Franklin County commissioners approve $3 million housing MOU, $1.53 million youth jobs funding and multiple grants

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on May 12 adopted a series of resolutions that together fund housing, youth employment, road and drainage projects, vendor contracts and grants.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding with CAG Westerville Uptown Acquisitions LLC that commits $3,000,000 in county funding toward a proposed 247-unit residential development in Westerville. Robin Morehead, assistant prosecuting attorney, said the county funding requires 30% of the units (about 74 of 247) to be income-restricted and leased at no more than 80% of area median income for at least 18 years; the MOU also requires the developer to wire units for broadband and provide internet to income-restricted units at no charge for a minimum of 18 years. Commissioners asked questions about unit mix, parking (a 400-space garage planned for the mixed-use project) and how the county share compares with prior deals before adopting the measure.

Carmen Barnes, chief operating officer for Job and Family Services, presented a $1,534,712.83 package of subagreements for the Ready to Earn summer youth employment program. The funding will support three community partners—Godman Guild Association, Lead the Way Learning Academy and Saint Stephen's Community House—and is intended to provide skills training and paid work experiences for roughly 373 youth and young adults, with wages up to $15 per hour and program tracks that include pre-apprenticeship and credentialing opportunities. The board voted to adopt Resolution 30126.

County staff also won approval for several infrastructure and programmatic actions: the drainage engineer’s 10-year capital improvement program for drainage systems and an amendment to the county engineer’s 10-year roads and bridges CIP; award of a $649,825 contract for a guardrail maintenance program; authorization to apply for Safe Routes to School funding for sidewalk work near Ridgewood Elementary; and a preliminary allocation of motor vehicle license fee funds for roadway improvements in Grove City. The board adopted each resolution by roll call.

Other approved items included acceptance of a $9,000 Ohio EPA community and litter grant to support the county’s biannual Shred Hunger event; a supplemental contract with Willow Products Company LLC for security doors at the Franklin County Corrections Center ($131,430); a contract modification with AddisTek to continue the Office on Aging’s case management system (increasing the contract to $2,408,290); and a $160,000 grant to Ohio Film Futures for youth media workforce training.

Purchasing director Perry Ballonier presented 69 purchase orders across county agencies totaling $578,007,797.72, which the board approved after the auditor certified available funding. The board also approved a $152,000 contract extension to complete the 2026 Central Ohio Regional Assessment on Aging and a $50,000 grant to Legacies United Foundation to support youth leadership programming.

In routine fiscal business, the board approved a $4.5 million transfer from the general fund to bond retirement funds for a June 1 debt service payment and appointed Heather Renee Adams to the County Hospital Commission to fill an unexpired term running through Feb. 18, 2031.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 29026 (OEPA community and litter grant, $9,000): Adopted - Resolution 29126 (Drainage engineer 10-year CIP): Adopted - Resolution 29226 (Roads and bridges CIP amendment): Adopted - Resolution 29326 (Guardrail contract, $649,825): Adopted - Resolution 29426 (Safe Routes to School grant application): Adopted - Resolution 29526 (Motor vehicle license fee allocation to Grove City): Adopted - Resolution 29626 (AddisTek contract modification, total $2,408,290): Adopted - Resolution 29726 (Central Ohio Regional Assessment on Aging, not to exceed $152,000): Adopted - Resolution 29826 (Annexation petition to Hilliard, complies with ORC 709.021 & 709.023): Adopted - Resolution 29926 (Legacies United Foundation grant, $50,000): Adopted - Resolution 30026 (Ohio Film Futures grant, $160,000): Adopted - Resolution 30126 (Ready to Earn summer youth employment, $1,534,712.83): Adopted - Resolution 30226 (Security doors at Corrections Center, $131,430): Adopted - Resolution 30326 (Purchases, 69 POs, $578,007,797.72): Adopted - Resolution 30426 (MOU with CAG Westerville Uptown Acquisitions LLC, $3,000,000): Adopted - Resolution 30526 (Transfer of funds for debt service): Adopted - Resolution 30626 (Appointment to County Hospital Commission—Heather Renee Adams): Adopted

Why it matters

The meeting combined routine procurement and capital planning with several items that affect housing and workforce investments. The Westerville MOU ties county subsidy to long-term affordability and broadband provisions; the Ready to Earn funding funnels more than $1.5 million to summer jobs and training for hundreds of youth, a key county workforce pipeline effort. Several infrastructure actions update the county’s multi-year capital plans for drainage, roads and guardrails.

What’s next

Most items were adopted on first presentation and require administrative follow-up: contract execution, grant acceptance paperwork, and coordination with municipal partners (Hilliard, Grove City, Westerville) and vendors. The board adjourned with a note that rezoning items will be scheduled for a future meeting.