Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman’s new economic plan will attract high-tech businesses to the university area, creating jobs while enhancing the science and technology foundation at Ohio State.
“We’re focusing on research and technology as we create jobs in Columbus,” said Mike Brown, press secretary for the mayor’s office. “Technology is Columbus’ greatest asset.”
On Feb. 13, Coleman announced his proposal to attract high-tech businesses to the university area in his State of the City address.
“Technology businesses will be offered incentives to locate there (on Kinnear Road) and consider it as a prime location for their office buildings,” Brown said. “It will help local businesses grow.”
The mayor’s economic development plan aims to attract new businesses, as well as expand present businesses. In conjunction with OSU, the city will offer incentives to develop the area around Kinnear Road between North Star and Kenny roads, aptly named the “Technology Zone.”
Such incentives may include assisting new businesses with preliminary and start-up costs.
“The city will develop a number of programs and make the programs available to businesses,” said Jim Currie, vice president for Sci-Tech. He cited new employee incentives such as low interest loan payments and tax abatement.
“But the incentives are still in formation,” Currie said.
Funding for the Technology Zone can be attributed to the tax revenue from Easton and New Albany, he said.
The Business Technology Center, located on West Campus, supports Coleman’s proposal.
“Our mission is to populate the campus area with high-value, high-technology companies,” said David Cattey, executive director of the Business Technology Center. “We’re an economic development entity with the state of Ohio and Columbus.”
Although Cattey said the exact details have yet to be laid out, he believes the Technology Zone will benefit the community.
“By ‘incentifying’ this area, it becomes beneficial to not only the companies but also the university,” he said. “Companies could reduce costs of relocation and doing business.”
In return, the increase in businesses will jump-start job expansion.
“For the students and faculty, it provides near-campus opportunities in terms of jobs and especially research and development,” he said.
No deadlines have been set to begin development of the Technology Zone, but Currie and the Sci-Tech area hope to implement the programs in the first half of the year.
“Beginning in April, we expect to be able to use the funds,” Currie said.
