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City presents $6.8M operating request for economic development and small business programs
Summary
Deputy Director Bill Webster told Columbus City Council the Department of Development’s 2025 request focuses on small-business programs, continuation of Accelerate Columbus and the Ground Floor Growth initiative, and managing roughly $121 million in project investments tied to incentives, TIF and bonds.
Deputy Director Bill Webster presented the Department of Development’s proposed 2025 operating budget to the Columbus City Council, asking for $6.8 million for economic development and small business work and describing program priorities including Accelerate Columbus, the Ground Floor Growth initiative and the EDAP program.
Webster said the $6.8 million operating request is a roughly 2% increase over last year and funds staffing and programmatic support to manage about $121 million in project investments, including roughly $50 million in tax-increment financing and about $71 million in bond funding. “In short, our operating budget of $6,800,000 provides the staffing and programmatic support needed to manage $121,000,000 in project investments,” Webster said.
Why it matters: Council members emphasized small businesses’ role in neighborhood economies and job…
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