I was looking for the right thread to post this latest in a series of Huffington Post "love letters".  Given the latest news about Jeni's relocating into downtown, this seems like the right one.

 

Here is Jeni Britton Bauer's "love letter" to Columbus: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/love-letters/love-letters-columbus_b_5365499.html

^ That is great to hear this news about Jeni's.  The company has come a long way since Jeni Britton Bauer opened a stall[i/] in the North Market in 2002.

 

I wonder if English is the only language that uses the same word for a "place to put a toilet" and "a place to buy food".

That Chesapeake area where their HQ now is a top secret part of town.

^ Lots of leftover township parcels could qualify as "top secret"!

 

^^ Okay then.  Opened a booth, Mr. English-major! :-)

In MASSIVE news... :clap:

 

Nationwide moving 3,400 workers from Dublin as it builds new corporate campus at Grandview Yard

 

 

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. is bringing its employees in from the suburbs in a seismic shift that will see the company vacate long-held offices in Dublin while greatly expanding Grandview Yard and giving a boost to the Arena District and downtown Columbus.

 

In all, about 3,600 employees in Dublin and Westerville will relocate as part of the move, which will take place in stages as leases expire.

 

Brian Ellis, president of the insurer’s Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd. affiliate, said the shift represents “an outstanding opportunity” to move workers into company-owned buildings while improving their work environment and the company’s efficiency by having its 13,000-plus area employees all within a couple miles of each other.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/06/27/nationwide-moving-3-400-workers-from-dublin-as-it.html

You have to wonder how much panic is going on in Dublin tonight.  That's a huge blow for them. 

 

^ jbcmh81 actually posted this in the Grandview Yard construction thread when the above massive news broke late last month.  The reason I'm quoting it here, is because I've been thinking about this Nationwide move, in relation to both Dublin and Grandview.  And this seemed like a good comment to restart this discussion.

 

There's no doubt about this relocation of over 3,000 Nationwide employees being an economic hit to Dublin.  At least in the short-term, when the Dublin office leases start to expire in 2016.  But I don't think Dublin should take a long-term hit over this.  1) Nationwide gave Dublin some advance warning for the move; 2) The Dublin office spaces are still in desirable suburban locations and should still be attractive to businesses looking for that type of locale; and 3) The overall economy of Dublin is in outstanding shape.  And though no community wants to lose thousands of jobs, if any Central Ohio community can absorb the short-term hit, it's Dublin.  They have many other office locations that can tide them over until these Nationwide office spaces can be re-leased.

 

I was thinking about Dublin's current position in relation to Grandview's previous position when the Big Bear warehouses closed in 2004.  The Big Bear warehouses closed when that out-of-state company who bought the home-grown Big Bear grocery stores finally succeeded in running them into the ground!  Grandview Heights was S-O-L when they closed.  I don't have the exact numbers but Big Bear was Grandview's largest employer at the time, and accounted for something like 25% of their overall income tax revenue.  Grandview needed a temporary income tax increase to keep the city afloat until the former Big Bear property could be redeveloped into the Grandview Yard development.

 

Now, Grandview is sitting pretty with its existing Grandview Yard development plus the big boost it will get from these new Nationwide jobs.  See just how big from this report at ThisWeekNews: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/grandview/news/2014/07/08/yard-could-be-generating-millions-for-city-by-2020.html

Interesting piece from Sacramento about economic development in Columbus:

 

What Columbus can teach Sacramento's economic development group

By Allen Young, Staff Writer

Sacramento Business Journal - Aug. 6, 2014, 2:59pm PDT

 

In the fall of 2001, the Ohio city of Columbus was hurting from poor job growth and a national economy still roiling from the Sept. 11 attacks.  A handful of CEOs expressed dissatisfaction at the years of stumbling economic initiatives, a slowly deteriorating Chamber of Commerce, and more than 30 smaller economic organizations that lacked a unified vision.

 

A CEO group was formed the following year to recruit and retain business.  The organization became a well-defined “front door for the community,” said Kenny McDonald, a Columbus-based career economic specialist.

