera towers at large events and festivals.  The City will hire a consultant to assist in implementing the safety camera neighborhood and Recreation Center pilot projects, basing locations on community support and crime trends. 

City Councilmember Priscilla Tyson, worked with the Mayor and set aside funding in the 2007 Capital Budget for the safety cameras at Recreation Centers.  “I believe that Recreation Centers are already safe places for families to enjoy,” said Tyson, who chairs the Recreation and Parks Committee.  “These cameras will increase the level of protection we can provide and serve as a deterrent to crime, while assisting Columbus officers when needed.”   

In May 2007 Mayor Coleman created an inter-departmental committee to research safety cameras with the departments of Safety, Technology and Recreation and Parks and the City Attorney’s office and area residents.  They looked at best practices in cities such as Chicago where crime dropped 30% in areas equipped with cameras.  In addition, the committee examined different camera technology including neighborhood cameras, recreation center cameras, mobile vehicle cameras and graffiti cameras. 

“Safety cameras will not only alleviate the criminal element but help keep our kids safe in the neighborhoods,” said Bill Adams, Chairperson, Executive Committee of the East Columbus Civic Association.

The committee’s research found numerous cities that are using mobile camera vehicles to provide law enforcement with a technology tool that gives them the ability to view large, highly populated events. The vehicles are equipped with a computer network, telescoping boom and a microwave satellite dish that allows officers to view video from remote locations.

“We listened to residents, and many told me they want cameras in their neighborhoods and now we have identified funding to get started,” said Mayor Coleman.  “Community support and a regard for privacy concerns will be very important elements of our effort.”

The City currently has five graffiti cameras that have been in use in our neighborhoods since 2006. They have been very effective in preventing graffiti and apprehending illegal dumpers. In 2008, the City will purchase two additional graffiti cameras with grant funding to supplement these efforts.
Additional Media Contacts: 
Bill Adams, 595-4360 (cell), East Columbus Civic Association
Ian McConnell, 292-9319 (w), University Area

"$1.2 million pledged to local arts groups" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: $1.2 million pledged to local arts groups
Barbara Carmen
The Columbus Dispatch
March 11, 2008

Franklin County will chip in $1.2 million to leading arts groups, including the Columbus Symphony, while a consortium works with business and community leaders to look for matching funds to stabilize the arts.

“We so often talk about Columbus as a sports community. Columbus is arts, too,” Commissioner Marilyn Brown said.

Today, the commissioners pledged $600,000 a year through 2009 to lure matching private donations to the “Thrive in Five” campaign by the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium.

That group's members received $700,000 from the city of Columbus toward its goal of raising $2.8 million this year, and $4 million next year...

"Police to employ extra 'eyes'" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Police to employ extra 'eyes'
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
March 12, 2008

Columbus will use surveillance cameras in neighborhoods and during public events such as Ohio State football games to help police fight crime and find criminals, Mayor Michael B. Coleman said yesterday.

The city will spend $1.45 million to install cameras in neighborhoods that want them, Coleman said. Some of the money also will be used for mobile cameras that will be mounted on police vans and portable towers and will be turned on during festivals, football games and other events.

Columbus has been studying surveillance cameras -- or safety cameras, as the mayor calls them -- for almost a year. They're used in cities such as Chicago, where police say they've cut crime by 30 percent...

"Ann Fisher commentary: Queen Bee in clover, thanks to lender" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Ann Fisher commentary: Queen Bee in clover, thanks to lender
Ann Fisher
The Columbus Dispatch
March 12, 2008

...She pointed to the parking lot across S. 4th Street from the Queen Bee, a Downtown casual-dining institution since 1949 that Perry and her husband took over in January 2007. "If that lot is full, I'm usually busy."

When it's not, when times are slow, Perry said, she is especially grateful for her relationship with the Economic and Community Development Institute.

Through December, the nonprofit group that was started in 2004 has channeled local, state, federal and private dollars to nontraditional borrowers for 156 business startups and 125 expansions. Fifty percent were immigrant-owned, and 83 percent were minority-owned...

...Other loan candidates might need more training than the Perrys and a longer timeline to get started, said Inna Kinney, president and founder of the Economic and Community Development Institute (www.ecdi.org)...

