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Columbus Business First
MORPC forms new economic development committee
On the heels of Central Ohio's designation as an economic development district, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has formed a new committee that will help guide the region's growth. <\p> The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee comprises public and private members that represent the interests of the Central Ohio Economic Development District (EDD). It will hold its first meeting on Thursday.<\p>
Ohio National Bank project lands critical grant
The redevelopment of the Ohio National Bank building is one step closer to reality after landing critical funds last week. <\p> Cleveland-based Harsax Management plans to redevelop the bank building into a restaurant, speakeasy and a handful of apartments. <\p>
OSU Wexner Medical Center posts record revenue
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center posted just shy of $6 billion revenue for 2024 while trimming expenses.<\p> Revenue increased by 11% to $5.99 billion for the year ended June 30, according to a presentation for trustees. Expenses were down 10% from the prior year, resulting in a $130 million operating margin that was almost double.<\p>
CMHA retools downtown Columbus project
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is moving forward with the redevelopment of the former United Way headquarters in downtown Columbus. <\p> CMHA submitted new plans for the project at 360 S. 3rd St. to the Downtown Commission, which will meet next week. The project has been retooled from a 12-story, mixed-use building into a five-story, residential-only building. <\p>
Hollister getting into the college apparel business
Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and a U.S. Olympic gymnast are among the athletes promoting Hollister’s new collegiate line.<\p> The division of New Albany-based Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Tuesday unveiled its new Collegiate Graphics Shop which includes dozens of crewneck sweatshirts, hoodies and T-shirts emblazoned with university logos and graphics.<\p>
Downtown alley sees temporary transformation
The Cherry Street alley in downtown Columbus has been temporarily transformed into a space with seating and yard games. <\p> The area, dubbed the Cherry Pit, is on a section of Cherry Street that Downtown Columbus Inc. has closed between South 4th and Zettler streets from Aug. 16 to Oct. 13. <\p>
Columbus startup expanding to Europe
A Columbus green energy startup is hiring locally and opening a European office to oversee what it says will be the largest industrial hydrogen production system in the world.<\p> Power to Hydrogen Inc. has raised $18 million in investments and grants this year toward boosting capacity, including manufacturing of its electrolysis systems that produce hydrogen at much lower cost than conventional methods.<\p>
Customers were happier with their Hondas last year
Customers continue to be happy with their Hondas.<\p> The automaker, which bases several operations in Marysville, was the third best-regarded mass-market auto brand in the past year, according to the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index.<\p>
AI is already fueling layoffs, but there is one silver lining
Employee concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on their career prospects have ramped up as generative AI tools like ChatGPT have taken center stage.<\p> They have good reason to be concerned, according to a new survey of 984 business leaders by ResumeTemplates, which found 3 in 10 companies said they have replaced workers with AI this year. Additionally, 38% of companies that said they will use AI in 2025 will replace workers with the technology next year. <\p>
Ohio State Board of Trustees creates athletics committee
The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has added a committee that meets this week for the first time. <\p> The athletics committee will meet Wednesday from 1-2:30 p.m. during the board's quarterly meetings. <\p>
City's largest conference to bring in 15,000
The largest conference held in Columbus to date will bring in 2,000 more people than anticipated.<\p> The African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference estimates there will be 15,000 attendees – more than the originally predicted 13,000, according to the organization.<\p>
182-unit apartment complex proposed for Gahanna
A local developer is proposing a new apartment complex in Gahanna. <\p> Avenue Partners submitted a development plan for the project at the intersection of West Johnstown and James roads. It was recently presented to the Gahanna Planning Commission, though no action was taken because it was a workshop and not a formal meeting. <\p>
Growing furniture chain opens first Columbus-area shop
There’s a new option for affordable furniture in Columbus.<\p> Manchester, Connecticut-based Bob’s Discount Furniture has opened the first of its two stores planned for Central Ohio with the second coming next week.<\p>
Canadian fast-casual burrito chain coming to Columbus
Columbus is getting a new competitor for burrito-craving consumers.<\p> Toronto-based Barrio Burrito Bar will be coming to a new building under construction at 3301 Morse Road in Northland, not far from Easton.<\p>
Columbus admits wider data leak in cyberattack
Personal information has likely been posted on the dark web affecting more than 1 million people who live or work in Columbus, were involved in a Franklin County Municipal Court case, or otherwise have digitally interacted with the city.<\p> Mayor Andrew Ginther over the weekend announced that he had been mistaken in his earlier assertion the data was useless. City and outside investigators still have not determined the extent of the breach, including whether utility or tax bill data is affected.<\p>
Research group outlines policy reforms to unlock housing affordability
Housing affordability is becoming a bigger issue for U.S. voters, spurring policymakers — especially at the state and local levels — to consider new measures aimed at easing the burden facing both renters and prospective homeowners.<\p> While every city, county or region thinks about housing affordability (and potential solutions) differently, several common policy changes are being pursued, especially to ease restrictions around building new housing. New research from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, outlines some of the biggest reforms being adopted across the U.S. today and offers a menu of potential options for policymakers to consider.<\p>
German Village restaurant closing after five years
A German Village restaurant and bar will close after five years.<\p> The operators of the Bistrolino Old World Kitchen & Bar at 495 S. 4th St. and Ferdinand Lounge at 491 S. 4th St. announced that this will be their last week of business.<\p>
The Punch List: Local projects aided by state grant program
Central Ohio redevelopment projects are seeing an influx of funding from the state's brownfield remediation program. <\p> Six projects in Franklin County, two in Fairfield County and one in Delaware County were awarded a collective $30.2 million by the state, which started the program in 2021.<\p>
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