 

Called the Columbus Partnership, the group has been successful at recruiting businesses, McDonald said.  A decade after its formation, business leaders reorganized economic development groups in part to better execute its strategy.  The result was an umbrella group called Columbus2020 that receives investor funds and doles them out to partner organizations, including the chamber and a tech booster group.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2014/08/06/what-columbus-can-teach-sacramentos-economic.html?page=all

Some potentially big news from an Amazon.com affiliate for Central Ohio:

 

Amazon eyes $1.1 billion investment in Central Ohio

By Brian R. Ball, Staff Reporter

Columbus Business First - Aug. 25, 2014, 3:03pm EDT

 

Amazon.com Inc. apparently has big plans for Central Ohio.

 

The online retailing giant’s Vadata Inc. data center affiliate was approved for two state tax credits worth more than $81 million from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to locate a data center project here.  A 15-year, 100 percent sales tax exemption for the facility will leverage 120 projected jobs and an estimated $1.1 billion investment over several years, according to a project summary released by the Ohio Development Services Agency.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/08/amazon-eyes-1-1-billion-investment-in-central-ohio.html

Business First examined what an Amazon billion dollar data center might look like by looking at some similar data center for Facebook and Google.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/08/just-how-big-is-a-1-billion-data-farm-amazon.html

In the meantime, Expedient Communications announced plans for build a $52 million, 60,000 square foot data center off Emerald Parkway in Dublin.  This would be their second facility in Central Ohio.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/05/expedient-communications-picks-dublin-for-second.html

Dublin is making a big push for Amazon's planned $1.1 billion data center complex by offering up 68 acres of city-owned land:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/09/dublin-offering-amazon-free-land-as-lure-for.html

Local real estate investment trust, Glimcher, has been purchased for $4.3 billion by a Maryland REIT, Washington Prime Group.  The combined company will be renamed WP Glimcher and make its headquarters at Glimcher Realty’s offices at the Continental Plaza (former Borden Building) at 180 E. Broad Street.  WP Glimcher also expects to add 50 jobs at the Columbus HQ as a result of this deal.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/16/glimcher-realty-trust-being-acquired-hq-to-stay-in.html

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/09/glimcher-expects-to-add-50-jobs-at-merged-hq-in.html

Hilliard putting its cards down for Amazon's planned $1.1 billion data center:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/23/hilliard-bidding-to-land-amazon-data-center.html

Major League Gaming is opening its second arena in the U.S. dedicated to video game tournaments in Columbus.  MLG announced it would locating to a 14,000 sq. ft. venue south of Easton and north of the airport at 2188 Citygate Drive.  The location, to be called MLG.tv Arena, will have bleacher seating, soundproof booths for players and the ability to host live commentary.  Officials said it will host year-round events geared towards livesteaming on MLG.tv.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/23/major-league-gaming-setting-up-e-sports-arena-in.html

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/major-league-gaming-opening-columbus-arena

More jobs coming to the area.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/09/23/time-warner-plans-job-fair-thursday.html

50 from Time Warner.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/09/22/donatos-adding-200-workers.html

200 from Donatos.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/09/23/regional-unemployment-rate-down-in-august.html

The unemployment rate dropped half a % to 4.4%.  This is both good and bad, as the number of employed dropped a bit, but the number of unemployed dropped more.  This typically happens in mid-late summer before holiday hiring begins in September.  So we should see employment go up the last 4 months of the year, as well as total jobs.  I expect the unemployment rate to fall below 4% by the end of the year as well. 

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/09/22/home-prices-up-in-august-sales-lower.html

Home sales continued to be down while prices reached a record for the area.  This is really about supply, which is historically low.  There just aren't enough houses to meet demand, and some places around the city have barely a month's supply. 

Yeah, that's why other areas aren't seeing any new sprawl but we still are, even with all the growth and renovation in the core.

 

Jobs, jobs, jobs.

Yeah, that's why other areas aren't seeing any new sprawl but we still are, even with all the growth and renovation in the core.

 

Jobs, jobs, jobs.