"Top 10 Up-And-Coming Tech Cities" Forbes.com

Link: Top 10 Up-And-Coming Tech Cities
Forbes.com
March 12, 2008

...No. 1: Columbus, Ohio. In 1997, the Battelle Memorial Institute, Ohio's largest research center, based in Columbus, managed a single lab for the U.S. Department of Energy with an annual budget of $1 billion. A decade later, Battelle oversees seven major laboratories for different federal agencies; current budget: $4 billion.

The institute has become a force in almost every area of emerging technology, especially life sciences and energy research. One of its children, Velocys, is working on a way to cut the cost of capturing the 3 trillion cubic feet of the world's stranded natural gas by converting it to easily transportable liquid.

If Columbus seems a surprising choice, consider the up-and-coming tech hotbeds that are Nos. 2 through 5 on Auerswald's list. In order, they are Santa Fe, N.M.; Palm Beach County, Fla.; Houston; and Milwaukee, Wis...

"Columbus ranks first on Forbes.com list of up-and-coming tech cities" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Columbus ranks first on Forbes.com list of up-and-coming tech cities
Amy Saunders
The Columbus Dispatch
March 11, 2008

Columbus is the No. 1 up-and-coming tech city in the United States, according to a new list by Forbes.com.

The rankings highlight the success of Battelle in the past decade. During that period, the research-and-development organization has grown from managing one major government laboratory to managing seven...

"Short North" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Short North
The Columbus Dispatch
March 11, 2008

...Lindsay and all the other gallery, boutique and restaurant owners in the Short North may have to get used to all this media attention. The city's eclectic, bohemian district is hot -- even the lights on the arches are working -- and could get even hotter, according to John Angelo, executive director of the Short North Business Association.

The association recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and unveiled a long list of plans to ensure that the next 25 years see continued growth and even more foot traffic along High Street from the Greater Columbus Convention Center to 5th Avenue.

The plan includes connecting the Short North with Ohio State's South Campus Gateway, getting more conventioneers to take the short walk north, attracting out-of-state visitors who see the district as a destination and aggressively recruiting businesses to move in and build on the base already in place...

"ON RESTAURANTS | Coffee shop blends in gallery, community feel" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: ON RESTAURANTS | Coffee shop blends in gallery, community feel
Bill Chronister
The Columbus Dispatch
March 11, 2008

The thing about the new Urban-Spirit Coffee Shop, 893 E. Long St., is not that it's probably the only place in the area to get a high-quality cup of coffee, or a croissant or sandwich for lunch.

The thing is, Charity Martin-Via has decided to live her dream, and help her King-Lincoln neighborhood at the same time.

"I was working in the Columbus mayor's office, and I had a close friend pass away at age 29, and my father became terminally ill, and I stopped and took stock," the 32-year-old Martin-Via said as she sat with friends in her new shop...

"Chugging along" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Chugging along
The Columbus Dispatch
March 11, 2008

Now might be the time to shake the cobwebs off plans for a passenger-train line linking Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dayton just might be now.

Gasoline prices keep climbing, while roadways and air corridors have become so congested that travel delays are the norm. Add to that mix the tightening of security at the nation's airports and the resulting hassles that passengers must endure.

Throughout his 13 months in office, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has demonstrated a grasp of Ohio's economic problems. In a Feb. 26 letter to Amtrak requesting a study of a Columbus-Cleveland passenger-train line and a separate estimate for an extension to Dayton and Cincinnati, he cited the potential economic benefits...

"Bernanke calls for home-loan cuts" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Bernanke calls for home-loan cuts
Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press
The Columbus Dispatch
March 5, 2008

...Rising foreclosures threaten to worsen the problems in the housing market and for the national economy, which many fear is on the verge of a recession or in one already.

"Reducing the rate of preventable foreclosures would promote economic stability for households, neighborhoods and the nation as a whole," Bernanke said. "Although lenders and servicers have scaled up their efforts and adopted a wider variety of loss-mitigation techniques, more can, and should, be done," the Fed chief said.

One of the suggestions Bernanke made was for mortgage and other financial companies to reduce the amount of the loan to provide relief to a struggling owner. "Principal reductions that restore some equity for the homeowner may be a relatively more effective means of avoiding delinquency and foreclosure," Bernanke said...

