Columbus Announces $2.5 Million Investment in Residents

Published on October 31, 2024

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Columbus City Council and community nonprofit partners today announced a pilot program to invest in Columbus residents’ success. The two-year Economic Mobility Accelerator Program seeks to improve economic and financial security, health and well-being of up to 200 households. 

The City of Columbus will invest $2.5 million in cash payments to individuals who are employed with earnings above the federal poverty level but below Central Ohio’s cost of living. Monthly payments of $500 may be spent at the recipients’ discretion to help fund expenses such as housing, health care, childcare or transportation. Recipients must participate in and graduate from one of six programs that offer job training, career services or wealth building guidance to remain eligible for direct funding assistance.

“Columbus residents are challenged to make ends meet, with 44% of the households in our city employed in jobs that do not pay enough to cover our region’s cost of living. By directly investing in our neighbors, we are directly investing in their success, in higher wage opportunities and overall quality of life for our families,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther.

Income qualifications to participate vary by household size. Examples include:

“Through this program, we're giving Columbus residents a crucial stepping stone from simply getting by to truly thriving,” said Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin. “By investing directly in our neighbors’ potential, we're creating pathways for economic stability, empowerment and generational progress, ensuring that every family in our city has the opportunity to build a future they deserve.”

Six community partners will offer economic mobility programs and administer direct funding assistance to qualifying participants. Economic Mobility Accelerator partners include:

• Alvis Inc., EDGE (Empowering Development By Gaining Employment) Program – Occupational training provided to Columbus restored citizens.
• Columbus Urban League, Career Connect Hub (CCH) Program – Wraparound education, jobs training and financial literacy services for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households.
• Goodwill Columbus, Commercial Driver’s License Training – Program offers low- and moderate-income individuals a Class A Commercial Driver’s License training course and funding for two attempts at the CDL exam. Academy also includes wraparound career/employer relationships to aid graduates in job placement.
• New Directions Career Center, E3 – Educate, Empower, Elevate Program – Suite of holistic career services aimed at underemployed women. Majority of past participants are female-headed ALICE renter households earning under $40,000 per year.
• RISE Center & CMHA, Ready, Set, RISE Programs – Collection of programs addressing barriers to generational wealth. Participants receive career and life navigation and employment programs.
• United Way of Central Ohio, Tax Time Program – Financial resources and tax assistance wealth-building initiative.

“Alvis is excited to be an implementation partner for the City of Columbus on Economic Mobility Accelerators,” said Denise M. Robinson, president and CEO of Alvis. “Individuals come to Alvis with numerous barriers to employment. Having the city as a partner helps us to provide the workforce development and support services our clients need to be successful in today’s labor market. Last year, Alvis clients earned more than $2.9 million in wages and helped to support their families, and contributed to Central Ohio’s overall economic health.”

In addition to the Economic Mobility Accelerator partners, the Community Financial Wellness Initiative will partner with the Financial Empowerment Center, which was established by the Women’s Commission, to further empower each participant with financial literacy training and a $500 savings account.