 

I don't know, from what I've seen in recent studies, Columbus remains the city without the most sprawl and without the fastest-growing sprawl in the state.  May be surprising, but true.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/09/23/regional-unemployment-rate-down-in-august.html

The unemployment rate dropped half a % to 4.4%.  This is both good and bad, as the number of employed dropped a bit, but the number of unemployed dropped more.  This typically happens in mid-late summer before holiday hiring begins in September.  So we should see employment go up the last 4 months of the year, as well as total jobs.  I expect the unemployment rate to fall below 4% by the end of the year as well. 

 

 

From the article

In August 2013, unemployment rates fell in 86 of the state’s 88 counties.

Are there no longer proofreaders?

 

Besides that nitpick this is great news! I'm not too crazy about my job right now so the low unemployment number should be in my favor for finding something better.

Indeed.com is always showing jobs in Columbus so I believe it...

 

http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=&l=Columbus%2C+OH

Warehouse Rules Everything Around Columbus

 

W.R.E.A.C.

Warehouse Rules Everything Around Columbus

 

W.R.E.A.C.

 

I think they prefer the term "logistics". :wink:

Nationwide consolidating 10 regional underwriting centers, with Columbus to benefit

By Evan Weese, Staff Reporter

Columbus Business First - Sept. 29, 2014, 2:44pm EDT

 

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. is eliminating 10 of its 16 regional underwriting centers around the country and relocating some employees to Columbus. ... “It’s known that we will be having more associates join Columbus-area offices over next few years,” spokesman Eric Hardgrove told me. “We don’t know the exact figure at this time.”

 

Columbus will remain one of six regional locations, alongside Sacramento, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; Harleysville, Pennsylvania; Des Moines, Iowa and Raleigh, North Carolina.  Consolidation will begin next year and could extend beyond 2020. ... Nationwide employs 13,000 in Central Ohio and 33,000 nationally.  While its local work force will grow, total U.S. employment will remain about the same.  “This is move and relocation, not an effort to reduce,” Hardgrove said.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/29/nationwide-closing-10-regional-underwriting.html

650 jobs promised in tax deals for Columbus Castings and CoverMyMeds

By Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter

Columbus Business First - Sept. 29, 2014, 2:43pm EDT

 

Columbus Castings and CoverMyMeds received tax incentive deals from the state on Monday to prompt expansion projects that could mean more than 650 jobs for the region.

• Columbus Castings plans to invest $16 million to upgrade its plant at 2211 Parsons Avenue on the south side and double its work force with the addition of 550 jobs.

• CoverMyMeds received a six-year, 40 percent tax credit worth an estimated $482,288 in exchange for a promise to create more than 100 jobs and $7.4 million in expanded annual payroll over the next three years.  The company, which makes software to automate insurance authorizations for prescription payments, plans to move into the 2 Miranova Place office building downtown.

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/09/29/650-jobs-promised-in-tax-deals-for-columbus.html

Some data-related business news:

 

- AEP buys the data center Compass Datacenters was building for it in New Albany - which is prompting Compass to scout for other Central Ohio data center sites:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/10/14/exclusiveaep-signs-with-compass-datacenters-buys.html

 

- Battelle has won a four-year contract to perform data analytics for the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare):  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/10/14/battelle-wins-16m-federal-contract-for-obamacare.html

Earlier this week, there was some big M&E news involving a Columbus-based company.  Milestone Aviation Group - a helicopter leasing company - is being acquired by a unit of General Electric for $1.78 billion:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/10/13/ge-buying-columbus-milestone-aviation-for-1-8b.html

 

Milestone was founded in 2010 by the former CEO of Columbus-based NetJets (which was previously bought by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 1998).  Business First looks at how Milestone Aviation grow into a $1.8 billion company in only 4 years:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/10/here-s-how-milestone-aviation-grew-to-1-8b-in-4.html

Despite Gov. Kasich's proclamation on the campaign trail that Amazon is definately building a data center in Central Ohio - reported on at http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/10/27/Amazon-project-coming-to-central-Ohio.html - Amazon has not made any official annoucement about this.  Or even officially confirmed that they are looking for a site in Central Ohio!