Casto announces first retail and office clients move-in at Broad and High project in Columbus

press release
Columbus, Ohio – CASTO, one of the country’s leading real estate organizations, opens doors at Broad and High project to first retail tenant, Café Lola and office tenant, Paul Werth Associates.

Paul Werth Associates, a full-service public relations, advertising, public affairs and research firm, occupies 10,441 square feet of office space at Broad and High.   In business for 45 years, Werth decided to make their first move in 44 years, just blocks away from the firm’s old offices.  “We are committed to downtown and moving to the most exciting corner of the city is an extraordinary occasion for our firm”, says Sandy Harbrecht, President of Paul Werth Associates.

Café Lola, owned and operated by restaurateurs Lori and Kevin Ames occupies 1,600 square feet of space.  Open Monday to Friday from 7:30am-4pm, they offer an array of delicious breakfasts and sandwiches with great price points.  After being open a few days, their lunch crowd is already booming with a line out the door just yesterday!

The rest of the project anticipates an opening this Spring, including the condominium component, 8 on the Square, with available homes ranging from $219,000 to over $1 million.  For more information on retail, office and residential availability, please visit www.broadandhigh.com.

About CASTO
CASTO, a fully integrated real estate organization based in Columbus, Ohio since 1926, is a recognized leader in the ownership, management, acquisition and development of commercial shopping centers and multi-family residences, office buildings and corporate parks. CASTO’s growing portfolio currently includes over 20 million square feet of commercial property in 90+ shopping centers and more than 4,000 residential units in 14 apartment communities located primarily throughout the mid-western and southeastern United States.  CASTO currently has more than five million square feet of retail in development.  CASTO also has offices in Sarasota, Florida, Raleigh, North Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina which specialize in real estate development, brokerage and management primarily in Florida and the Carolinas.  To learn more about CASTO, visit www.castoinfo.com.

Casto Lifestyle Properties, based in Sarasota, Florida, focuses on the development of mixed-use lifestyle centers and is at the forefront of this niche of the industry.  Following the successful development of Winter Park Village, in Winter Park, Florida, Casto Lifestyle Properties has developed and opened five mixed-use lifestyle projects in Florida and North Carolina and has two new projects underway in Morrisville/Cary, North Carolina and Mt. Prospect/Chicago, Illinois.  To learn more about Casto Lifestyle Properties, visit www.castolp.com.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors As Record Snowfall Melts

As City Crews move to clear ice from catch basins, Mayor asks residents to do their part to prevent flooding

press release
(Columbus)  As Department of Public Utilities employees continue to assist Public Service Department crews in plowing Columbus’ streets, they are beginning to clear melting ice and snow from catch basins.  Mayor Michael B. Coleman is asking residents to step up and do their part by shoveling walks and to prevent flooding by moving melting snow and ice from catch basins on their street as temperatures rise again this week.   

“Our snow warriors continue to work round the clock to clear snow and ice from streets, but we all can pitch in to help our neighbors, especially seniors, by shoveling sidewalks and helping clear catch basins on the streets where we live,” said Mayor Coleman.

Residents also can help by clearing ice and snow from sump pump outlet pipes to prevent water from backing up into basements.

Churches, area commissions, civic associations and other neighborhood groups can band together to clear catch basins in their areas to allow the melting snow and ice to flow into storm sewers.  Residents should shovel the snow and ice into the sewer and onto the curb, but away from sidewalks.  Heat within the sewer will melt the ice.

The City maintains more than 40,000 catch basins and nearly 6,000 miles of sewers.

Northland Village starting Phase I development: City transfers parcel to Columbus Urban Growth

Menard’s firms up commitment as eastern anchor

press release
(Columbus)  Redevelopment of the former Northland Mall has been a commitment of Mayor Michael B. Coleman since the mall closed its doors in 2002, and tonight the Mayor and City Council will move forward a land transfer to allow Phase I of the development of Northland Village to progress.  The City and its development partner Columbus Urban Growth Corporation are working together to redevelop the approximately 84-acre site, and Council is scheduled to vote tonight on legislation to convey specified portions of the Northland Mall property to CUGC to facilitate the development of a Menard’s, home improvement store.

