Franklin County approves $500,000 grant for Columbus Urban League to expand minority business services

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on a recorded vote approved Resolution 356-26, authorizing a $500,000 grant to the Columbus Urban League to support the Minority Business Assistance Center and the Incubate Her entrepreneurship program.

County staff described the agreement as a multi-pronged effort to provide business advising, certification readiness support, procurement connections, capital access guidance and technical assistance to small and minority-owned businesses across Franklin County. The county outlined expected outreach and service goals: engage 120 entrepreneurs through workshops and advising, assist at least 40 entrepreneurs with certification-readiness services, and support two 16-week Incubate Her cohorts serving a minimum of 40 women during the contract year.

During discussion, a commissioner asked whether the Urban League effort duplicated a previously funded county initiative aimed at certification assistance and small-business support. County deputies said they would research differences between the programs and report back to the board before implementation. The board then moved and seconded the resolution; voting recorded two yes votes and one abstention by Commissioner Boyce. The resolution was adopted with the noted abstention.

The grant is administered through the county Office of Economic Development and Planning with support from the prosecuting attorney's office, according to the staff presentation. The resolution’s materials identify program targets, cohorts, and a link to other funding partners mentioned by the presenter, including a private grant partnership used to provide follow-on capital opportunities for program graduates.

The board did not specify an implementation timeline in the meeting record; staff said they would follow up on program distinctions and bring related administrative details to the county as needed.