 

But there is alot a smoke in development circles that leads one to believe an Amazon data center is likely to be built somewhere in Central Ohio.  However, that "somewhere" is now up to three possible locations now.  Business First reports on a zoning change application in Orange Township (Southern Delaware County) that bares all the fingerprints of an Amazon data center project.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/10/23/orange-township-site-emerges-for-piece-of-amazon-s.html

 

Sbarro tapping into local talent base after moving HQ to Columbus

 

The future of Sbarro LLC is starting in Columbus.

 

The food court pizza chain is settled into its Central Ohio offices after having survived rising debt, slumping sales and two Chapter 11 bankruptcies in three years. The company is ready to move forward with not just a new home, but new leaders and new plans.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/11/sbarro-tapping-into-local-talent-base-after-moving.html

European PayPal competitor eyeing Columbus as base for U.S. expansion

 

 

An e-commerce payment services giant in Europe appears ready to use Columbus as a base for its expansion into North America.

 

Sweden's Klarna Group tops a list of three companies expected to seek incentives this week from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. Spokesman Erik Engellau-Nilsson said in an email that Columbus is "an interesting city for a company like Klarna."

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/12/01/european-paypal-competitor-eyeing-columbus-as-base.html

And...it's done!  :clap:

 

European PayPal competitor Klarna confirms it’s coming to Columbus

 

As we first reported on Monday, a European provider of payment services for online merchants will base its U.S. operations in Columbus with plans to add 82 jobs over the next several years.

 

Sweden's Klarna confirmed Wednesday it will invest $300,000 in facilities, equipment, hiring and training for designers, computer engineers and sales associates.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/12/03/european-paypal-competitor-klarna-confirms-it-s.html

Never heard of Klarna before, but glad they are expanding here.

Nice! Short-term plans for ~80 jobs, and long-term several hundred. Temporary home in the Arena District, with permanent HQ envisioned for the Short North.

Nice! Short-term plans for ~80 jobs, and long-term several hundred. Temporary home in the Arena District, with permanent HQ envisioned for the Short North.

 

The more I am reading about Klarna, the more I am loving this deal.

Business First also had a behind-the-scenes look at the Klarna deal:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/12/inside-the-deal-big-retail-sector-drive-capital.html

 

Both the Dispatch and Business First articles about Klarma noted the company's Swedish leaders saw similarities between Columbus and Stockholm that attracted them here.  They also had this quote about the qualities of Columbus that attracted them here:

 

"It's a robust, cosmopolitan city, but still very focused.  It's an open community.  The business leaders are very open.  People actually do stuff here.  It's not all talk."

That Swedish company - Klarna - moved into office space in the high-profile Joseph Project in the Short North:  Klarna’s office choice came down to liking the ‘hustle and bustle of the city’ at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/01/klarna-s-office-choice-came-down-to-liking-the.html

 

More about Klarna and some other high-profile businesses also moving into the Joseph Office Building in the Short North development thread:  http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2062.msg742764.html#msg742764

A couple of architectural business moves in Columbus, both large and small:

 

-- HOK Architecture, the largest US-based architecture-engineering firm, acquired Kansas City based 360 Architecture, which has maintained a sizable Columbus office in the Arena District since 1999 when it was involved in designing Nationwide Arena:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/largest-architecture-firm-in-the-us-launches-columbus-offices

 

-- Berardi & Partners heading to Grandview after purchasing Goodale Boulevard building:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/02/05/berardi-partners-heading-to-grandview-after.html

More from Business First about two buildings on the OSU campus at Neil & W. 12th Avenues to be renovated as part of the Big Data initiative in Columbus.  Pomerene Hall at the northeast corner and Oxley Hall at the southeast corner will serve as the University's Big Data headquarters and house a new interdiscplinary major in data analytics.

 

-- OSU to begin work on $59M renovation of Pomerene, Oxley halls for Big Data initiative: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/01/26/osu-to-begin-work-on-59m-renovation-of-pomerene.html

 

POMERENE HALL:  Opened 1922.  Designed by architecture professor Howard Dwight Smith (who also designed Ohio Stadium).  Pomerene was built in two phases.  The 1922 section contained a gymnasium, where women's phys-ed classes were held, and social rooms.  A second phase in 1927 added a natatorium, lounges, a kitchen and refectory.  Pomerene Hall lost most of its original functions after the construction of the Ohio Union in 1951.  Although many of the women's phys-ed classes were held there until the late 1970's.  (more info at http://library.osu.edu/buckeye-stroll/locations/pomerene-hall)