“I am pleased with the progress that has been made at Northland Village.  The empty shell of the former mall could have been left a vacant and blighted wasteland, but, together, we stepped up to take action through public and private investment to help restore the vibrancy of the Morse Road corridor,” said Mayor Coleman.

Last year, Columbus Urban Growth Corporation and The Stonehenge Company announced a partnership to redevelop the remaining 57 acres at Northland as an $80 million project dubbed “Northland Village.”  Menards, a home improvement store, was the first anchor to commit to build on the site’s eastern district.  The final build-out will result will include more than 550,000 square-feet of new development and generate more than 800 jobs onsite, in addition to the 1,000+ jobs already at the Ohio Department of Taxation.

“The redevelopment of the Northland Mall site is the key to unlocking economic development for the entire Morse Road corridor,” said Development Committee Chair Maryellen O’Shaughnessy.  “The City of Columbus continues to invest in much needed infrastructure improvements, including sidewalks and bike lanes that will make the area more accessible to all residents.”

Together, the two anchors will draw increased traffic and consumers to the site in order to fulfill the dream of creating a mixed-use Northland community gathering space that will restore a civic center for the Morse Road corridor with pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, parks and neighborhood retail, dining and offices.

“Our goal is to provide Northland with a community gathering place. When I was growing up the mall was the center of the Northland community; now the center of the community will be Northland Village. This has been a community driven development from the start and local leaders as well as the Mayor and Council are to be commended for their persistence, perseverance, and patience in making sure that it was done right and remained community focused, said Mark Froelich, Urban Growth president.”

Upon completion of the project the City of Columbus will have invested more than $38 million on redevelopment of the site and infrastructure improvements on Morse Road.  The investment includes $19.4 million on site redevelopment, including acquisition of land, utility improvements and new roads for the redevelopment plan and $18 million in improvements along Morse Road that are already built or scheduled for the corridor from I-71 to Cleveland Avenue.

Phase 2, including the 1.5 miles from Karl to Cleveland, will build a landscaped median, new curbs and gutters, street trees, sidewalks, improved streetlights and traffic signals and pedestrian crossing upgrades at intersections.  Work on Phase 2 will start in 2008 and will be complete in 2009.

Contact:  Mike Brown, Mayor’s Office,          614-645-6428      
John Ivanic, City Council,          614-645-6798      
Cynthia Rickman, Development,          614-645-8795      
Mike Duffey, Columbus Urban Growth,          614-416-7100      

Columbus City Council Meeting Highlights - March 10, 2008

March 10, 2008
For More Information:
John Ivanic, 645-6798

REDEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTHLAND MALL SITE:  City Council continues to move forward with one of the most important redevelopment projects in Columbus with ordinance 0427-2008.  Sponsored by Development Committee Chair Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, this legislation will transfer approximately 16 acres along the eastern boundary of the former Northland Mall site to the Columbus Urban Growth Corporation (CUGC).  Subsequent sale of the land by CUGC will be used to cover costs associated with the complex redevelopment project.  The City has been working with CUGC to revitalize this portion of Morse Road since purchasing the defunct Northland Mall property in 2003.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY:  The City of Columbus is currently preparing accommodations for the largest Hispanic cultural event in Ohio.  Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 0334-2008 to accept an $18,788 Ohio Arts Council grant that will be used to cover artists' fees, marketing expenses and a bilingual sign-language interpreter for stage performers at the 2008 Festival Latino.  This annual event continues to provide the Columbus community with an entertaining opportunity to better understand and appreciate the growing Latino population in central Ohio.

EQUIPPING THE WEST SIDE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER:  The City of Columbus is building a new health center on the West Side to provide critical health services to residents.  President Pro Tem Kevin L. Boyce is sponsoring ordinance 0326-2008 to appropriate $235,159.16 for a contract to purchase new dental equipment for the facility.  By purchasing the equipment before the facility is completed, the City will save money by capitalizing on current market prices rather than waiting for future price increases.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATIONS:  Efficient emergency response remains a top priority for City Council.   Public Safety Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 0359-2008 to purchase the equipment necessary to interconnect the new Emergency Alerting System hardware and software for all of the City of Columbus fire stations and dispatching facilities. The integrated routing equipment will provide enhanced support for the Division of Fire's daily activities by offering faster and more reliable voice and data information to our first responders.

PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:  The City’s Domestic Violence Unit assists witnesses and victims of domestic violence by providing counseling and referrals, and linking them to appropriate agencies and community resources.  Judiciary and Court Administration Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 0418-2008 to utilize $33,000 from the City Attorney’s budget to provide required matching funds for a $100,000 grant from Franklin County’s Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs.  These combined funds will help two Prosecutors from the City Attorney’s office staff the Domestic Violence Unit.

COUNCIL WORKING TO END HOMELESSNESS:  The Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA) uses HOME funds to provide rental subsidies and security deposits for the chronically homeless who participate in the Rebuilding Lives initiative.  Health, Housing and Human Services Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 0399-2008 to enter into a $120,000 contract with the YMCA to administer and operate the tenant-based services.  This housing program provides shelter and links to vital services such as food pantries, health programs and job training.

COLUMBUS’ HUMANE SOCIETY CELEBRATING 125 YEARS:  The Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS) provides shelter and care to thousands of animals each year. Council President Michael C. Mentel is sponsoring resolution 0053X-2008, to honor CAHS as they celebrate their 125th anniversary.  In commemoration of their anniversary, CAHS is bringing some of the animals they have up for adoption to Council Chambers.

"Coffee shop owner aiding in revival of historic King-Lincoln district" Business First of Columbus

Link: Coffee shop owner aiding in revival of historic King-Lincoln district
[account required]
Dan Eaton
Business First of Columbus
March 7, 2008

Charity Martin-Via hopes her new coffee shop becomes not only a destination for a cup of joe, but also a shot for development along a stretch of Long Street on Columbus' Near East Side.

Urban-Spirit Coffee Shop Ltd. opened last month at 893 Long St. in the restored Alpha Building, which once was home to the first black-owned hospital in the city. Martin-Via, a former city employee, had been working on the shop since the fall.

"I'm a freelance artist at heart," she said. "I leveraged my savings and stepped out on faith."...

"Recyclable wastes from business clogging landfill" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Recyclable wastes from business clogging landfill
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
March 9, 2008

...Businesses account for 60 percent -- more than a half-million tons per year -- of the trash dumped locally.

Few of us are recycling at home. But few businesses are even giving workers the chance at offices, shops, restaurants, warehouses and factories.

"A lot of them don't get it -- or they're just starting to get it," said John Remy, spokesman for the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio...

...Lessner estimates that she has been involved in about a dozen efforts to boost recycling by restaurants and other businesses. Most recently, she's on a panel convened by Downtown's Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District that is trying to coordinate businesses into a single waste-hauling contract that would make recycling more affordable...

"Land transfer makes way for 1st phase of Northland Village" Business First of Columbus:

Link: Land transfer makes way for 1st phase of Northland Village
Business First of Columbus
March 11, 2008

The first retail tenant at the former Northland Mall site is lined up to begin construction after Columbus City Council approved a land transfer at its Monday evening meeting.

City council passed emergency legislation that transfers about 35 acres of land to Columbus Urban Growth Corp., a city nonprofit. Urban Growth is working with Gahanna-based Stonehenge Co. to develop the 84-acre, mixed-use site that will be known as Northland Village. The land transfer, which included the 16.2-acre property that had served as the site of a Sears Roebuck & Co. store and nearly 20 surrounding acres, clears home improvement retailer and Northland Village anchor Menard Inc. to begin construction on a 160,000-square-foot store, said Urban Growth spokesman Mike Duffey.

The city expects the final build-out of the project to include more than 550,000 square feet of newly developed space and create more than 800 jobs in addition to more than 1,000 workers at the Ohio Department of Taxation office there...

"8% slide in prices accompanies drop in January home sales" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: 8% slide in prices accompanies drop in January home sales
Mike Pramik
The Columbus Dispatch
March 10, 2008

The Columbus Board of Realtors said home sales got off to an unsurprisingly poor start in 2008.

But the big drop in the average sale price of the properties might open a few eyes.

The board said 1,225 homes were sold within the Central Ohio Multiple Listing Service in January, down 18.9 percent from 1,510 sales in January 2007.

