Proposed PAMA-Managed South Columbus Economic Development Studies, Funding Currently Pending
1. Leveraging the Economic Development Power of Anchor Institutions, Such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Regionomics will focus on local procurement, looking at where and how major community anchor institutions might shift some of their procurement spending to local businesses, and what the economic impact of such a shift could be for South Columbus. Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland will be explored to see if it could be a model for improving the economic development climate of South Columbus, as Evergreen Cooperatives is improving the economic development climate in the Cleveland low-income neighborhoods around University Circle. Funding anticipated from PAMA fundraising, with staffing support from Forge Columbus, Roosevelt Institute, SOLE, and possibly the OSU Kirwin Institute.
2. Local-Chain Comparisons, Projected Impact on South Columbus: Civic Economics will look specifically at the economic impact of local businesses compared to chains, in particular analyzing the impact in the commercial corridors of South Columbus, such as Parsons Avenue. In Chicago (Andersonville) Civic Economics did a study that was neighborhood-based, where they looked at retail, food and other local businesses and compared them to their national chain competitors. They’ve used the results of this study to make estimates about economic impact in other places. Funding anticipated from PAMA fundraising, with staffing support from SOLE.
3. Feasibility Study for a FoodStart Entrepreneurship Center to be Built in the Southern Gateway area: FoodStart is a non-profit organization developed to address three challenges facing the Southern Gateway neighborhoods of South Columbus, and one regional challenge:
· Neighborhood redevelopment and economic growth
· Lack of independent food-based retail establishments
· Job training and workforce development for residents
· Implementation of MORPC’s Central Ohio Local Food Assessment and Plan.
This feasibility study will provide information to help FoodStart leaders determine the scale, location, and programing of the FoodStart incubator. Funding anticipated from the City of Columbus, plus PAMA fundraising and possible funding from Finance Fund, and with staffing support from SOLE.
1. Leveraging the Economic Development Power of Anchor Institutions, Such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Regionomics will focus on local procurement, looking at where and how major community anchor institutions might shift some of their procurement spending to local businesses, and what the economic impact of such a shift could be for South Columbus. Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland will be explored to see if it could be a model for improving the economic development climate of South Columbus, as Evergreen Cooperatives is improving the economic development climate in the Cleveland low-income neighborhoods around University Circle. Funding anticipated from PAMA fundraising, with staffing support from Forge Columbus, Roosevelt Institute, SOLE, and possibly the OSU Kirwin Institute.
2. Local-Chain Comparisons, Projected Impact on South Columbus: Civic Economics will look specifically at the economic impact of local businesses compared to chains, in particular analyzing the impact in the commercial corridors of South Columbus, such as Parsons Avenue. In Chicago (Andersonville) Civic Economics did a study that was neighborhood-based, where they looked at retail, food and other local businesses and compared them to their national chain competitors. They’ve used the results of this study to make estimates about economic impact in other places. Funding anticipated from PAMA fundraising, with staffing support from SOLE.
3. Feasibility Study for a FoodStart Entrepreneurship Center to be Built in the Southern Gateway area: FoodStart is a non-profit organization developed to address three challenges facing the Southern Gateway neighborhoods of South Columbus, and one regional challenge:
· Neighborhood redevelopment and economic growth
· Lack of independent food-based retail establishments
· Job training and workforce development for residents
· Implementation of MORPC’s Central Ohio Local Food Assessment and Plan.
This feasibility study will provide information to help FoodStart leaders determine the scale, location, and programing of the FoodStart incubator. Funding anticipated from the City of Columbus, plus PAMA fundraising and possible funding from Finance Fund, and with staffing support from SOLE.