 

Historic view of Pomerene Hall from Neil Avenue:

 

Historic view of Pomerene Hall from Mirror Lake, which Pomerene is immediately south of:

 

Current view of Pomerene Hall:

 

 

OXLEY HALL:  Opened 1908 as a women's dorm, named for University President William Oxley Thompson’s mother (her maiden name, which is where he got his middle name) and designed by a female architect (a rarity over 100 years ago).  The building served as a dormitory until 1967.  It was remodeled in 1989 and became the Department of International Affairs in 1991, until its current renovation starts.  (more info at http://library.osu.edu/blogs/archives/2012/02/02/osus-first-womens-dorm-oxley-hall/)

 

Historic view of Oxley Hall from Neil Avenue:

 

Current view of Oxley Hall:

Amazon eyes $1.1 billion investment in Central Ohio

By Brian R. Ball, Staff Reporter

Columbus Business First - Aug. 25, 2014, 3:03pm EDT

 

Amazon.com Inc. apparently has big plans for Central Ohio.

 

The online retailing giant’s Vadata Inc. data center affiliate was approved for two state tax credits worth more than $81 million from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to locate a data center project here.  A 15-year, 100 percent sales tax exemption for the facility will leverage 120 projected jobs and an estimated $1.1 billion investment over several years, according to a project summary released by the Ohio Development Services Agency.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/08/amazon-eyes-1-1-billion-investment-in-central-ohio.html

 

More news about Amazon - Central Ohio's other big tech investment (Big Data being the other).  It looks like Amazon's $1.1 billion data center investment will be split between three Central Ohio locations:  Southern Delaware County (Orange Township), Hilliard and Dublin.

 

-- Orange Township still checking off list of issues tied to Amazon’s proposed data center:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/01/30/orange-township-still-checking-off-list-of-issues.html

 

-- Amazon secures land in Dublin and Hilliard for data center network:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/02/27/amazon-secures-land-in-dublin-and-hilliard-for.html

Here are location maps for the three Amazon data centers planned for Central Ohio from http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/02/27/amazon-secures-land-in-dublin-and-hilliard-for.html:

 

Dublin Location

 

 

Hilliard Location

 

Southern Delaware County (Orange Twp)

Amazon data center in Delaware County clears zoning:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/03/06/amazon-data-center-in-delaware-county-clears.html

Revisions paint rosier picture of Central Ohio job market

By Evan Weese, Staff reporter - Columbus Business First

March 10, 2015, 3:00pm EDT

 

Central Ohio added nearly 3 times the number of jobs last year than initial estimates showed, according to employment data revisions released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

The 10-county region ended 2014 with 1.035 million workers, up 1.7 percent from 1.018 million at the start of the year, according to statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in conjunction with the federal agency.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/03/revisions-paint-rosier-picture-of-central-ohio-job.html

More about the three Amazon data centers planned to be built.  Work is beginning on the Hilliard site:

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/hilliard/news/2015/03/24/crews-out-working-at-vadata-project-site.html

Auto supplier planning $50M expansion in another boost for south side

By Dan Eaton, Staff reporter - Columbus Business First

March 27, 2015, 11:45am EDT

 

A German auto supplier is planning a $50.3 million expansion on the south side near where Columbus Castings announced a big expansion last fall.

 

Columbus City Council will have a first reading Monday on a pair of tax incentives for Hirschvogel Inc., which wants to add 65,000 square feet to its operation at 2230 S. Third St. and 37 jobs to its current staff of 322.  The 145,000-square-foot complex opened in 1988 and makes cold- and warm-forged steel and aluminium parts for auto manufacturers and Tier One auto suppliers.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/03/27/auto-supplier-planning-50m-expansion-in-another.html

Tech companies don't usually seek out high-rises in the downtown core.  They seem to prefer the more interesting office spaces of the Short North, Brewery District or the Arena District to the "filing cabinet towers".  But a lack of available space, or space that's large enough for growing firms, in the more trendy office spots might lead to some backfilling of available space in the downtown core:

 