What is perhaps surprising is the 8 percent decline in the average sale price of those houses. They sold for $152,790, compared with a little more than $166,000 in January 2007...

"Altered bridge design shaves millions off tab" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Altered bridge design shaves millions off tab
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
March 9, 2008

The last time Columbus planned for a Downtown bridge over the Scioto River, bids for a Main Street span came in almost $15 million higher than expected.

So here's a bit of welcome news: When it's to build a companion bridge between Town and Rich streets, city officials say they've found ways to do it for $9.5 million less.

By tweaking the design for the bridge connecting the Downtown side of the river with Franklinton, Public Service Director Mark Kelsey said Columbus will get its next big project done cheaper and faster...

"Stadium funding approved, sort of" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Stadium funding approved, sort of
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
March 8, 2008

A state commission approved money yesterday for Franklin County's new minor-league baseball stadium, but the two sides in a running dispute over construction contracts differed on what that meant.

County Commissioner Paula Brooks called the decision by the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission a vote of confidence in the Huntington Park project.

State Rep. Larry Wolpert, R-Hilliard, called the action meaningless..

...Legislators, including Wolpert, approved a capital budget for the state last year that included the $7 million for Huntington Park, but the money still must be released by the Controlling Board...

Mayor, Council, OSU President and Students join Campus Area Residents to Dedicate 150 New Streetlights

$1 Million Project Means Brighter Lighting, Safer Streets

press release
(Columbus)  Last July, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Ohio State University students broke ground for 150 new streetlights in the campus area with a projected completion date of July 2008.  Today, four months ahead of schedule, the Mayor, OSU students, City Council, OSU President E. Gordon Gee and neighbors turned on the lights in a dedication ceremony near the Summit United Methodist Church.  The nearly $1 million project upgraded street lights installed in the 1970s to improve safety in the neighborhood.

“The City and OSU are committed to making campus area streets safer, and I am proud the students stepped up to ask for the lights and be part of this partnership,” Mayor Coleman said.  “Our investment in these street lights and construction of the new Moody/Hall Neighborhood Policing Center on 11th Avenue sends a clear message to criminals that we stand together against you.”

The new lights were installed on a dozen streets and are placed 160 feet apart which is closer together than the standard 180-foot spacing for street lights.  The closer spacing make the lights appear to be brighter.

“The culmination of years of Ohio State students working closely with the City have led to this great development for our campus,” OSU Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Kate Christobek said.  “I can attest that students at Ohio State couldn’t be more excited about what an excellent change this new lighting brings to our neighborhood.”

“I am very proud of the leadership of our Undergraduate Student Government,” said Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee.  “By working closely with officials from the City of Columbus to improve lighting in areas adjacent to the campus, these students are enhancing the safety of those who live in and visit the University District.”

Funding for the $938,000 project began with an initial investment of $295,000 from the City’s Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund (UIRF) in the Development Department, with the balance included in the City’s 2007 Capital Improvements Budget.  The project’s original timeline called for its completion by November 2009.  However, Mayor Coleman in 2006 directed the Department of Public Utilities and the Development Department to work with OSU and City Council to make this project a priority and begin construction 18 months earlier than planned.  The accelerated construction scheduled brought completion of the project 21 months earlier than originally scheduled.

“This project continues a City Council commitment to improve the utilities infrastructure of Columbus neighborhoods,” said City Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther, Chair of the Safety and Utilities committees.  “These lights will provide a previously unmatched level of safety and security for those who live and visit this area.”

The lights were installed within the following boundaries:

• North:  Woodruff Avenue
• South:  Chittenden Avenue
• East:  Summit Street
• West:  North High Street

The 150 decorative street lights were installed on 12 streets:

• Indianola Avenue
• 12th Avenue
• 13th Avenue
• 14th Avenue
• 15th Avenue
• 16th Avenue
• 17th Avenue
• 18th Avenue
• 19th Avenue
• Waldeck Avenue
• Iuka Avenue
• Woodruff Avenue

"Campus neighborhood brighter, perhaps safer" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Campus neighborhood brighter, perhaps safer
Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
March 7, 2008

Columbus has turned on the last of 150 new streetlights east of the Ohio State University campus, four months ahead of schedule, to give students more of a sense of security in an area plagued by break-ins and other crimes.

After prodding by OSU's Undergraduate Student Government, the city spent $938,000 to put in the decorative lights, which some say make the area feel more like a neighborhood...

...The lights were installed along 12 streets in an area bordered by Woodruff Avenue, Summit Street, Chittenden Avenue and N. High Street: E. 12th, E. 13th, E. 14th, E. 15th, E. 16th, E. 17th, E. 18th and E. 19th avenues, and Indianola, Waldeck, Iuka and Woodruff avenues...

"Residents continue talks on plans for neighborhood" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Residents continue talks on plans for neighborhood
Jennifer Nesbitt
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
March 6, 2008

Sustainability, green space, walkability and development continue to be key topics as Clintonville residents work to develop their community plan.

Over the past month, the Clintonville area commissioners have conducted meetings within their districts to allow residents to address concerns directly related to their neighborhoods...

"Ohio government earns B-minus on how well it runs" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Ohio government earns B-minus on how well it runs
Jonathon Riskind
The Columbus Dispatch
March 8, 2008

...The Grading the States 2008 report unveiled this week is the "only 50-state assessment of its kind that evaluates and grades each state based on a range of areas, from budget and finance to roads and bridges," says a news release by Pew. "The report demonstrates the importance of state governments that work better and cost less, particularly in the wake of widespread budget deficits and a weakening national economy."

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland gets some credit for his "Turnaround Ohio" initiative, which Governing describes as showing that Strickland is willing to get "personally involved in improving the way information is used to manage" his state with a plan that "includes flexible performance agreements with his agency heads." The report's Ohio summary says the plan will "drive the state toward specific, measurable goals."...

"Home Foreclosures Hit Record High" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Home Foreclosures Hit Record High
Associated Press
The Columbus Dispatch
March 6, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Home foreclosures soared to an all-time high in the final three months of 2007 and probably will keep rising, evidence of homeowners' suffering and the economic danger from the meltdown.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday the proportion of all mortgages that slipped into foreclosure set a record, 0.83 percent, from October through December. The previous high, 0.78 percent, came in the July-through-September period.

"Clearly it's the worst it's been," the association's chief economist, Doug Duncan, said in an interview with The Associated Press...

Columbus City Council Highlights for March 3, 2008

March 3, 2008
For More Information:
John Ivanic, 645-6798

PROVIDING RESIDENTS VITAL HEALTH SERVICES: Construction of the new health center at 2300 West Broad Street is underway.  Council President Pro Tem Kevin L. Boyce is sponsoring ordinance 0332-2008 which will authorize the City to enter into a $6,139,200 contract, allowing construction of The West Side Family Health Center to begin.  The center will provide medical treatment to residents of the West Side community.  The equipment to provide these services was funded by earlier legislation sponsored by Councilmember Boyce (ordinances 0047-2008 and 0060-2008).  The West Side Family Health Center will be constructed using energy efficient LEED construction standards.

COUNCIL WORKING TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH:  TechColumbus provides start-up technology-based organizations with the consultation and capital they need to successfully enter the market.  Development Committee Chair Maryellen O’Shaughnessy is sponsoring ordinance 0345-2008 which will allow the City to enter into an $188,000 contract with TechColumbus for the administration of the Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP).  The ESP program is part of a collaborative effort between the State and City to drive economic development in Central Ohio over the next decade.  Councilmember O’Shaughnessy supported this initiative with her 2008 budget amendments.

ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS IN NEED:  Even with spring right around the corner, the need for home maintenance and repair services to low income elderly and disabled homeowners remains critical.   Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 0355-2008 which will authorize the expenditure of $44,500 to modify the City’s contract with LifeCare Alliance and allow the organization to continue providing minor maintenance services to eligible homeowners.  Examples of the services provided by the Chores Program include replacement or repair of leaking faucets and commodes, faulty light fixtures and switches, loose or missing sections of porch decking or steps, and installation of handrails, smoke detectors and deadbolt locks.  Eligible homeowners may receive up to $1,000 in home repairs within one calendar year.

NEW WATERPARK SPLASHING ON THE COLUMBUS SCENE: The Columbus Zoo is preparing to open a new attraction this summer that is sure to be hit for families and children of all ages.  The 22.7