- Software firm taking entire 14th floor at Huntington tower, doubling staff: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/06/software-firm-taking-entire-floor-at-huntington.html

Amazon shifts focus to New Albany for data center, turning away from Orange Township

By Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter - Columbus Business First

May 8, 2015, 5:42pm EDT

 

The Amazon Web Services division of Amazon.com Inc. may be abandoning plans to locate its third data center campus in Delaware County.  The city of New Albany on Friday sent me the agenda for its May 13 council meeting showing the city has offered Amazon Web Services affiliate Vadata Inc. a 15-year, 100-percent tax abatement for a data center project in the New Albany International Business Park’s Personal Care and Beauty Campus.

 

Their acknowledgement of Amazon's interest followed my inquiries in recent weeks about market rumors the company wanted an alternative for the Orange Township portion of the project.  While sites in Hilliard and Dublin received quick approvals, the rezoning in Orange Township has languished amid concerns from residents on the impact of the data center on their neighborhoods.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/08/amazon-shifts-focus-to-new-albany-for-data-center.html

Amazon drops Orange Township bid after New Albany welcomes data center

By Brian R. Ball, Columbus Business First

May 18, 2015, 4:20pm EDT

 

Amazon Web Services has withdrawn its application to rezone 74 acres in Delaware County’s Orange Township, suggesting the data center planned for the site will indeed head to the New Albany International Business Park. ... Orange Township was notified Monday that Amazon was abandoning the data center project at Route 23 and Home Road.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/18/amazon-drops-orange-township-bid-after-new-albany.html

Columbus CEO magazine has a series of articles about the Columbus Partnership - a nonprofit organization of 54 CEOs from Central Ohio’s leading businesses and organizations that works to improve the region’s economic vitality:

 

- Columbus Partnership gains national reputation - http://www.columbusceo.com/content/stories/2015/06/columbus-partnership-gains-national-reputation.html

 

- Columbus Partnership: A timeline of success - http://www.columbusceo.com/content/stories/2015/06/columbus-partnership-timeline.html

 

- Columbus community leaders reflect on value of Partnership - http://www.columbusceo.com/content/stories/2015/06/columbus-community-leaders-reflect-on-value-of-partnership.html

 

- Q&A: Les Wexner and John F. Wolfe on early days of Columbus Partnership - http://www.columbusceo.com/content/stories/2015/06/qa-les-wexner-and-john-f--wolfe-on-early-days-of-columbus-partnership.html

 

Amazon drops Orange Township bid after New Albany welcomes data center

By Brian R. Ball, Columbus Business First

May 18, 2015, 4:20pm EDT

 

Amazon Web Services has withdrawn its application to rezone 74 acres in Delaware County’s Orange Township, suggesting the data center planned for the site will indeed head to the New Albany International Business Park. ... Orange Township was notified Monday that Amazon was abandoning the data center project at Route 23 and Home Road.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/18/amazon-drops-orange-township-bid-after-new-albany.html

 

I apologize for not having a link handy, but it appears Amazon and Kasich will be formally announcing this project tomorrow. Sucks to be Orange Twp. in this case, but I guess you get what you ask for...in this case the generators will be *really* quiet.

Here's the link to that news:

 

Amazon.com executive to join Gov. Kasich to announce details of $1B data center project: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/28/amazon-com-executive-to-join-gov-kasich-to.html

I bet you they announce more than just the data centers...  :wink2:

Friday's Amazon announcement was mostly a confirmation of the three data centers to be built in Central Ohio.  However, they did mention bringing 1,000 new jobs into Ohio over the next few years.  The three data centers are estimated to yield 200 new jobs.  So as the Business First article (linked below) speculates: "The additional jobs will apparently come from distribution operations and other unspecified Amazon business units still in the planning stages."

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/29/amazon-expansion-expected-to-bring-1-000-jobs-to.html

Friday's Amazon announcement also brought another bit of news that will be a bummer to Ohio Amazon shoppers.  Starting on Monday, Amazon shoppers in Ohio will start paying state sales tax on their purchases:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/05/29/amazon-to-collect-sales-tax.html

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/05/buying-something-on-amazon-expect-to-pay-ohios.html